Bicycles and light vehicles

89 questions

• Light vehicles such as bicycles, and specified small motorized bicycles in footway-permitted mode, may also travel in the roadside strip (rosokutai) on the right-hand side of the road.
• When light vehicles or specified small motorized bicycles in footway-permitted mode ride in a roadside strip, they must proceed at a speed and in a manner that does not obstruct pedestrians.
• A specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode may ride on a sidewalk only where road signs indicate that such vehicles are permitted to do so.
• When a specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode rides on a sidewalk, it must keep to the half of the sidewalk nearer the buildings, away from the roadway.
• If a specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode riding on a sidewalk would obstruct pedestrians, it must come to a complete stop.
• Even where a sign permits sidewalk riding, the vehicle may not use that sidewalk if a police officer orders it not to in order to protect pedestrian safety.
• On a part of the sidewalk marked as a designated bicycle section, the rider must always proceed at "jokou" speed - slow enough to stop immediately - even when no pedestrian is on it or about to enter it.
• An ordinary bicycle (futsu jitensha) may ride side by side with another ordinary bicycle on any road.
• Even on a road where riding side by side is permitted, three or more ordinary bicycles may not ride abreast.
• When road signs or the like indicate that standard bicycles may use the sidewalk, a standard bicycle may ride on that sidewalk.
• Even when a standard bicycle is ridden by a school-age child or a preschool child, riding on the sidewalk is never permitted.
• When a standard bicycle rides on a sidewalk, it must as a rule keep to the roadway side of the center of the sidewalk and proceed at a slow speed (jokou).
• A bicycle on the sidewalk only needs to slow down, and never has to come to a complete stop, even when it would obstruct pedestrians.
• You must not ride a bicycle whose brakes do not meet the required standard and could therefore create a traffic hazard.
• At night, a bicycle without a reflector meeting the required standard may not be ridden even if its tail lamp is switched on.
• A person riding a bicycle must make an effort to wear a bicycle helmet.
• A person responsible for protecting a child does not need to make any effort to have that child wear a helmet when the child rides a bicycle.
• A person under 16 years old must not ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• Even if you know that a person under 16 is likely to ride it, there is no rule against lending or handing over a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) to that person.
• People aged 70 or older are among those allowed to ride a "standard bicycle" (futsu jitensha — a bicycle within the legal size and equipment limits) on the sidewalk.
• Children are not included among those allowed to ride a "standard bicycle" (futsu jitensha) on the sidewalk.
• A two-wheeled vehicle whose engine cannot produce more than 4.0 kW of maximum power still counts as a general motorized bicycle (moped) up to an engine displacement of 125 cc (0.125 liters).
• For general motorized bicycles (mopeds) other than two-wheeled ones and the three-or-more-wheeled types designated by the Prime Minister, the engine displacement limit is 0.050 liters (50 cc).
• To qualify as a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter), the vehicle body must be no longer than 190 cm and no wider than 60 cm.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must use an electric motor with a rated output of 1.0 kW or less.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must be built so that it cannot travel faster than 20 km/h.
• The upper limit on body width laid down for a motor-powered light vehicle is 3.00 meters.
• A motor-powered light vehicle must be built so that its motor stops when the operator moves away from it.
• Ignoring a traffic signal while riding a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) is legally designated as a "dangerous act".
• Riding a bicycle whose brakes do not meet the required standard is included among the designated dangerous acts for bicycles.
• For bicycles, riding with alcohol in your system ("shukiobi" drink-riding) is not included among the designated dangerous acts.
• Riding a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) that is in poor mechanical condition is also included among the designated dangerous acts.
• A violation of the rules for crossing a railway crossing is not included among the dangerous acts for a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• Failing to make a complete stop at a designated stop location (a "STOP" sign) is a dangerous act when riding a bicycle.
• Breaching the general duty of safe driving is not counted as a dangerous act for a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• Breaching the duties that apply to vehicles travelling on a pedestrian-only road is a dangerous act for a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• A violation of the rules on relations with other vehicles at a roundabout is not designated as a dangerous act for a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• The speed set for a specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode when riding on the sidewalk is 6 km/h.
• A specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode may ride on the sidewalk even if it has a sidecar attached.
• You must not ride a bicycle after drinking alcohol or when you are extremely tired.
• It is acceptable to ride a bicycle without a tail light or reflector at night.
• Even when a small child is seated in a proper child seat, carrying a passenger on a bicycle is not allowed.
• You should not ride a bicycle while holding an umbrella or hanging bags from your hand or the handlebars.
• You should avoid riding a bicycle that does not fit you — one where your toes do not reach the ground when you sit on the saddle.
• A guardian should have their child wear a helmet when the child rides a bicycle or is carried in a child seat.
• As a brake check, a bicycle travelling at 10 km/h should be able to stop within 3 metres after the brakes are applied.
• As a headlight check, a bicycle's lamp should clearly light the road 30 metres ahead.
• To be a "standard bicycle", it must not exceed 190 cm in length or 60 cm in width.
• A bicycle towing another vehicle still counts as a "standard bicycle" as long as it meets the size and structure requirements.
• Under the standard-bicycle requirements, training wheels count as a sidecar, so a bicycle with training wheels is not a standard bicycle.
• A standard bicycle must have only one riding seat, not counting a child seat.
• You may ride a bicycle with one hand whenever you like, not only when giving a signal.
• When stopping a bicycle, apply the rear brake gently to slow down enough, stop along the left edge of the road, and dismount on the left side.
• Specified small motorized bicycles (electric kick scooters) and bicycles must not enter national expressways or motor-vehicle-only roads.
• On roads with both a sidewalk and a roadway, bicycles are in principle supposed to ride on the sidewalk.
• Where a bicycle lane (cycle track) exists, an ordinary bicycle must use it, except in cases such as roadworks.
• When riding on the roadway, a bicycle must keep to the right side of the centre of the road and ride along the right edge.
• One requirement for the specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode is that the vehicle cannot exceed 6 km/h.
• A specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode may ride on any sidewalk at any time, even without a permitting sign or marking.
• One case allowing an ordinary bicycle on the sidewalk is when the rider is a child under 16 or a person aged 65 or over.
• A cyclist may ride across a pedestrian crossing while mounted, even when this could obstruct pedestrians.
• At a railway crossing, bicycles and specified small motorized bicycles (electric kick scooters) must stop completely and check that it is safe.
• You must not use a mobile phone or stare at its screen while riding.
• Lights are needed only at night; you do not need them in a tunnel or thick fog during the daytime.
• When turning left, you must signal at the point 30 metres before the near edge of the intersection.
• Even when a green arrow signal permits a right turn, specified small motorized bicycles (electric kick scooters) and bicycles may not proceed on it.
• When passing another bicycle on a sidewalk, you should pass so that the oncoming bicycle is on your left.
• You must not ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) after drinking alcohol or when you are extremely tired.
• You must not ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) whose handlebars, brakes, lights or other equipment are in poor condition and could cause danger to traffic.
• It is permitted to carry a passenger (two people) on a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• The rules say you must not lend a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) to anyone under 18 years old.
• When riding a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter), you should wear a helmet and fasten the chin strap securely so it is worn correctly.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must always be covered by compulsory automobile liability insurance (jibaiseki) or a mutual aid equivalent.
• You cannot ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) unless you also take out optional (voluntary) insurance.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must not exceed 190 cm in length and 60 cm in width.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must use an electric motor with a rated output of 1.00 kW or less.
• If a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) can be set to more than one top speed, the rider may change that setting freely while riding.
• A specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter) must be an automatic-transmission vehicle and be fitted with a maximum-speed indicator lamp.
• When stopping a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter), you should gently apply the rear brake, slow down and come to a stop along the left edge of the road, and then get off on the right side.
• A person under 18 must not ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).
• A light vehicle or a specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode riding in a roadside strip must keep its speed even when pedestrians are present.
• When a specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode would obstruct pedestrians on a footway, it must sound its horn and carry on.
• An ordinary bicycle on a footway must as a rule ride slowly along the half of the footway nearer the buildings.
• A person riding a bicycle must wear a helmet.
• A specified small motorized bicycle in footway-permitted mode does not have to stop where its progress would not obstruct pedestrians.
• Riding an ordinary bicycle on a footway, I went slowly along the half nearer the carriageway.
• The bicycle’s brakes did not meet the standard, but I was only going nearby, so I rode off on it.
• When riding my bicycle, I made a point of wearing a helmet.
• My 15-year-old brother asked me, so I let him ride a specified small motorized bicycle (electric kick scooter).