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Planning to cycle around the city to take in those lovely cherry blossom views? Better think twice about breaking the rules of the road. As of today (April 1), cyclists aged 16 and over who engage in risky behaviours while riding could be fined thousands of yen by the police.
The move is part of Japan's new 'blue ticket' system. Up until now, cyclists could be punished for major infractions like riding while heavily intoxicated or causing a traffic accident, but the law has been expanded to include fines for lesser offenses that previously warranted only a warning.
Here are just a few of the several dozen violations added to list of finable offenses:
- Failure to use bike lanes (¥3,000)
- Failure to slow down in a slow-down zone (¥5,000)
- Obstructing pedestrians at a zebra crossing (¥6,000)
- Entering a closed railroad crossing (¥7,000)
- Use of a mobile phone while riding (¥12,000)
Blue tickets can be paid at a bank or post office within seven days of receipt. Failure to pay could result in criminal proceedings, and repeated violations of certain offenses could land you in traffic school. For a little more info, check the National Police Agency's website (Japanese only) or this quick English guide.
Friendly reminder that this blue ticket system is being incorporated into the red ticket system that's already in effect, whereby serious traffic violations can lead to fines up to ¥500,000 or even imprisonment. In other words, it's time to get serious about obeying traffic laws the next time you're out cycling – and don't forget to wear a helmet.
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