Japan to Crack Down on Drunk & Distracted Bicyclists
Neglectful and law-breaking bicyclists have terrorized Japan’s streets for years.
By Jay Andrew Allen
Blowing past stoplights. Riding in the opposite direction. Using their cellphones. Riding while drunk. For years, residents of Japan have complained that bicyclists seem to operate by different rules than drivers and pedestrians.
Starting in November, a new law vows to crack down on some of the worst behavior — in particular, riding while drunk or staring at your cell phone. Here’s what the new rules say — and how they may impact you if you cycle in Japan as a commuter or a tourist.
Japan: Very cyclists, much danger
Bicycling has been — and remains — a popular form of transportation in Japan. Studies from 2016 and 2020 found over 72 million bikes in the country. One out of every two people owns a bike here.
The so-called “mamachari” — “mama bike” — is a common sight in Japan, with parents using the car seat-mounted bikes to transport their kids to and from school. Electric bikes have also boomed in popularity in recent years, giving parents…
