Driving on cell phones, bombing sidewalks… Increased crackdown on “bad bicycle users”! Blue ticket penalties are also being considered.

Bicyclists who “watch” while using their cell phones or wearing earphones collide with pedestrians.

The number of traffic accidents has been on the decrease in recent years, but the percentage of bicycle accidents has increased dramatically. Accidents between bicyclists and pedestrians are particularly common, and because of this, the National Police Agency has introduced a new law that requires the payment of a fine, just like traffic violations by cars.” blue ticket “The National Police Agency is beginning to consider the introduction of a ‘blue ticket’ system, in which a fine is paid in the same way as for traffic violations by cars.

Mr. Shigeki Kobayashi, president of the Bicycle Utilization Promotion Study Group, says, “The police department is beginning to consider the introduction of a “blue ticket” system.

Riding at high speed on the right sidewalk or roadway, riding back and forth between the sidewalk and roadway to avoid cars and pedestrians, riding on the sidewalk while ringing a bell, disregarding traffic signals with impunity…. There is no end to the number of people who ride according to these “selfish” rules, and many accidents have occurred.

He says that bicycle accidents in Reiwa in recent years have a unique characteristic that did not exist in the past.

One of the causes of bicycle accidents in Reiwa is “dabbling” with a smartphone while riding a bicycle. People touch their phones while riding their bicycles and hit pedestrians while they are distracted. Many people wear earphones while riding their bicycles, which puts them in a dangerous situation where they are deprived of both sight and hearing.

This is not limited to bicyclists, but also pedestrians and car drivers. This is one of the adverse effects of the changes in our very lifestyles brought about by smartphones.

In addition, society as a whole has become more individualistic, and we are less inclined to ask how others are doing and care. This sense of ‘as long as it’s good enough for me, it’s good enough for me’ has led to malicious violations of traffic rules.

Violating the left-hand side of the road is punishable by imprisonment for up to three months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen.

Bicycles are essentially “vehicles” like cars and motorcycles. Therefore, in principle, bicycles should be ridden on the roadway, not on sidewalks where pedestrians walk.

Bicycles are allowed on sidewalks under certain conditions, such as when there is a sign on the sidewalk that says “Bicycles are allowed on sidewalks,” or when children under 13 years old, elderly persons over 70 years old, or physically disabled persons are riding a standard bicycle. In all cases, however, they must slow down (in the case of bicycles, the speed must be about that of a fast walk).

Although bicycles can be ridden by anyone, the Road Traffic Law stipulates five rules for the safe use of bicycles, and users must abide by these rules.