Japan's cyclists to be punished for riding drunk, phone use from November

In principle seems like a good measure to increase safety and punish the most serious offences, but being Japan the whole thing could come apart by the usual combination of lack of enforcement in general and targeted abuse to harass only some.

Hopefully this will not be the case, but it is difficult to be optimistic.

*Moderator**: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of Japan This Week. Tune in to hear it!*

Of course some will be targeted. This about those head down rear up cyclist. Constantly using their cycling app on their phone. I have been complaining about these type of cyclist for a decade. Not for using their phones but the bike design is unsafe for open road use. These are racing bike ultra light inadequate braking ultra thin wheels/tyres and inadequate viewing of traffic around them. It is design to use on close road in racing mode. There are very good cycles to be use with other road users E.G. hard tail mountain bikes for perfect for road use. They have wide tyres disc brakes, upright riding position for good all around viewing. Those road racing bike are still dangerous on cycle lane and cycle ways and should not be allow on the road with other road users.

posing a danger to traffic

will this include posing a danger to pedestrian traffic especially while cycling on sidewalks; will bicyclists continue to be allowed to ride while holding open umbrellas.

Japan decided on Friday to implement its revised Road Traffic Act on Nov 1, introducing prison terms and fines for those cycling under the influence of alcohol or posing a danger to traffic by using a mobile phone while on their bicycle.

Now add the use of umbrellas/parasols, screeching brakes centimeters away form pedestrians and riding through pedestrian crosswalks without dismounting.

I'll believe it when! see it.

Good, add listening to music to the list. And whilst we are at it, how about we start prosecuting anyone in a car who is watching TV as the drive?

Good, add listening to music to the list. And whilst we are at it, how about we start prosecuting anyone in a car who is watching TV as the drive?

It won't happen, it just to hard for ordinary koban officer to set traffic stop for those car. It easier to stop people who are riding bicycle.

I hope this and traffic lights ignoring by cyclists will be actually fined in practice. Just this year I almost got hit several times because of those reasons

using a mobile phone while on their bicycle.

I’ve seen a lot more of this recently.

There will be a two week clamp down with lots of "official" warnings. Those in accidents will receive fines. Then not so much.

There seems to be quite a few cyclist haters here.

Nobody should be using a phone while riding a bike, driving or even walking but by setting such a punitive penalty of six months in prison or a fine of 100,000 yen it will not be enforced as police, who are human, will never want anyone to end in in prison for 6 months for using a phone while cycling.

What is the statutory punishment for somebody staring at their phone who walks out in front of traffic and causes an accident?

Could we add running red lights to be enforced?

as a driver that would be appreciated.

Japan's cyclists to be punished for...

Ha! No, they won't. This is like a golden retriever and a corgi barking at each other. All bark but none will bite.

Great! But I have a better idea.

Cops in Japan like to hide behind bushes and light poles, they could use their spare time to catch cyclists who speed through 止まれ signs without a clue about other cars, they're the main reason you have to do 20km/h or less in many residential areas in Tokyo, you never know when one of those kamikazes will pop up in full speed right in front of you.

Good luck with that. All talk. First, try punishing car drivers who do that. Or drivers who have children or dogs on their laps.

Then, what are they going to do about Uber delivery drivers on scooters with a GPS screen guiding them for their deliveries?

I’m annoyed by a lot of bicycle riders using their phones, but I cannot agree with a rule that punishes riders using an umbrella when it’s raining.

Corey,

.. I cannot agree with a rule that punishes riders using an umbrella when it’s raining.

Why?

Well there goes all the fun. I love riding my EV fat tire beach cruiser at my local beach boardwalk after a few fruity frozen cocktails of goodness at my favorite spot.

*Moderator**: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of Japan This Week. Tune in to hear it!*

Would it include phones mounted on the handlebars, being used as a mobile navigation map?

At least they are not being waved around the air. They should also look at the use of headphones on bikes, which isolate cyclists from the environment; you'll never hear a Prius or EV coming up behind you.

Japan's judicial system trying to implement some common sense? Who would of thought !

Drink driving, drink riding there is no difference. Maybe the police could actually become proactive, but don't hold your breath.

Yeah let's have more laws , how about smoking while cycling ,or eating or taking a drink .looking at their gps ,passing wind ,and let's get the general public on board to turn in theses horrid cyclists , Everyone is on the phone 24/7 a quick snapshot ot vid will do the job !

Japan's cyclists to be punished

No, they won't. That would mean the cops would ACTUALLY have to do their job.

They would have to physically leave the koban and chase after the riders.

Too much work for them. Not happening.

But they WILL continue to harass people for parking their bikes wrong.

Will the police enforce new laws when they don't even enforce current laws? I doubt it.

Also, I believe in law someone with a driving licence caught riding a bicycle drunk can lose his driving licence.

I am sure there will be "some" enforcement. Especially with those repeat offender cyclists. But evenually these laws will play a bigger role in accident write-ups and fault determination.

And with no way of identifying a cyclist all they will do is ride off down a cycle path that police cars can't go. I can't imagine the Japanese Police chasing them on foot

Hawk

I cannot agree with forbidding umbrella while riding a bicycle.

Why not? Because you could get wet if you don’t. Is that a good enough reason?

Would be chaos if it was actually enforced. drove past around 10 cyclists on a 2 min ride yesterday and about half of them were on their phone.

If they could only manage to punish drivers for those same infractions. Here on Okinawa, we have double the drink drive rate the rest of the country does, and that is with extremely few check stops. And everyone uses their phones while driving. Studies have shown that phone users on the road have the same impairment drunk drivers do. High school and college students often ride bikes recklessly, but it's not due to intoxication or phone use. And they are a drop in the bucket compared with all types of impaired drivers.

Corey,

Why not? Because you could get wet if you don’t. Is that a good enough reason?

Wear rain gear.

wanderlustToday 10:54 am JST

Would it include phones mounted on the handlebars, being used as a mobile navigation map?

I would guess not as long as the phone is mounted and not held in hand. This is the same as in a car, just think, nearly every car has a car navigation system these days and many drivers have mounted phones. Wonder about headphones, have they been banned as well cause that is a bigger hazard!

What intrigues me with these lycra cladded pretend domestic is that they not in a race. They are commuting, practicing or out for an enjoyable ride. They close down the road for racing. So why the Lycra. Any sensible person would wear decent protective clothing. This clothing is hanging right next to the Lycra outfit in the bike stores. These Lycra cladded weekend pretend domestic are a danger to themself and other road users. These road racing bikes should only be used on closed road for what they are designed for, not for general road use. Self centred Idiots.

It will be a few fines at first in November, highlighted in the media. Then, not much...

they're the main reason you have to do 20km/h or less in many residential areas in Tokyo,

If you think this, you obviously shouldn't be driving. The 20kph limit is to prevent the death of pedestrians when hit by cars and other vehicles on narrow roads.

CoreyToday  12:21 pm JST

I cannot agree with forbidding umbrella while riding a bicycle.

Why not? Because you could get wet if you don’t. Is that a good enough reason?

Under current Japanese laws;

Riding a bicycle holding an open umbrella

Fine of up to 50,000 yen

Hawk

Wear rain gear? In the heat, wearing plastic coats etc? Are you kidding? And where are you going to stuff that gear when you aren’t using it? Especially when it’s wet and soggy? Ridiculous. Why should a person not ride slowly on their bicycle with their right hand firmly steering and carefully looking around? ( Unlike people using phones)

Excellent news..

Corey,

Wear rain gear? In the heat, wearing plastic coats etc? Are you kidding? And where are you going to stuff that gear when you aren’t using it? Especially when it’s wet and soggy? Ridiculous. Why should a person not ride slowly on their bicycle with their right hand firmly steering and carefully looking around? ( Unlike people using phones)

In the heat - yes. It's not too bad when it's raining. Go light underneath. And it's not super hot all year round anyway.

Where are you going to stuff an umbrella when you're not using it? Cheap rain gear is lighter and makes a smaller package.

Umbrellas give less visibility. And less control, especially turning or braking suddenly. They also take up a lot more space on the sidewalk, or stick out further into the road. They sometimes have points on the end that could take someone's eye out. Also, you could get blown into the path of a pedestrian or a car by a sudden, strong gust of wind. I don't think people should ride while using phones, either.

^Further, if it is raining and windy, an umbrella isn't going to keep you very dry.

Riding with an umbrella means one hand not on the handlebar (for control) or on the brakes (for stopping). As well as the umbrella blocking your view. Fines should be enforced to stop people doing it.

The big question with this story is enforcement. Its all very well announcing new punishments but without enforcement, no-one will get the punishments and they will not act as a deterrent.

In Japan the problematic cyclists are usually folk doing deliveries for Uber Eats, high schoolers, or mothers on very heavy ebikes carrying kids, and the problems tend to be them riding unsafely on pavements and riding through junctions without looking. Many highschoolers will be on shopping bikes with worn out brakes or ones that screech like crazy. People who ride road bikes are well behaved by comparison. They have bright coloured gear, headlights and flashing rear lights on their bikes, and ride on the road.

It’s ridiculous. Please stick to stopping cyclists who go faster than me on my scooter! They are the real danger. Picking on someone riding carefully with an umbrella is absurd. You have to wonder how many serious accidents have been caused by people using an umbrella in a sudden shower.

Cyclists break all kinds of rules. Sure, get ‘em when they are riding dangerously, case by case. Instead of some arbitrary blanket rule which is applied simply because it’s easy to apply.

Picking on someone riding carefully with an umbrella is absurd. You have to wonder how many serious accidents have been caused by people using an umbrella in a sudden shower.

You can't ride carefully while holding an umbrella. You can only use one hand for steering and braking, and you can't see clearly.

More accidents are caused by umbrella holding cyclists than by cyclists wearing a rain coat. Rain coats can have high-vis patches too. They are less danger to themselves or others.

But you don't have to worry about any of it. The police and the law 'crack down' on cyclists every eight years or so. Nothing ever changes.

If you think this, you obviously shouldn't be driving. The 20kph limit is to prevent the death of pedestrians when hit by cars and other vehicles on narrow roads.

Who said narrow roads?

Wide residential roads with sidewalks and everything, where every car, motorcycle etc. follow the traffic signs but you need to keep your foot hovering on the brake because there are so many of these "cyclists" who seemingly never got a drivers license in their entire life.

But the response here is as expected... very few foreigners actually drive in Japan anyway, foreigners in Tokyo can't live without their bicycles

I can understand the need to crack down on people being drunk while riding their bicycles or looking down at their phones while riding. But that being said, 6 months in jail is just ridiculous! You are going to ruin someone's life over looking at their phone to navigate through town? That to me is quite extreme, especially if it is their first offense. I get that it is dangerous, and there is a time and place for that, but locking up a person for half a year over that is just silly and unnecessary and will just cost tax payers more money and overcrowd the jails over nothing, and what are you going to throw some 20-something-year-old kid in jail with hardened criminals over looking down at their phone while riding a bicycle?

Jail time if caught without a seatbelt.

In Japan cyclists are not allowed to be riding on the sidewalk unless (1) they are under 13 years of age (2) over 70 years of age or (3) posess a disability card.

Kids and teenagers who ride on the sidewalks in groups are especially annoying and pose a hazard to pedestrians.

justsomeguy8008Today  02:21 pm JST

I can understand the need to crack down on people being drunk while riding their bicycles or looking down at their phones while riding. But that being said, 6 months in jail is just ridiculous!

What's ridiculous is willingly violating the law knowing that the penalty is that severe. Causing an accident can ruin many other people's lives.

I stopped riding bicycles if I was going to have alcoholic drinks. Safest way is to walk, ride the train or call a taxi.

They will need an additional 50,000 police to write the tickets. ...... On the other hand city money coffers will get full!

I think in general it is a good idea, but I would rather someone drunk ride their bicycle home rather than try to drive. At least no one else gets hurt or killed.

Japan decided on Friday to implement its revised Road Traffic Act on Nov 1, introducing prison terms and fines for those cycling under the influence of alcohol or posing a danger to traffic by using a mobile phone while on their bicycle.

It sounds harsh, but I am for it. The smart-phone addicts are just as dangerous to others as drunk drivers. I ride a bike in Tokyo and am always horrified to see how many drivers are looking at these gadgets instead of the road.

Japanese prisons are going to be full. Who is going to pay for all this?

Seriously though, they just have to keep on finding more ways to gather revenue. People are buying less and less cars (=a loss in revenue from fines) so they move onto cyclists. Next they will move on to you for just waking drunk, or navigating with your phone, etc etc.

There are so many regulations on absolutely everything these days. Everything has gone to the dogs. Bring back the good old 80s.