Why “illegal mopeds” are rampant: Riding two people, jaywalking, wearing headphones, no license plate ……

It looked like a motorcycle, but it was a “bicycle.” ……

Gooooooooooooooooooo!

With an eerie road noise, something whizzed by the reporter at a high speed. It was a “bicycle,” but it was a “bike. Without pedaling at all, the “bicycle” accelerated uphill.

In recent years, “pedal-powered motorized bicycles,” or “mopeds,” have become a common sight. Their matte bodies, thick tires, and powerful forms are a perfect match for “chotai” fashion, and they have become a popular item among the younger generation.

Mopeds are now becoming a social problem.

What is the difference between a “moped” and an “electrically power assisted bicycle”? An “electrically power assisted bicycle” has a mechanism in which the motor is not driven unless the rider pedals, and the speed of the assist is limited to 24 km/h. This bicycle is treated as a “bicycle” under the Road Traffic Law. On the other hand, a “pedal-powered motorized bicycle,” called a moped, has pedals but can propel itself by motor without pedaling, and is classified as a “moped bike. Despite the similarities in appearance, the rules for riding on the road are completely different from those for bicycles.

On November 1, 2012, the revised Road Traffic Law was implemented, clearly stipulating that the rules and regulations for driving and violations regarding mopeds should be treated the same as those for motorized bikes and other vehicles. Furthermore, it was officially announced that “mopeds are treated as motorized bicycles or motor vehicles even if they run on pedals alone without a motor.

This means that a driver’s license is required to properly drive a moped, and that one must ride within 30 km/h and observe the two-step right turn. It is also mandatory to wear a license plate, to have liability insurance, to install safety parts such as mirrors and blinkers, and to wear a helmet.

What is exacerbating the problem is the rampant illegal modification of mopeds. Originally, the maximum speed of mopeds was restricted by each license category, but it is easy to obtain parts to modify mopeds to remove the limiter through the Internet. Last October, the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested three men, including a company employee, and sent two men in their 60s to prosecution on charges of violating the Trademark Law for selling limiter removal parts on a flea market site. This was the first case in Japan involving modified parts for electric bicycles.

While a moped riding on a public road at 50 km/h without a license plate would cause a big commotion, there is no end to the number of “illegal mopeds” who ignore the rules and ride without paying attention to the rules. What in the world has brought about this unusual situation?