Cycling Safety

日本語 (Japanese)

Bike Safety　自転車を安全に乗るために

Overview

In Japan, cars drive on the left as they do in the United Kingdom, Australia, etc. For visitors and newcomers from, for example, the US this will take a bit of getting used to.

Next, Kyoto does not have dedicated bike lanes. There are "bike lanes" painted onto some sidewalks ­- e.g.,  Horikawa, Nishi Oji, etc­. - but they are meaningless. Why? These lanes are used by both bikes and pedestrians, they are on the sidewalk, ­ and they run right through bus stops. Thus, when you approach a bus stop you have to go out of the lane and into the sidewalk reserved for pedestrians to get around the people waiting for the bus.

Sidewalks

Legally, you are not supposed to ride on most sidewalks, but many do and the police could not care less. Unless you injure someone while riding on a sidewalk, the police will never stop you.

Congestion

Kyoto streets are moreover somewhat chaotic. The number of cars, motorcycles, scooters, pedestrians, and cyclists takes a bit of getting used to. In general, though, Japanese drivers are more aware of cyclists and usually much more polite than, say, American drivers.

However, here are a few pointers.

Basic Safety Tips

  • Helmet (opinion on this is split, but we opt for the helmet)
  • No cell phones or headphones while riding
  • Follow the rules of the road (e.g., a red light is not a subliminal sign to put your head down, thrust out your horns, and charge through an intersection while ringing your bell for everyone to get the hell out of your way)
  • Ride on the left side of the road
  • Use and love the mirrors that help you see around corners and hidden places
  • Do NOT ride on sidewalks (there are a few exceptions to be covered elsewhere)
  • Pay special attention when you are going straight through an intersection and cars are turning left
  • On a bike, it is legal to go the wrong way on a one-way street
  • Drivers to be wary of: all taxis except MK (we love MK), dump trucks, Kei-trucks (small white vehicles used by contractors), scooters, and above all other cyclists
  • At night, the police occasionally set up roadblocks to check a) if the rider of the bike is the owner and/or b) intoxicated. Bike theft is fairly common, and if you get stopped riding a bike registered to a friend, your uncle, someone you don't know ­- i.e., anyone other than you - you are going to have accompany the cops to the station and have a long chat.