Local gov'ts adopting ordinances for bicycle liability insurance over accidents

If there is one country that needs 'liability insurance' for riding a bike it is Japan.

Riding with ear buds,umbrellas,using a phone,riding like a salmon,aka,on the wrong side of the road,pulling out into another road without looking,riding non-handed......even saw a dude riding along while eating an instant ramen resting his arms on the handlebars,young mothers doing all the above while riding with their kids so that in the future they will think it is OK to do so as well.

Apologies,didn't see moms riding along eat cup ramen.

What is the point : culprits won't pay because can't pay...

If you care, you are insured from day one. It costs only cents and you are insured for everything relating to your family (stealing, weather events, fire, damage through negligence, etc.)

It seems like law is lacking something.

I've bought bicycle insurance for all of our family for three years now. Anyone riding a bike really should have it, and you can get it for less than 10,000 yen/person/year.

Check whether your home or contents insurance covers it. Many policies do under the general topic of "personal liability". Our policy covers my entire family.

kohakuebisu gives good advice. My policy covers it.

For rental agencies, that should be compulsory and enforced. They have no excuses as they can get good deals for many vehicles and get the cost back by adding just a few yens to rental fee.

Many policies do under the general topic of "personal liability". Our policy covers my entire family.

That's nearly automatically included here in France... but you guys need to check well? Many Japanese home insurances seem to be just for paying : quake or cycle accident, whatever happens it's not cover. When I was in Japan, my personal liability was part of an insurance linked to my credit card overseas. Simplest solution for me as the card upgrade had a cost, but it gave me that and emergency health covered during trip nearly worldwide.

I think it is total idiocy. What about enforcing traffic laws for bicycles riders... If bicycles are regarded just like vehicles - like in the rest of the world - you will have no accidents with pedestrians. No more damn bicycles going up and down the sidewalk, no more red light disrespect, no more crossing on the stripes, no more riding against the one only direction... Safe walking and safe riding.

Totally agree with Wobot.

Just the other day, I almost got taken out by a cyclist going the wrong way over a pedestrian crossing-some choice words in the Kansai dialect followed that cyclist down the road...

Once saw a guy reading his manga with his arms propped across the handlebars...while crossing a busy intersection in Tokyo on Yasukuni-dori!

Just the other day, I almost got taken out by a cyclist going the wrong way over a pedestrian crossing-some choice words in the Kansai dialect followed that cyclist down the road...

I have given chase to such. One was cycling the wrong way on the street. At night. With no light.

Totally agree with spitfire but Japan make it mandatory or don’t bother.

Yeah, I agree with tougher penalties, especially for mamachari people and "weekend warrior" types. However, let me tell you that as an avid cyclist with almost 25 years of riding road bikes in the Kanto area, people walking into the street without looking or hopping out of cars, drivers cutting you off while turning left, etc, are also a serious hazard to us regular cyclists. I have been hit several times by doors and mirrors, run off the road numerous times and been hit by cars and mopeds 4 times. I have also hit several people who just ran into the road out of nowhere or were walking between cars in a traffic jam, not to mention the other hundreds of times I had to squeeze my brakes as hard as possible, take evasive action, and /or shout at the top of my lungs at some fool. The only thing that kept me alive was my anticipation, quick thinking, and possibly just plain good luck but I have been in an ambulance and just missed being under one guy's car tire. People and cars are just as big a hazard to us and don't confuse a bicycle rider with a cyclist. Some of us would like some protection from the general public.

Theft coverage should include being compounded by the local authority too - which is happening more often now , given that cycle bays are often full and you're left with no other choice.

@Roger Jolly

think it is total idiocy. What about enforcing traffic laws for bicycles riders...

One thing I can honestly disagree with you about is enforcement policies on bicyclists. Since I've been in Japan, I feel like people on bikes are unfairly targeted. They get pulled over, ticketed, and bikes taken away all the time.

However, car owners seem to get away with everything. They park anywhere and never get ticketed. Although it's illegal, almost everyone is watching TV while driving. I almost never see cops pull over motorists. But they always setup these random bicycle checkpoints throughout the city.

The problem also lies in the fact that the regulations for riding bikes are very much non-existing and not even known by the police. I've been stopped by a policeman who told me I wasn't supposed to go in a designated lane if I wanted to turn. SO I did what he told me for a week. Then got stopped by another who told me I was doing it wrong. And then told me to do...what I had been doing in the first place. I went to ask a police station about bike lanes and if they were compulsory or if I was allowed to ride on the road. They looked very confused and I couldn't get a proper answer.

Soon will be JCI for bicycles, so be careful of what you post. Then most will be posting why is the cost of just the privilege's to ride a bicycle so high. If riders want to accept risk then they should be responsible enough to know and face the consequences.

increase in bicycle use amid a fitness boom

I disagree with the increase in riding for health. I see these guys decked out to the max with an expensive bike get off to take a break and light up a cigarette.

Where do you buy bike insurance? I use mine three times a year for Costco runs. Can I buy one day insurance?

How can they check it though? Make some sort of insurance seal visible? Even then it'll be hard to see.