Japanese Laws on How to Ride Your Bicycle

Did you know that the Japanese government has enacted laws for cyclists? These bicycle laws are complicated and loosely enforced by the Japanese police and other government officials. The only rule followed by the cyclists is to ride safely and use common sense. The foreigners are usually more curious to know about the Japanese laws on bicycle rather than the Japanese themselves. Interestingly, most of the bicycle riders in Japan are confused between the actual Japanese laws and the myths pertaining to bicycle laws in the country.

Japanese Laws: Simple Rules

Here are few Japanese laws formulated for cyclists:

• If you are caught riding a bicycle under the influence of alcohol, you may land up in jail for five years or fined up to 1 million Yen. However, this law is also not enforced properly; usually policemen overlook such acts, unless the rider causes a fatal accident or injury to someone.

• If you use an umbrella or cell phone or iPod while riding a cycle or caught riding at night without a headlamp, you can be fined up to 50, 000 Yen. Only rule that is enforced properly is riding at night without a headlamp. However, instead of a fine of 50, 000 Yen, you have to face only a small ‘discussion’ with the policemen.

• As per another Japanese law, in case you fail to stop a red light or caught riding dangerously, you can earn up to 3 months of jail or fine up to 50, 000 Yen. However, many cyclists do not follow the rule and use their own judgment to decide whether to stop or not. The policemen rarely bother to stop the cyclists when they break the rules.

• In 2008 another Japanese law was enacted, which makes it mandatory for all children below the age of 13 years to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle or when they are being ridden by an adult cyclist. However, this law is seldom followed by kids.