Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

[makoto]

Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

More and more riders of fixed-gear bikes--racing bicycles without brakes--are being ticketed by police for riding on public roads.....

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111003004176.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Tokyo police to strictly apply traffic rules against cyclists to reduce accidents

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has decided to urge cyclists to ride in the left lanes of roads and will strictly crack down on people who do not obey traffic rules and ride on sidewalks, in a desperate effort to combat an increasing number of accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians....

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/10/19/20111019p2a00m0na022000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Japan Police to Tighten Crackdown on Sidewalk Cyclists

Tokyo, Oct. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japan's National Police Agency instructed police across the country Tuesday to tighten traffic rules for cyclists in order to force them to ride on the road, a shift from its previous approach of tolerating bikes on sidewalks.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2011102500833

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Police take steps to prevent bicycle accidents as number of riders increases after quake

Japanese police have finally decided to take comprehensive measures to prevent bicycle accidents after going through many legal twists and turns over the last 50 years, as more people are turning to bicycles to commute to schools and offices in the wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/10/26/20111026p2a00m0na016000c.html

Police to clamp down on cyclists, bar them from pedestrian paths

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The National Police Agency instructed officers nationwide Tuesday to strictly enforce traffic rules on cyclists and bar them from traveling on pedestrian sideways in principle due to a rising number of accidents involving pedestrians.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/10/26/20111026p2g00m0dm012000c.html

Cops want bikes off sidewalks / Pedestrian safety the aim of crackdown on bicycle road rules

The National Police Agency has decided to step up instructing cyclists to ride on roads due to an increasing number of accidents involving pedestrians hit by cyclists riding recklessly on sidewalks.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111026005177.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

News Navigator: Why are police trying to expand Japan's bicycle lanes?

The Mainichi answers some common questions readers may have about the expansion of bicycle lanes in Japan.

Question: I've heard that the National Police Agency (NPA) is moving ahead with expanding and upgrading bicycle lanes across Japan. What does a bicycle lane look like?

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/newsnavigator/news/20111026p2a00m0na005000c.html

related news
Navigation systems for bicycles hitting market

Pioneer Corp. has intensified the competition for compact navigation systems for bicycle riders, as manufacturers try to tap into the growing popularity of "puttering," or leisurely rides in urban areas.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ2011102615815

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Tokyo police plot bike lanes on roads to encourage cyclists to get off sidewalks

Bicycle lanes will be installed on some Tokyo roads in an effort to reduce the number of cycling accidents, Tokyo police say.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/10/28/20111028p2a00m0na014000c.html

Cyclists perplexed by sidewalk crackdown

Many cyclists are surprised and confused at the recent police decision to crack down on cyclists who ride on sidewalks, a move that will cause significant changes to how bicycles and vehicles share the streets.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111028005564.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Comedian latest no-brakes cyclist to get free pass from prosecutors

Prosecutors will not indict a 36-year-old comedian for riding a racing bike with no brake on its rear wheel on a public road in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward -- one of many to get a free pass for such offences.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/11/01/20111101p2a00m0na007000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Tokyo police on patrol for dangerous bike riders

Tokyo police are cracking down on reckless bicycle riders, whose numbers have risen sharply due in part to the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, as many commuters started pedaling to and from work.

Police check on people riding on racing bicycles in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. (Hikaru Uchida)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ2011110716039

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Lack of details, publicity causes confusion / Police crackdown on rogue cyclists, enforcement of new road rules raise more questions than answers

A recent announcement by the National Police Agency that it would actively instruct cyclists to ride on roads has caused much confusion and anxiety among bike riders, as the agency apparently failed to promote its real intention of focusing on reckless cyclists.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111121005554.htm

NPA official: Cyclists on sidewalks OK as long as they take it slow

"Cyclists are allowed to use sidewalks as long as they ride slowly," said Takayuki Ishii, head of the National Police Agency's traffic bureau in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, adding the NPA recently issued traffic safety guidelines for cyclists [see main story] because "We want people to be aware that bicycles are classified as vehicles."

Following are Ishii's responses to The Yomiuri Shimbun's questions.

Yomiuri: Why did the NPA issue the recent safety guidelines for cyclists?

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111121004883.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Police hand out first fine to no-brakes cyclist in Osaka

OSAKA -- The first financial penalty for riding a racing bike with no brakes on a public road has been handed out to a man here, police said.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/11/23/20111123p2a00m0na002000c.html

Man fined for riding racing bicycle on road

OSAKA--An Osaka man who rode a racing bicycle without brakes on a public road has been fined 6,000 yen by the Osaka Summary Court after an indictment had been filed against him for violation of the Road Traffic Law.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111123006204.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Kyoto police to crack down on drunken cyclists, those riding with no brakes

KYOTO -- Police here have announced that on-the-spot "red tickets" will be issued to drunken cyclists and those riding bicycles with no brakes starting from December, in an attempt to put an end to dangerous bicycle riding.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/11/28/20111128p2a00m0na003000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

7 Kyoto cyclists riding with no brakes get 'red tickets'

KYOTO -- Seven men riding bicycles with no brakes got on-the-spot "red tickets" on Dec. 1 as Kyoto Prefectural Police launched a campaign against cyclists for violating traffic rules.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/12/02/20111202p2a00m0na003000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Tokyo to enhance crackdown on dangerous bicycle riding

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department released a plan Monday to enhance its crackdown on dangerous bicycles and riding practices in light of an increase in the number of people cycling to school or work.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/12/13/20111213p2g00m0dm016000c.html

Building bicycle lanes stuck in the slow lane

Bicyclists are losing the race for their own special lanes, as their construction is taking a backseat to residents who consider bike lanes dangerous or fear they would be misused.

R: The lane exclusively for bicycles established on a section of the city road in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture (Tatsuro Sakata)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201112130077n

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

related news

Bicycle-sharing system gaining popularity in fashionable part of Tokyo

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A bicycle-sharing scheme popular in Europe has begun to take root in an area of Tokyo known for its fashionable boutiques and restaurants.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/12/30/20111230p2g00m0dm011000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Tokyo gov't sticks with policy to keep cyclists on sidewalks

While the National Police Agency (NPA) is advising bicycle riders to use roadways in principle, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is sticking with its policy to keep bicyclists on sidewalks.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2012/01/05/20120105p2a00m0na017000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Pedestrian, cyclist criticize policy of allowing bicycles on Tokyo sidewalks

Although the National Police Agency has advised that bicycles should run on roads, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is continuing to allow cyclists to use sidewalks for reasons such as high amounts of car traffic. A pedestrian exposed to danger by bicycles and a cyclist shared their criticism of Tokyo's policy.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2012/01/06/20120106p2a00m0na011000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Peddling bicycle insurance / With accidents on rise, firms offer variety of popular products

With traffic accidents involving bicycles on the increase, insurance companies have come up with a number of products to ease the minds of cyclists.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T120108003093.htm

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

Shizuoka to force cyclists onto dedicated bike path from Feb. 14

SHIZUOKA -- Bicycles will be required to run on an exclusive single-lane section of sidewalk here from Feb. 14, heralding the start of the nation's first such regulations for cyclists.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2012/02/04/20120204p2a00m0na013000c.html

 

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Police crack down on brakeless bicycles / Warn that in-vogue racing bikes are illegal on public roads, pose serious danger

MPD starts painting for cyclists

A new marking is being painted on roads in Tokyo to indicate where cyclists should ride their bicycles, in a bid to make it easier for them to move through traffic alongside cars.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120208004371.htm