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There\u2019s a major gray area in Japan\u2019s new blue ticket cycling violation system.<\/p>\n
Bicycles are often a great way to thoroughly explore Japan\u2019s local communities, providing more range than you\u2019d get walking, more flexibility than taking the train, and less complexity to deal with than renting a car. However, bike-riding has gotten more complicated in Japan as of April 1, with the introduction of the aoi kippu, or blue ticket, system.<\/p>\n
Under this new system, police officers in Japan can issue fines for violations of bike safety laws, similar to the authority they have to ticket automobile drivers for traffic infractions. That means that many kinds of cycling behavior that up until now carried no greater threat than a stern verbal warning could now come with a fine to be paid, so let\u2019s take a look at what they are and how much of a penalty they carry.<\/p>\n
3,000-yen (US$19) fines
\u25cf Riding double (i.e. a second person bracing themselves on the rider\u2019s shoulders or hanging on to them around the waist)
\u25cf Riding side-by-side with another cyclist<\/p>\n
5,000-yen fines
\u25cf Using\/holding an umbrella while riding
\u25cf Using earphones while riding
\u25cf Riding at night with no bike light
\u25cf Failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign
\u25cf Running a flashing red traffic light
\u25cf Riding a bike with defective brakes<\/p>\n
6,000-yen fines
\u25cf Running a non-flashing red light
\u25cf Riding on the right side of the road (i.e. riding against the flow of traffic, which runs on the left side of the road in Japan)
\u25cf Obstruction of pedestrian crossing<\/p>\n
7,000-yen fine
\u25cf Passing through closed railroad crossing gate<\/p>\n
12,000-yen fine
\u25cf\u3000Talking on or holding a mobile phone while riding<\/p>\n
\u25bc You can\u2019t buy love, but this kind of romance will cost you 3,000 yen<\/p>\n
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There\u2019s also a gray area to the bicycle blue ticket rules, involving riding bicycles on sidewalks. In-road bike lanes are relatively rare in Japan, and with many streets themselves already being narrow, it\u2019s common to see cyclists on sidewalks in Japan, or at least it has been. Under the new rules, though, riding on the sidewalk is considered a violation and grounds for a 6,000-yen ticket, but there are a number of exceptions. Riding on the sidewalk is allowed in areas where signs designate it as permitted, and is always allowed for cyclists under the age of 13 or over the age of 70 (though with only cyclists 16 and older subject to blue ticket fines, the \u201c13 and under\u201d exemption is essentially moot). Riding on the sidewalk is also still allowed for cyclists of all ages on streets with very heavy traffic or very narrow widths, though that then leaves the situation open to a subjective judgement call by police officers. Finally, even when riding on the sidewalk is allowed, cyclists must remain on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road and ride slowly, with failure to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk carrying the risk of a 3,000-yen ticket.<\/p>\n
Issued tickets can be paid at post offices or banks, and if the fines are paid by their due date, the violation will not be recorded as a committed crime. Failure to pay the ticket, though, then leaves the police with the option of proceeding to a criminal trial to prosecute the cyclist.<\/p>\n
Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Police<\/a>, NHK<\/a> Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n
Top image: Pakutaso<\/a>
Insert image: Pakutaso<\/a> (edited by SoraNews24)
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