I’ve been living for a while in Japan, and I noticed that, while people here tend to follow the rules, and in particular while in traffic, cyclists seem not to care.
It’s not just about them being ruthless when driving among pedestrians on the side walks, but also jumping red lights, ignoring pedestrian crossings or driving in the wrong direction on one way streets.
In Europe, bikes are considered vehicles, and must follow the same rules as any other vehicle in the road. Isn’t that the case in Japan?
41 comments
They are. They just don’t give a shit and nobody really cares about enforcing it either.
Is this some sort of bot attack on bicycles in Japan?
Why have we had ~~three~~ *four* threads about cyclists in the last 24h?
I walk in front of cyclists in crosswalks. Fuck em
Some of them drive like crazy maniacs. You have to walk very straight on the way. Last time I stepped right because there was a bug on my way and that crazy cyclist coming from behind almost hit me. They drive very fast without caring at all. Also a taxi driver recommended me to report to police if a cyclist hit me, even if I am fine that moment I may not be able to complain to authorities if something goes wrong with my health following days due to the accident.
I’m curious where you are that people other than cyclists tend to follow the rules. Cars, cyclists, and pedestrians here are all lunatics with zero self awareness and zero situational awareness.
Bicycles are considered vehicles under Japanese law, and they are supposed to follow traffic laws on the road. This includes biking on the left side of the road and obeying traffic lights.
When it comes to pedestrian crossings, cyclists are allowed to follow the traffic lights on the road if the pedestrian crossing lights don’t have a “For pedestrian and cyclists” sign, however if the crossing does have one of these signs they’re obligated to navigate to the crossing and not run through the intersection like a car. They’re also allowed on the pavement if there is a sign saying so, the blue one with a pedestrian and cyclist on it, or one that says “Cycling allowed” in written form, however they are absolutely required to give way to pedestrians and cycle safely so as not to endanger them as pedestrians always have right of way on foot paths.
However, as you’ve experienced, most Japanese cyclists do not adhere to even the bare minimum of rules. Everyone will notice how awful it is to walk in a heavy cycling area, with bikes constantly zooming past and cutting you off as you walk, it feels like you need your head on a swivel when walking in some areas and it’s hard to walk relaxedly.
It’s probably confirmation bias and easy to chalk up the majority of Japanese cyclsits as not following the rules, but I commute 15-20K on bike each day and it really does stand out to me just how many people ignore the rules. Cycling towards me on the road, on the wrong side of the road, towards oncoming traffic. Hopping the sidewalk and road as they see fit to maximise time and speed, regardless of signage, using whatever traffic light is fastest or just blowing through it when red if there are no pedestrians even when the cars are waiting… the list goes on but yeah, it’s the wild west out there for cycling.
Yes they are supposed to follow the rules and they are considered vehicles. They are supposed to drive on the left, to follow traffic lights and regulations.
But then you see that drunk salaryman with umbrella without lights at night speeding against the traffic in the wrong lane and policemen who do not see him and understand that it’s free for all.
By the way, Japan has a very high cyclist death ratio internationally. It’s easy to see why.
Apparently the police have these periodical “campaigns” when they decide they’re going to crack down on rogue ~~gaijin~~ cyclists, but I very rarely see them interacting with people on bicycles, even those who are cycling in the rain with an umbrella in one hand, their phone in the other, and are wobbling around all over the place having not had a mis-spent youth practicing the no-hands technique.
Thinking back to when I used to cycle a lot (this was in the UK, though), I’d probably be in prison by now. I have memories of cycling down a steep hill with no helmet, not using my hands, and a walkman on. I still probably had better road sense than half the cyclists here…
I get the feeling that for certain things it’s a free for all because they know police won’t do anything.
Parking randomly on side of road, cyclists riding wherever they like.
Seem to be things socially acceptable
Don’t Park your bike anywhere tho. They will be on that like a flash.
If the laws are not enforced people tend to become lazy about following them
One-way streets generally don’t apply to bicycles (the signs usually say 「自転車を除く」). The rest, I agree with.
I don’t mind the bikes on the footpath, or on the road whether they’re going with or against traffic. Whatever.
What really bothers me is them zooming unpredictably up and down between the footpath and the road without checking for traffic behind them.
Either act like a pedestrian and use the crossings, or act like a vehicle and follow the signs and signals. Just pick one so I know where you’re going.
I commute daily by bike and can confirm. I’m regularly passed by bikes as I wait at red lights.
One important point though, bikes are usually allowed to go the wrong direction on one way roads. Next time you’re near one, check the sign at the intersection. It usually says “no entry except bicycle”
The issue is that most cyclists do not have driving licenses since you can live without a car in areas like Tokyo and are ignorant of traffic rules. That is changing these days due to the rise in accidents. They started educating in high schools, making insurance compulsory and issuing tickets to cyclists. Most tickets are simply warnings atm and pretty useless imo but there are talks of making them heavier. Hopefully the situation will improve soon. I regularly drive and for the live of god wish cyclists to at least respect red lights and stop signs…
Yes.
With all due respect, but people blaming cyclists here are too short-sighted. This is simply the consequence of an environment that doesn’t acknowledge cyclists’ existence with proper bike lanes: a gray zone where cyclists feel they don’t need to behave like neither cars nor pedestrians and just do whatever the f they want. Change the environment by building some bike lanes, and cyclists will start to behave differently.
Seeing cyclists ride on the road until the traffic signals turn red, then immediately switch to the sidewalk to cross with pedestrians is rather frustrating.
Some cyclists also quickly switch from sidewalk to the road without yielding or looking behind them first. It would be much safer if people would stick with one or the other
Cyclists are cyclists wherever you go.
They’re supposed to, they just don’t, and police don’t do shit about it. I have SO MANY negative experiences with them it’s ridiculous, they’re worse than the cyclists in NYC.
That’s a global phenomenon. Not sure where you’ve been where cyclists followed the rules but I’ve never seen it.
Bikes are basically cars. They need to follow all the same rules as automobiles. They should ride in the left lane with traffic and stop at all stop signs and lights. You’re not supposed to ride on the sidewalk unless it’s clearly marked on a sign. Also, you can ride on the sidewalk if you’re under 13 or are a senior. (60? 70? Not sure.)
However, cyclists aren’t allowed to make right turns with traffic. You’re supposed to use the crosswalk like a pedestrian.
Of course, you’ll only find people following actual bike rules when it’s convenient for them. 90% of the time people act like a bike is just an extension of their feet.
During my trip in the past two weeks I kept singing “death by jitensha” to myself to the tune of “cake by the ocean”… Some are considerate, a lot of them are not
They are supposed to, but nobody does.
I can understand why people want to ride on the sidewalk. Although it’s getting better, a lot of drivers still assume that bicycles are supposed to ride on the sidewalk. They don’t give you enough space and pass at high speed.
I’ve even had drivers sound their horn at me wanting me to get off the road when I was simply riding straight and keeping well to the left.
One of my biggest gripes about Japan is that you can’t take a relaxing stroll down a sidewalk without constantly worrying about bicycles approaching from behind.
One of the worst is the mothers with a baby on the front and a toddler on the rear, all without helmets, riding an electric assist bike at 20 km/h down the sidewalk. So dangerous.
They are supposed to follow the traffic rules, including lights and signs. Even the STOP signs. I’ve almost never seen anyone do a 一時停止 at a stop sign, and the number of cyclists that obey the lights are about 50/50.
Cycling through a red light has a fine.
The police is starting to crack down on cyclists a lot more in the recent years. But that usually means lining 15 officers at a particular road/intersection for 1 day out of 365.
Yes, they are.
I myself follow all of the rules, including stopping at the stop areas, using hand signals (left turn, right turn, slowing down), and even the mirror-image L turns at right turns when there’s no one else in sight. It’s possible my following the rules has prevented an accident or two, but I also do it so (a) other people will know what I’m going to do and (b) so I do it without consciously thinking to. I admit it sometimes feels silly signalling that I’m slowing down as I approach our house (because it’s at the end of a dead-end street), but I don’t mind.
You’ll find that in Japan, laws are less important than the customs and expectations people are used to. Helmets are “mandatory,” but nobody will ever enforce it. I can understand why your average cyclist would disregard safety but it is interesting to me that such a crime-free country does not abide the letter of the law
I’m in no way saying Japan is a bad place to live for this; I come from America, where violent crime is prevalent and many citizens only really abide by laws when the hammer of law enforcement comes down on them. I just find it interesting after living in Japan for several years that the “rule of law” is not as important as I once thought it was
A cyclist is supposed to ride on the street whenever possible, follow the traffic rules, and at controlled intersections we are supposed to make a turn like pedestrians in two steps.
My favorite is when they ruck up behind you on a crowded sidewalk, don’t bother ringing their bell or calling out, then act annoyed with you when they almost maul your Achilles’ tendon.
But then, kicking bikes is fun so…
just about spat my coffee out when I read your headline
While the rules for vehicles apply, a lot of cyclists do not have their drivers license and are not aware of those rules.
Also a lot of the rules just aren’t grounded in reality. Like, I will cycle on the sidewalk rather than on a busy road because I don’t want to get hit by a car coming from behind when I’m trying to go around a stopped car. I cycle carefully on the sidewalk and slow before corners and around pedestrians but I am still “wrong” and anyone that tells me to get on the road can eat my sweaty shorts
That being said cyclists charging through stop signs and the like are a menace. I don’t think they are the majority though, but the ones that do it(and other dangerous behaviors) stand out like a sore thumb.
Cyclists here do follow the rules about as much as the cars do. Red lights seem to be just a suggestion to stop to many drivers.
Yeah but in reality it’s total anarchy and everybody knows it. Don’t ride with 2 people on the same bike though, I saw the cops pull some school kids over for that
I literally just got hit by a young woman on her bicycle riding on the sidewalk. There were two men walking towards me and I was walking on the far left side of the sidewalk and she tried to go in between us and nailed me so now my arm hurts
I told her I was going to call the police and she nearly cried and I’d have no idea why but I decided not to. I really should have it hurts. Also some asshole behind her tried to hit me on his bicycle probably because he didn’t like what I did or something
I absolutely despise cyclists in Japan, they are consistently awful people. She made eye contact with me and everything and still hit me at full speed.
We have two big beautiful bike lanes too that’s the worst part
This drives me nuts! I ride commute to work every day on the bike. Why can’t we just stick to driving on the left AT LEAST. And also stop using your damn phones while driving. I had a minor collision with a girl recently. I was on the left side, she wanted to turn I guess, but was on her phone. I’m in the right so… I just keep going thinking “look up look up look up!!” and then she ran into me. She fell, I didn’t. She was fine, I kept going. Maybe cruel but, ffs you were ON YOUR PHONE.
If they have to obey the law of physics then same to traffic rules
Yes, but they don’t and it’s infuriating when they blatantly flaunt it.
fuck cyclists in Japan
There are plenty of rules people don’t follow in Japan. Biking side by side, biking on the wrong side of the road, using cross walks, etc.
Then there are the cars going 50+kmh down my back road of 30kmh. It’s a school commute route as well.
That’s why you create traffic breakers for people going to fast or safer routes for bikers. I do appreciate the fact that drivers are more alert to pedestrians and bikers here though. Doesn’t stop kids on bike bumping with cars every week.
If you ride at night in black clothes with no light and swerve into traffic, you deserve to be taken out of the gene pool.
If I see a person walking at a cross walk. I 100% stop 100% of the time. If someone is walking their bike across. I 100% stop 100% of the time. If someone is on their bike waiting to cross a crosswalk I 100% stop 0% of the time. If you are going to be so fucking critical of me following the rules YOU need to follow the fucking rules.
My favourite are the people who come speeding down the wrong side of an unlit backroad at night, dressed in all black with no lights on, often while messing about on their phone.
I commute by bicycle but I’m seriously considering switching to the bus because I’ve had way too many near misses with idiots like that.