I really hope they actually follow through with at least stopping dangerous cycling. Regardless of the question of the rules being too strict or not, there are so many people who don't understand the basic rules of the road (possibly due to lack of having a license? at least in Tokyo anyways) and drive on the wrong side or just suddenly shoot out from around a corner without stopping or at least checking. Every day when I ride my bike, its the other cyclist that scare me, not car traffic.
so true ... had so many close calls already just this summer. as good as most Japanese usually behave, on a bicycle they transform into some sort of super idiot
@@Kerokerokeroppipipi Many cyclist are just not educated correctly. I wish there was a simple video they had to watch when they register their bicycles. That would go a long way.
@@XYoukaiXJapan is the only country I've had to look left and right before dodging a sign or garbage can on the pavement because cyclists will not stop. And if you ever call them out they're indignant about it. I've been hit (not injured) and the girl just laughed and cycled off. I live in Osaka, and people are particularly bad especially in the south. They don't care because cycling (especially with a mask) offers anonymity. You can pedal off at relative speed and no registration number.
I’ve asked so many people here in Japan and either no one knows what it is, or they do know but have no ideas where to get it. Someone told me to get bicycle insurance at the convenience store, and so I tried it. The convenience store looked at me like I was speaking gibberish. Where can we get bicycle insurance !?!
@@shizuokaBLUES You can get it at any bicycle shop. Some shops you can get everything done there but others will get you signed up but you pay for it at the conbini. You can also sign up online. For example Au offers it online. Search for au自転車向け保険
While traveling in Japan, the only thing that genuinely worried me was moms with electric cargo bikes. More seriously, the problem lies in the lack of cycling infrastructure and the way people ride at full speed on the sidewalks. I'm from France; we’re not quite at the level of the Netherlands yet, but we’re heading in the right direction with dedicated lanes. Otherwise, we ride on the road. When we're on the sidewalk or in a public square, we go at a slower pace, and sometimes we even have to get off the bike. Also, being able to bike home after a few drinks is way better than sleeping on the concrete in Shibuya (or getting even more drunk) while waiting for the next train.
Let me get this straight 49.000 cycling accidents and 126 linked to distracted cycling? That's like... What 0.3%? What gives? Why crack down on the entire populace over 129 people? seems odd. Are these accidents caused by the bicyclers? Is the bicycling infrastructure safe? has there been accounted for a potential increase in bicyclers? What is the age group of the people those accidents? so many questions.
Rethinking plans to cycle tour in Japan. I did a lot of day trips in my home country last summer, and the RideWithGPS app running on my handlebar-mounted phone was essential. Even with the navi's voice giving the turn-by-turn, I found I often had to look for a few seconds. Cycling groups, from national organizations to local clubs and individuals, now publish routes for use on phones. No one wants to go back to using paper maps and cue sheets, except as a backup. As a foreigner, I'd be afraid of getting lost without Nabi-san, even on local errands. Maybe I should get reacquainted with old-school maps in case I ever get to go to Japan.
I use my sat nav all the time on my bicycle. But I pause or stop to look at it. It's not that hard. If you're cycling in a city you shouldn't be assuming you can sail ahead without stopping or pausing a lot because there are so many intersecting roads and you will have to stop and slow down anyway to check for cars and pedestrians and crosswalks. I usually use these times to check my bearings, it's not necessary to cycle at the same time. It's dangerous. And you should never be cycling so fast you can't stop easily in crowded areas with people (which are most likely where they will be policing). It's not about having an undisturbed easy path, it's about pedestrian safety. Too many cyclists think they should just be able to dart anywhere they can. I find it so opportunistic. There should be laws, rules and consequences because at the moment there are none. Cars and pedestrians have to stop for lights or to give way, why do cyclists think they should be exempt from the same thing? People are moaning because it's inconvenient to stop. But what is more inconvenient? Being injured, time off work to go to the hospital, paying doctor's bills, giving up hobbies due to injury etc etc.
Also, using headphones to block your ear sense while cycling is prohibited (headphones with ambient sound function are allowed use or not are debatable), and helmets have recently been recommended for all cyclists (not mandatory). Japan is a relatively safe place to ride bicycles, but laws are an afterthought and not very bike-friendly. So please be careful. If you need to use your phone to navigate while cycling, I recommend using a phone holder on the handle.
@ legal but apparently the two second rule is still in effect. But it would be far far more discrete and hard for police to spot if you’re looking at your handle bars rather than the road. That’s my way of thinking anyway
i have a question. Does this also count when your listening music while riding the bike ? like, even if it´s just playing a playlist without you checking or touching your phone ? Also, it would be interesting making a video about cycling rules, since i´ve heard theres actual things that you should follow if you have a bike in Japan
lol of course they have lots of accidents just look at how insanely stupid all those people ride their bikes .... I haven't noticed anyone using their phone yet but they usually don't care at all about red traffic lights as well as about driving on the right/wrong side .... they are just completely insane.
@@SvengelskaBlondieWhat planet do you live in? Bicycles can't cause anywhere near as much damage as a 2 ton metal box rolling at any given speed. In a car you can plow into a crowd and cause multiple deaths and structural damage. On a bike, you'll maybe knock one person down and you'll go down too. In a severe incident against an elder maybe some broken bones. On a bike against a car, it isn't even a competition.
Hmm I wonder what about scooters, since there’s companies like Luup that do on-the-go electric scooter / bike rentals? But the fines do sound quite extreme 😮
www.npa.go.jp/english/bureau/traffic/document/Traffic_Rules_for_Specified_Small_Motorized_Bicycles.pdf A driver's license is not required to drive a specified small motorized bicycle, but persons under the age of 16 are prohibited from driving a specified small motorized bicycle. It is also prohibited to provide a specified small motorized bicycle to a person under the age of 16 who is likely to drive a specified small motorized bicycle. Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen Prohibition of drunk driving When you drink alcohol, you must not drive a specified small motorized bicycle. In addition, it is prohibited to provide specified small motorized bicycles to persons who are under the influence of alcohol and who are likely to drive under the influence of alcohol, or to provide alcoholic beverages to persons who are likely to drive under the influence of alcohol, or to encourage them to drink alcohol. Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 1 million yen, etc. Specified small motorized bicycles are not allowed to be ridden by two people. Penalties: Fines of up to 50,000 yen In order to use a specified small motorized bicycle safely, it is necessary to inspect it yourself before riding. If there is a problem, do not ride it, but send it for maintenance. ○ Main inspection items Is the brake play and effect sufficient? Are there any wobbles or distortions in the wheels? Is the tire pressure appropriate? Is the handle heavy, is the wire not caught, is there any rattling? Do all the lights work properly? Also, go to a dealer regularly to have it inspected and maintained. Do not drive a specified small motorized bicycle that does not conform to the standards set forth in the provisions of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (Act No. 185 of Showa 26). Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen Where there is a distinction between the roadway and the sidewalk or roadside strip, you must drive on the roadway (bicycle paths are also allowed). On the road, as a rule, you must go to the left edge and not on the right. Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen Specified small motorized bicycles must obey the signals of traffic lights when passing on the road. In particular, pedestrian traffic lights must be obeyed in the following cases: If there is a sign on the pedestrian traffic light that says "Pedestrians and cyclists only" Special Exception: When a small motorized bicycle crosses the road at a pedestrian crossing Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen
Your english is very good my is very bad any tips to improve and i have 1 hours in day to study japanese can you make my schedule according to your experience learning Japanese for 1 hours please pleeeeeeeeeeeeease 😅
@hiananyaa Although I'm mostly in the country side. To be fair, a drunkard on a dirt road is less of a public danger than the average sober city driver. People like pointing to substances as the scapegoat.
Given that only 0.3% of bike crashes were attributable to distracted cycling, the law against it seems like it wants to cut down on cycling crashes by discouraging cycling. I mean, if they hate cycling that much, they could just say that and be a lot clearer about wanting people to drive.
In California you can loot stores and getting out just fine while in Japan even glancing at your phone for 3 seconds gets you into trouble...what a weird world we live in
GOOD. I have to take a longer road to work because walking on the main street terrifies me. We have a hill and people sail down on their bikes, phone in hand, even talking on the phone. Two seconds is more than enough to really hurt someone. My friend broke his wrist after a cyclist hit him (the cyclist ran away btw). I imagine the heavy penalties will be put in place IF an accident occurs. You can stop your bike. People are so selfish they'd rather cut through crowds of people or scroll on their phones just to get there faster or because they can't focus on the safety of others for a few minutes of bike riding. Its not hard to not do it. You shouldn't be actively cycling while staring at your phone.
I wouldn't agree with it, albeit it's a bit nuanced, it makes a lot more sense if one is speaking of users of electric bikes that near 30 kg which makes for a situation that's a lot more dangerous for other people aside from the cyclist, it's too authoritarian in general, accidents happen, that's something to just accept as part of reality in a free society
I really hope they actually follow through with at least stopping dangerous cycling. Regardless of the question of the rules being too strict or not, there are so many people who don't understand the basic rules of the road (possibly due to lack of having a license? at least in Tokyo anyways) and drive on the wrong side or just suddenly shoot out from around a corner without stopping or at least checking. Every day when I ride my bike, its the other cyclist that scare me, not car traffic.
so true ... had so many close calls already just this summer.
as good as most Japanese usually behave, on a bicycle they transform into some sort of super idiot
Same. Cyclists don't give af and they don't follow any rules. On the road, on the pavement red light, green light, doesn't matter.
@@Kerokerokeroppipipi Many cyclist are just not educated correctly. I wish there was a simple video they had to watch when they register their bicycles. That would go a long way.
@@XYoukaiXJapan is the only country I've had to look left and right before dodging a sign or garbage can on the pavement because cyclists will not stop. And if you ever call them out they're indignant about it. I've been hit (not injured) and the girl just laughed and cycled off. I live in Osaka, and people are particularly bad especially in the south. They don't care because cycling (especially with a mask) offers anonymity. You can pedal off at relative speed and no registration number.
Also good to mention that you should get bicycle insurance, which is a few thousand yen a year. So if you do get into an accident, you are covered.
I didn’t think about this! Good to know
I’ve asked so many people here in Japan and either no one knows what it is, or they do know but have no ideas where to get it.
Someone told me to get bicycle insurance at the convenience store, and so I tried it. The convenience store looked at me like I was speaking gibberish.
Where can we get bicycle insurance !?!
@@shizuokaBLUES You can get it at any bicycle shop. Some shops you can get everything done there but others will get you signed up but you pay for it at the conbini.
You can also sign up online. For example Au offers it online. Search for au自転車向け保険
@@hiananyaa I only just recently found out about it due to work. Thank you for the great video btw.
Public transport just got way more interesting
except when need a bike to go to the train station
fr lmao
While traveling in Japan, the only thing that genuinely worried me was moms with electric cargo bikes. More seriously, the problem lies in the lack of cycling infrastructure and the way people ride at full speed on the sidewalks.
I'm from France; we’re not quite at the level of the Netherlands yet, but we’re heading in the right direction with dedicated lanes. Otherwise, we ride on the road. When we're on the sidewalk or in a public square, we go at a slower pace, and sometimes we even have to get off the bike.
Also, being able to bike home after a few drinks is way better than sleeping on the concrete in Shibuya (or getting even more drunk) while waiting for the next train.
Let me get this straight
49.000 cycling accidents and 126 linked to distracted cycling?
That's like... What 0.3%? What gives? Why crack down on the entire populace over 129 people? seems odd.
Are these accidents caused by the bicyclers? Is the bicycling infrastructure safe? has there been accounted for a potential increase in bicyclers? What is the age group of the people those accidents? so many questions.
Exactly! And prison fine for riding a bicycle is also ridiculous.
Yeah it’s a pretty small % 😂 it makes me wonder if there’s a different reason these crazy strict laws got put in place
Rethinking plans to cycle tour in Japan. I did a lot of day trips in my home country last summer, and the RideWithGPS app running on my handlebar-mounted phone was essential. Even with the navi's voice giving the turn-by-turn, I found I often had to look for a few seconds. Cycling groups, from national organizations to local clubs and individuals, now publish routes for use on phones. No one wants to go back to using paper maps and cue sheets, except as a backup. As a foreigner, I'd be afraid of getting lost without Nabi-san, even on local errands. Maybe I should get reacquainted with old-school maps in case I ever get to go to Japan.
I agree the streets are pretty hard to navigate as is 😭
I use my sat nav all the time on my bicycle. But I pause or stop to look at it. It's not that hard. If you're cycling in a city you shouldn't be assuming you can sail ahead without stopping or pausing a lot because there are so many intersecting roads and you will have to stop and slow down anyway to check for cars and pedestrians and crosswalks. I usually use these times to check my bearings, it's not necessary to cycle at the same time. It's dangerous. And you should never be cycling so fast you can't stop easily in crowded areas with people (which are most likely where they will be policing). It's not about having an undisturbed easy path, it's about pedestrian safety. Too many cyclists think they should just be able to dart anywhere they can. I find it so opportunistic. There should be laws, rules and consequences because at the moment there are none. Cars and pedestrians have to stop for lights or to give way, why do cyclists think they should be exempt from the same thing?
People are moaning because it's inconvenient to stop. But what is more inconvenient? Being injured, time off work to go to the hospital, paying doctor's bills, giving up hobbies due to injury etc etc.
RIP Uber Eats delivery riders
Yeah 🥲
What if the phone is mounted on the handlebar, would that be OK to use?
I think it’s the same 😅 it’s what I usually do too so the rules are stricter now!
This is helpful!! Thanks!
But umm… can we use phone while waiting for the traffic light?? Or at least stop for a while to use my phone??
I don’t see anything specific about it! I think as long as you’re stationary it should be ok..?
Also, using headphones to block your ear sense while cycling is prohibited (headphones with ambient sound function are allowed use or not are debatable), and helmets have recently been recommended for all cyclists (not mandatory).
Japan is a relatively safe place to ride bicycles, but laws are an afterthought and not very bike-friendly. So please be careful.
If you need to use your phone to navigate while cycling, I recommend using a phone holder on the handle.
This^^^^
Yes I have a phone on the bar handle , and it’s very useful. Perfect for discretely using it while stopped at a light etc
Was thinking about this.. Is using mobile on phone holder legal? Since we are not touching it with hands..
@ legal but apparently the two second rule is still in effect. But it would be far far more discrete and hard for police to spot if you’re looking at your handle bars rather than the road. That’s my way of thinking anyway
i have a question. Does this also count when your listening music while riding the bike ? like, even if it´s just playing a playlist without you checking or touching your phone ?
Also, it would be interesting making a video about cycling rules, since i´ve heard theres actual things that you should follow if you have a bike in Japan
Its against the law also to be using Bluetooth device while operating a bike so no mobile phone or bluetooth while cycling a bike.
I've definitely had to dodge some bikers hauling.
lol of course they have lots of accidents just look at how insanely stupid all those people ride their bikes ....
I haven't noticed anyone using their phone yet but they usually don't care at all about red traffic lights as well as about driving on the right/wrong side .... they are just completely insane.
Cycling under the influence just as dangerous as driving under the influence? That's it - I've heard it all now 😂
@SvengelskaBlondie "just slightly less"? What are you even saying
Yes, drunk cyclists are known for the dangerously high speed they reach@@SvengelskaBlondie
@@SvengelskaBlondieWhat planet do you live in? Bicycles can't cause anywhere near as much damage as a 2 ton metal box rolling at any given speed. In a car you can plow into a crowd and cause multiple deaths and structural damage. On a bike, you'll maybe knock one person down and you'll go down too. In a severe incident against an elder maybe some broken bones. On a bike against a car, it isn't even a competition.
So we have to stop our bikes every time we want to look at GPS?
Yes.
You can look at it but just for like one second lol
I have heard that cyclists were often stopped by the police in Japan because Bicycle theft was the top crime in Japan
True! It’s pretty common lol
But what about having your phone attached to your bike and using it as a GPS? As delivery ppl do, is that also illegal now?…..
I think it’s fine to keep using it you just can’t look at it for longer than 2 sec
Hmm I wonder what about scooters, since there’s companies like Luup that do on-the-go electric scooter / bike rentals? But the fines do sound quite extreme 😮
www.npa.go.jp/english/bureau/traffic/document/Traffic_Rules_for_Specified_Small_Motorized_Bicycles.pdf
A driver's license is not required to drive a specified small motorized bicycle, but persons under the age of 16 are prohibited from driving a specified small motorized bicycle.
It is also prohibited to provide a specified small motorized bicycle to a person under the age of 16 who is likely to drive a specified small motorized bicycle.
Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen
Prohibition of drunk driving When you drink alcohol, you must not drive a specified small motorized bicycle. In addition, it is prohibited to provide specified small motorized bicycles to persons who are under the influence of alcohol and who are likely to drive under the influence of alcohol, or to provide alcoholic beverages to persons who are likely to drive under the influence of alcohol, or to encourage them to drink alcohol.
Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 1 million yen, etc.
Specified small motorized bicycles are not allowed to be ridden by two people. Penalties: Fines of up to 50,000 yen
In order to use a specified small motorized bicycle safely, it is necessary to inspect it yourself before riding. If there is a problem, do not ride it, but send it for maintenance. ○ Main inspection items Is the brake play and effect sufficient? Are there any wobbles or distortions in the wheels? Is the tire pressure appropriate? Is the handle heavy, is the wire not caught, is there any rattling? Do all the lights work properly? Also, go to a dealer regularly to have it inspected and maintained. Do not drive a specified small motorized bicycle that does not conform to the standards set forth in the provisions of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (Act No. 185 of Showa 26).
Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen
Where there is a distinction between the roadway and the sidewalk or roadside strip, you must drive on the roadway (bicycle paths are also allowed). On the road, as a rule, you must go to the left edge and not on the right.
Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen
Specified small motorized bicycles must obey the signals of traffic lights when passing on the road. In particular, pedestrian traffic lights must be obeyed in the following cases: If there is a sign on the pedestrian traffic light that says "Pedestrians and cyclists only" Special Exception: When a small motorized bicycle crosses the road at a pedestrian crossing
Penalties: Imprisonment for up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen
On the news they said luups etc also fall under the same law!
Your english is very good my is very bad any tips to improve and i have 1 hours in day to study japanese can you make my schedule according to your experience learning Japanese for 1 hours please pleeeeeeeeeeeeease 😅
Damn ive never seen swimming pool cops
They’re real 😎
There were huge numbers of swimming pool cops but they put a cap on them
I picked a good day to choose walking. 😎
Good move 😎
@hiananyaa Although I'm mostly in the country side. To be fair, a drunkard on a dirt road is less of a public danger than the average sober city driver. People like pointing to substances as the scapegoat.
The Dutch would like a word
😂
Damnnnn
ananya sponsor me ❤
Given that only 0.3% of bike crashes were attributable to distracted cycling, the law against it seems like it wants to cut down on cycling crashes by discouraging cycling. I mean, if they hate cycling that much, they could just say that and be a lot clearer about wanting people to drive.
In California you can loot stores and getting out just fine while in Japan even glancing at your phone for 3 seconds gets you into trouble...what a weird world we live in
GOOD. I have to take a longer road to work because walking on the main street terrifies me. We have a hill and people sail down on their bikes, phone in hand, even talking on the phone. Two seconds is more than enough to really hurt someone. My friend broke his wrist after a cyclist hit him (the cyclist ran away btw).
I imagine the heavy penalties will be put in place IF an accident occurs. You can stop your bike. People are so selfish they'd rather cut through crowds of people or scroll on their phones just to get there faster or because they can't focus on the safety of others for a few minutes of bike riding. Its not hard to not do it. You shouldn't be actively cycling while staring at your phone.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend :(
Yeah I’ve also had a friend in a similar situation-it’s so scary!
I wouldn't agree with it, albeit it's a bit nuanced, it makes a lot more sense if one is speaking of users of electric bikes that near 30 kg which makes for a situation that's a lot more dangerous for other people aside from the cyclist, it's too authoritarian in general, accidents happen, that's something to just accept as part of reality in a free society
正直、もっともっともぉ〜っと厳しくていい。
もちろん対象の国籍は関係なく、むしろ平等に厳しく。
自転車の危険運転が酷すぎる。
cdawgVA cyclethons joever
Probably looked at that and thought we need to stop this Welsh dude
@@MVM.7 "the foreigners are ruining cycling we need to crack down" is something id unironically expect some minister to come up with