Japan Cycling Navigator

The National Police Agency of Japan is going to introduce into the Diet a bill to widely apply more sidewalks to the bikes and increase the number of roadways that aren't allowed to ride a bike. If this bill passes, pedestrians are exposed to risk by bicycles and also it nullifies bike's functions and advantages. What do you think of it? We Japan Cycling Navigator strongly believe bikes should be in roadways as with cars! Thereby we have to leave sidewalks securely for pedestrians.

We opposes this bill and lobbies for it. This is just a domestic issue though, we're really interested in foreigner's experiences and impressions as for sidewalks in Japan. Also your answers must be valuable data to clearly show the aspects of Japanese sidewalks and roadways, and these might be compelling reason to abandon the bill.

If possible, please ask your company, your country's embassy in Japan, government-affiliated organizations, lobby groups or so - to bring pressure on The National Police Agency of Japan and Japanese government. As you may know, Japan may be not good at foreign pressure. If they only receive inquiries from some countries, it can throw them into a panic.

If you read Japanese, read Hikita's mail magazine. Mr. Hikita is a TV producer who loves cycling and knows inside informations. He debunks that some high government officials of the police hate bicycles and they draft that bill. Also read NPO Bicycle Usage Promotion Study Group's site. They take the leadership these protest movement.

Herald Asahi: Allowing cyclists on sidewalks defies logic

The Japan Times: Share the road