Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Transportation

Bicycle Rules

Goal of this lesson

Understand the basic traffic rules for bicycles (riding on the left, when you may ride on the sidewalk, helmets, no riding after drinking) and the blue ticket system that began in April 2026, so you can ride a bicycle safely when you need to.

Explanation

Under the law, a bicycle is a type of vehicle, and as a rule you ride on the left side of the roadway. You may ride on the sidewalk only in limited cases, such as when there is a "bicycles permitted on sidewalk" (普通自転車歩道通行可) sign, or when the rider is under 13, 70 or older, or has certain physical disabilities. Even then, pedestrians have priority, and you must ride slowly on the side closer to the roadway.

Obey traffic signals and stop signs, and turn on your light at night. Do not ride after drinking alcohol. All riders are required to make an effort to wear a helmet.

From April 1, 2026, a "blue ticket" (青切符) system of fixed penalty payments was introduced for bicycle traffic violations by people aged 16 and over. For example, holding and using a smartphone while riding costs 12,000 yen, and ignoring a red light costs 6,000 yen. Riding under the influence of alcohol and similar violations are not handled with a blue ticket but through criminal procedures.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

自転車は「車（くるま）」の なかまです。

- 車道（しゃどう）の 左側を 走ります。 - 歩道（ほどう）は、標識（ひょうしき）が あるとき、13歳より 下か 70歳以上の 人などだけ 走れます。歩く人が 優先です。 - 信号を 守ります。「止まれ」で 止まります。 - 夜は ライトを つけます。 - お酒を 飲んだら 乗りません。 - ヘルメットを かぶりましょう。

2026年4月から、16歳以上の 人が ルールを 守らないと、「青切符（あおきっぷ）」で お金（反則金）を 払うことが あります。

たとえば、スマホを 持って 使いながら 乗ると 12,000円です。

Check quiz

Q1

As a rule, which side of the road does a bicycle ride on?

  1. The right side
  2. The left side
  3. The middle
  4. Either side
AnswerB. The left side

A bicycle is a type of vehicle, so it rides on the left side of the roadway.

Q2

From what age are bicycle riders subject to blue tickets (fixed penalty payments)?

  1. 16 and over
  2. 12 and over
  3. 18 and over
  4. 20 and over
AnswerA. 16 and over

From April 1, 2026, violations by bicycle riders aged 16 and over became subject to blue tickets.

Q3

How much is the penalty for holding and using a smartphone while riding a bicycle?

  1. 3,000 yen
  2. 6,000 yen
  3. 9,000 yen
  4. 12,000 yen
AnswerD. 12,000 yen

The penalty for using a mobile phone (while holding it) is 12,000 yen.

Q4

When may a standard bicycle be ridden on the sidewalk?

  1. When you are in a hurry
  2. When there is a "bicycles permitted on sidewalk" sign
  3. When the roadway is empty
  4. At night
AnswerB. When there is a "bicycles permitted on sidewalk" sign

Only in limited cases, such as when there is a sign, or when the rider is under 13, 70 or older, or has certain physical disabilities.

Q5

May you ride a bicycle after drinking alcohol?

  1. Yes, if it was only a little
  2. Yes, if you ride slowly
  3. No, you must not ride
  4. Yes, if you wear a helmet
AnswerC. No, you must not ride

Do not ride a bicycle after drinking alcohol. Riding under the influence is not handled with a blue ticket but through criminal procedures.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What happens if a child under 16 breaks the rules?

A. They are not subject to blue tickets, but as a rule they will receive guidance or a warning from a police officer. Everyone must follow traffic rules, regardless of age.

Q. Do I need to register my bicycle for crime prevention?

A. By law, people who use bicycles must have them registered for crime prevention (防犯登録). You can do this at the shop where you bought the bicycle (a registration point). If you received the bicycle from someone else, register it again in your own name.

Q. Where should I park my bicycle?

A. Near stations and similar places, park in a designated bicycle parking area (駐輪場). Bicycles left outside designated areas may be removed. The rules and how to get your bicycle back differ by municipality.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original