Bicycle traffic rules

Traffic accidents involving bicycles are rapidly increasing in Tokyo, accounting for approximately 46% of all traffic accidents in 2020.
Additionally, 30 people died in traffic accidents while riding bicycles, accounting for approximately 23% of all traffic accident deaths.
In accidents involving bicycles, there are many traffic violations involving bicycles, such as ignoring traffic lights and violating stoppages, and approximately 64% of accidents involve bicycles committing traffic violations.

A similar trend exists in the city, with 57 of the 181 traffic accidents in 2020 involving bicycles, accounting for approximately 31%.
Approximately 40% of accidents involving bicycles involve traffic violations such as failure to stop temporarily.

Bicycles are classified as "light vehicles" under the Road Traffic Act, and are classified as "vehicles."
Just like automobiles, bicycles must obey traffic lights and traffic signs, and obey traffic rules.
Please follow the traffic rules and drive safely to avoid causing or encountering a traffic accident.

There may be a white line drawn on the left side of the road.
The line drawn between the roadway and the sidewalk is called the ``roadside line,'' and if there is no sidewalk, it is called the ``roadside strip.''
A roadside strip is a space for pedestrians to walk.

• If there is a road outside line

You can drive both inside and outside the outside line of the road.
However, you must drive on the left, so you cannot drive in the wrong direction.

• If there is a roadside strip

The roadside strip is a space for pedestrians to walk, but bicycles can also pass along the roadside strip.
However, since ``when passing on the road side strip, you must proceed at a speed and manner that does not obstruct the passage of pedestrians,'' basically you should drive on the road without entering the road side strip. let's.
If you are driving on the roadside strip, you must use the roadside strip provided on the left side of the road.

Bicycles must also stop at stop signs.
Be sure to obey stop signs, stop before the stop line, and check both sides for safety.
If you cannot confirm the situation to the left or right from the stop line, move slowly to a place where you can confirm safety on both sides and visually check the safety.

When driving on the road, obey traffic signals for oncoming vehicles.
When the light is red, stop before the stop line.

When walking on the sidewalk, obey the pedestrian traffic lights facing you.

When turning right at an intersection with a traffic light,
(1) Follow the blue lights of the traffic lights on the other side of the road, keep as close to the left side of the road as possible, go straight, and at the end of the roadway turn in the direction you want to turn right.
(2) Confirm that the traffic light for the vehicle opposite you changes from red to blue, then proceed straight.
Note: You cannot turn right like a car.

When turning right at an intersection without traffic lights, go straight as far as possible to the left side of the road, turn in the direction you want to turn at the end of the road, and then go straight again.

When driving on the road and passing through a crosswalk in front of you, if there is a pedestrian crossing or attempting to cross the crosswalk, stop temporarily at the stop line of the crosswalk, and must not obstruct traffic.

If there is no risk of obstructing pedestrian traffic, such as when there are no pedestrians at the crosswalk, you can cross the crosswalk while riding.
However, a crosswalk is a place for pedestrians to cross the road.
If there is a risk of blocking the passage of pedestrians who are crossing the street, you cannot pass while riding the bicycle, so get off the bicycle and push it while walking.

When going straight through an intersection with a left-turn lane, as shown in the diagram, go straight through the left-turn lane, not the straight-ahead lane.

There have also been tragic accidents in which children have died because they have not been properly placed on their bicycles.
Check the rules for riding young children on bicycles.

• Infants who can be carried are those who have not yet reached the beginning of elementary school.
• Drivers must be 16 years or older.
• If you are carrying an infant, you must use an infant seat.
• If two infants are to be carried, a two-infant bicycle (a bicycle with special structure or equipment necessary to accommodate a rider and two infant seats) must be used. It doesn't have to be.
• If you are riding on your back, the infant must be under 4 years old and must be carried securely with a strap.

Approximately 70% of bicycle accident fatalities involve fatal head injuries, and the fatality rate when not wearing a helmet is approximately 2.3 times higher than when wearing a helmet.
As a result, the Road Traffic Act has been amended so that, from April 1, 2023, wearing a helmet will be mandatory for all people of all ages when riding a bicycle.
If the chin strap is not fastened, the helmet will come off in the event of an accident.
Make sure to fasten the chin strap securely.