3.1 Follow the basic rules for riding a bike!

Bicycle rules in Japan may be different from the rules in your home country. Before you hop on that bike, be sure you’ve got a firm grasp of the rules. These rules are just an example:
･ When you ride a bicycle, drive in the bicycle lane (the lane exclusively for bicycles). If you are riding in an area where there are no bicycle lanes, you need to drive on the road with the cars, instead of the sidewalk (the pedestrian zone). However, if there is a sign indicating bicycles can pass, too, you can take your bike on the pedestrian path. But be sure to give pedestrians the right of way (you need to bike slowly or pause to let them go ahead).
･ Always drive your bicycle on the left side of the road.
･ If there is a “pause” (“ichiji teishi”) sign, stop and check to make sure it’s safe. You can help prevent accidents.
･ When turning right at an intersection with a traffic light, never turn right in one turn like a car. When you turn right on your bicycle, be sure to cross once, and then again to make your turn.
･ At night, you must use your front and rear lamps (or reflectors).

The above are just some of the rules for bicycles. There are many others, so please refer to the website below.

Kyoto City Cycle Website: Rules & Manners https://kyoto-bicycle.com/rulemanner

Kyoto Police Bicycle Rules (Video)  http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/net_tv/kesatsu/059.html (Japanese only)

Kyoto Tourism Navi Kyoto: Bicycle Sightseeing Guide https://ja.kyoto.travel/bicycle/rule/

You’ll also need to understand Japanese road signs. You may see a variety of different signs, indicating “pedestrian-only roads,” “bicycle lanes,” “bicycle traffic prohibition,” “stop once,” and “one-way traffic.” Please note that if you drive on a bicycle without knowing these well, you may be fined for a violation.

Road sign list: https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/sign/sign/douro/ichiran.pdf

3.2 Prohibited Acts and Penalties for Bicycle Driving

There are fines for violations of road signs, but there are other penalties for dangerous bicycle driving. Never do the following because they may result in accidents.
･ Do not use your phone with riding a bike.
･ Do not use headphones while riding a bike.
･ Do not ride your bike side-by-side with other bikes.
･ Do not ride with two people on the same bicycle.
･ Do not ride your bike while using an umbrella.
･ Do not ride a bike after drinking alcohol.

Kyoto Prefecture: Bicycle Rules and Penalties:

https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/fukei/kotu/koki_k_t/jitensha/documents/anzen2.pdf

In addition, bicycle parking is subject to regulations, and if bicycles are placed in locations other than those designated as parking areas, they will be considered illegally parked and subject to removal and penalties. Illegal parking will also get in the way of pedestrians, so make sure to park your bike legally.

When shopping at convenience stores or supermarkets or eating at restaurants, park your bike at the bicycle parking lot near the facility when there is one. When you park at convenience stores or supermarkets, also check the allowed parking times so that your bike isn’t left longer than it’s allowed.

In Kyoto, there are many bicycle parking lots that can be used for around 100 yen. To ensure the safety of your bicycle and not cause any inconvenience to others, make sure to park your bicycle in a parking lot as appropriate.

Bicycle parking lots in Kyoto City can be searched for using this website.

Kyoto City Cycle Site Bicycle Parking Search https://kyoto-bicycle.com/parking

3.3 If the event of an accident

Even when you drive carefully, you may cause or be involved in an accident. If you are injured, call 119 immediately. Also be sure to move your bicycle to a safe place so that it doesn’t get in the way of other traffic.

Even in the event of a minor accident, call 110 and contact the police. Be careful not to leave the scene until the police arrive.

Kyoto Safety Navi: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/fukei/foreign/documents/english.pdf

Waste disposal regulations vary by region, and most bicycles are disposed of as “large trash items” (oogata gomi) for a fee. Please contact the Kyoto Municipal Large Waste Reception Center for applications to dispose of this kind of waste. After checking your information (name, phone number, address, the type of garbage (in this case, a bicycle) to be disposed of), the center will tell you the appointed date and time, collection location, garbage disposal fee, and so on, so you can prepare.
･ Collection date: Approximately one week from date you register (call).  Bring your bike to the collection point by 8:00 a.m. on the collection date.
･ Fee: The garbage disposal (bicycle) fee is approximately 800 yen (as of August 2021), and you’ll need to purchase “large garbage handling fee tickets” sold in places like convenience stores and ward offices. When you purchase a “large garbage handling fee ticket”, fill in the information and paste it on the bicycle for disposal.

List of Large Waste Disposal Fees

https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kankyo/page/0000001329.html

https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kankyo/page/0000001317.html

You can also sell or transfer unwanted bicycles to others. When selling or transferring, as described in 1.3, the recipient of the bike must be given a copy of the Bicycle Anti-theft Registration along with the bike. The recipient will need to change the registered owner’s name and re-register the “Bicycle Anti-theft Registration” with that information, so please don’t forget to give this information over to the new owner!

Now that you know how to purchase a bicycle, how to use a bicycle in Kyoto, traffic rules, bicycle rules, etc., we hope you’ll enjoy cycling around Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Ginkaku-ji Temple, which are just some of the fun and beautiful sightseeing spots in Kyoto City!

Author: Kim Yen, Kyoto Notre Dame University