Brakeless Cyclist Arrested in Japan, Confusion Over Law Remains

Byron Kidd
4
Police in Tokyo have arrested a 31 year old man for riding a bicycle without brakes on the rear wheel in violation of a new Road Traffic Act law which was introduced at the beginning of the  year.

At the time the law was introduced Japan's police announced that they intended to prosecute cyclists who repeatedly violate road traffic laws, the key word here being "repeatedly" as most cyclists are merely let off with a warning when police decide to act on an infringement. This marks the first arrest under the new ruling.

Policeman on a bicycle in Tokyo, Japan

Both Japanese and English versions of the article reporting this incident state the cyclist was "arrested after defying repeated requests by police", yet the man told police he "had no idea he would be arrested for riding the brakeless competition bike." So which is it? Is this poor reporting, poor policing, or a feeble attempt by the cyclist to escape punishment? Maybe we'll never know.

Other articles covering the incident state that bicycles must have both front and rear brakes under Japanese law, yet I've been led to believe that a single rear brake is all that is legally required. As it is now illegal to sell brakeless bicycles in Japan, and bicycle stores still sell bicycles with a single coaster brake on the rear wheel isn't it safe to assume that only a single rear brake is required?

If not then this isn't the only Japanese cycling law which is out of step with society. Under Japanese law carrying an adult passenger on a bicycle is illegal but when the law was drafted nobody considered tandem bicycles and thus it is technically illegal to ride a tandem bicycle in the majority of Japanese prefectures, yet they're sold freely in bicycle stores.

Once again confusion about the finer points of the law remains. Each time a new law is introduced, such as the recent law requiring cyclists to cycle on the left hand side of roads without sidewalks, but with pedestrian side lanes, the police have no convenient means for publicising the law therefore it goes mostly unpunished as cyclists argue they were never informed of the new ruling.

Efforts have to be made by the authorities to educate the public about new and existing cycling laws. Children can be taught in schools, but adults are harder to reach. As children learn cycling rules by observing adults they will eventually emulate the mistakes of the previous generation.

It seems to me that before cracking down in cyclists police need to crack down on shoddy reporting which causes confusion among the general public, because as it stands newspapers are the only avenue through which the public learn of new laws. Ideally the government needs to commit to educating the public about how to ride safely and legally, possibly through an extensive campaign of television advertisements, its the only way to ensure that the message reaches the majority of the population. This should be a priority task for our new Bicycle Promotion Ministry if it ever comes to be.

Remember, until they're widely and consistently enforced Japanese cycling "laws" are more like "suggestions" and you'd be better off observing the rule I adhere to daily: Exercise some common sense and ride safely.
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  1. Nice writeup about this one. Personally, I'd love to see the Japanese police issuing more tickets, for cyclists as well as motorists. The more the laws are enforced, the more likely they are to be followed.

    And you're spot on about the word not getting out about the new laws. Newspapers aren't very good for this, as they likely won't hit the target audience. Make posters about the laws to put up in every bike shop. Get some TV ads running. Have NHK do a bicycle safety special. There are lots of avenues they're not exploring here.

    Hopefully this incident will lead to more media coverage of cycling laws.

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    1. Hopefully this incident will lead to more accurate media coverage of cycling laws. It seems many media outlets (which I won't name) have been demonizing cyclists, blaming them for all manner of real and imagined offences.

      Cycling is an essential mode of transport for millions of Japanese each day. Its not going away, therefore its about time the government paid it more attention, educated the public, and provided better cycling infrastructure for all.

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  2. He is the 1st person on the planet, who got arrested because of own bicycle, am i right?

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  3. I got a 20+ year old Bridgestone Velo Classic " boneshaker ". If you search Bridgestone Deko, mine looks the same but 27 inch tires and the rear "fork" looks different. We installed a front brake but there is no way to put a back brake. Not even a squish plate will work. The bike shop guy says the law is the law. No back brake no pass. It has never been registered and probably the police will say the same thing. Can it get a special exemption like vintage cars ? I can get any info. Someone said contact the Japan Bicycle Federation, but they are more into racing things.

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