Measures to improve cycling environment are implemented, including;

§  development of cycling route network and bicycle parking facilities,

§  allowing passengers to carry bicycles on public transportation,

§  education of people on bicycle riding rules and manners, and

§  community programs to encourage people to ride bikes.

As for development of cycling space, the following measures are employed in consideration of traffic condition;

§  creating bicycle paths,

§  separating bicycle lanes from travel lanes, and

§  permitting cycling on sidewalks (marking bicycle lanes in the sidewalks).

The Japanese government has designated 98 areas as “Bicycle-Friendly Model Areas” in which efforts to improve cycling environment are concentrated. Subsidies are granted for those areas.

Cycling accounts for 20% of transportation for less than 5 km in the nation.
As countermeasures against traffic accidents involving bicycles, which are accounting for an increasing percentage of all traffic accidents, improving cycling environment is recognized as an urgent issue.
Encouraging shift from motor vehicles to bicycles is thought to be necessary to realize a clean and energy-efficient urban transportation system.

Roads for bicycles structurally separated from cars reach 83,600 km, out of which 3,000 km are separated from pedestrians (as of 1 April 2010).
In the designated areas, decrease in the number of bicycles accidents on the routes with the spaces for bicycles has been observed.

Cycling, Safety, Bicycle Path, Bicycle Lane, Community Program

Road Bureau, MLIT Japan