Hi! It’s Sensei.
Many people use a “Bicycle (Jitensha / 自転車)” for living in Japan, like shopping at supermarkets or commuting to work.
But be careful!
Japan’s bicycle rules changed in 2024 and became very strict. “I didn’t know” cannot be excused, so let’s check carefully.
1. “Distracted Riding” is Absolutely Prohibited!
The strictest Penalties (Bassoku / 罰則) apply to riding “while” doing something else. You must never do the following three things.
❌ If you do these, the police will catch you
- Riding while looking at your smartphone:
Looking at the screen or talking on the phone is prohibited. - Riding while holding an Umbrella (Kasa / 傘):
Wear a Raincoat (Kappa / カッパ) on rainy days. One-handed riding is very dangerous. - Riding while listening to music with earphones:
If you can’t hear the surrounding sounds, it can cause accidents.
Violating these can result in a Fine (Bakin / 罰金) of 50,000 to 100,000 yen. Let’s stop doing them for sure.
2. Bicycles Must Ride on the “Left”
In your country, traffic might keep to the right, but Japan is “Keep Left (Hidari-gawa Tsuko / 左側通行)”.
And since bicycles are considered “vehicles,” basically you must ride on the “left side of the roadway.” There are places where you can ride on the Sidewalk (Hodo / 歩道), but in those cases, Pedestrians (Hokosha / 歩行者) have priority. Ride slowly.
3. Don’t Forget the “Light” and “Lock”
For safety and crime prevention, always follow these two rules.
💡 Turn on the Light (Raito / ライト) at night
Always turn the light on when it gets dark. Without a light, cars cannot see you, increasing the chance of an accident. The police will also warn you.
🔑 Use the Lock (Kagi / カギ) when leaving
Don’t be careless even if you’re just “going into a convenience store.” Bicycle Theft (Tounan / 盗難) is very common in Japan. Be sure to lock it.
4. Be Sure to Join “Bicycle Insurance”
If you hit someone with your bicycle and injure them, you might have to pay millions of yen in Compensation (Baisho / 賠償).
Therefore, in many regions, joining “Bicycle Insurance (Jitensha Hoken / 自転車保険)” has become “Mandatory (Gimu / 義務)”.
The premium is around a few hundred yen per month. You can easily join at a convenience store, so if you haven’t yet, please do so.
🔍 Let’s Research the Rules for Your City!
Whether bicycle insurance is mandatory depends on the city. Try searching on Google like this:
Summary: Stay Safe by Following the Rules
Bicycles are convenient, but if used incorrectly, they can cause life-changing accidents. Just by following “Raincoat on rainy days,” “No smartphone,” and “Light at night,” both you and the people around you will be safer.
If you commute to work by bicycle, check your company’s rules as well!
