Things you want to know when riding a bicycle in Japan

I think there are opportunities to ride a bicycle in Japan. If you know the bicycle traffic rules in Japan, you are not to be called out by the visiting guy.

It’s easy, so I can remember.

Rules of bicycles prescribed by the revised Road Traffic Act

The following 14 acts are stipulated as “dangerous acts”.

Signal disregard
Do not pass traffic bans
It slows down on a pedestrian road
Drive on the left side of the road
Pedestrians take precedence in roadside belts
Prohibited entry of blocking railroad crossing
The intersection goes safe
Do not disturb the priority car at the intersection
At the roundabout, it must proceed safely
Let’s keep pauses
Rules on running on a sidewalk
Do not ride a bicycle not braking
Drunk driving
Let’s drive safely

I will explain each of the dangerous acts and the correct rule one by one.
”14.Let’s drive safely” I think that various actions apply to you, so I will first explain it.

14.Let’s drive safely

You must do something that you should not drive with one hand blocked and do not cause harm to others.

×Self-driving smartphone・Umbrella(I can not see or call)

×No-light driving at night(Battery exhaustion does not apply)

×There is no reflector behind(Notify my presence to the car behind)

×There is no bell(Do not ring toward people)

×Running parallel and two-seater(You can ride only one infant younger than 6 years old)

These actions apply to this item.

1.Signal disregard

At the intersection with traffic lights you must follow the traffic lights.

2.Do not pass traffic bans

　　　　　　　
Bicycle passage closure 　 No vehicle entrance　　 Pedestrian only

3.It slows down on a pedestrian road

When walking on a pedestrian road, the pedestrian takes precedence and the bicycle has to slow down.

4.Drive on the left side of the road

In Japan, the bicycle must pass the left side of the roadway.If you have a bicycle exclusive road, you will drive on a bicycle exclusive road.

5.Pedestrians take precedence in roadside belts

【道路交通法第17条の2第2項】

路側帯では歩行者の通行を妨げてはいけません。

6.Prohibited entry of blocking railroad crossing

Do not enter a railroad crossing where the alarm is ringing or the circuit breaker is about to close.

7.The intersection goes safe

If you have a bicycle crossing at the intersection, you will pass the bicycle crossing zone.

8.Do not disturb the priority car at the intersection

When turning right at an intersection, do not block the traffic of opposing straight-ahead vehicles.

9.At the roundabout, it must proceed safely

When you enter the roundabout, go slowly and run with care about the safety of other cars and pedestrians

10.Let’s keep pauses

This sign should be suspended.

11.Rules on running on a sidewalk

When walking through a sidewalk, pedestrians are given priority, and when interfering with the passage of pedestrians, they must temporarily stop.When traveling on a sidewalk unavoidably it is necessary to “slow down on the side of the road”

Basically you should not drive except in the following cases.

「Places permitted by signs」
「If the driver is an elderly person under 13 years old or over 70 years old or is physically impaired」
「From the traffic situation unavoidable」