Riding under the influence is also now punishable with prison time.

Summary: Japan has introduced strict new penalties for cyclists using mobile phones or riding under the influence, aiming to curb rising bicycle accidents. Cyclists caught using phones now face up to six months in jail or a 100,000 yen fine ($655; £508), while riding drunk can lead to three years in prison or a 500,000 yen fine ($3,278; £2,541). These rules follow a rise in bicycle accidents, which now account for over 20% of Japan’s traffic incidents, as cycling grew during the pandemic. The measures build on recent laws requiring helmets and imposing fines for cycling violations.

  • @GreenKnight23English
    0•18 hours ago

    First, who are you quoting?

    Second, my comment was a tongue in cheek comment about how the noisy majority of cyclists claim that with bikes all the problems we have with cars goes away.

    I’ll have to agree with them, but that’s only because the problems with cars go away when cars are removed from the equation. Then new problems arise, problems that involve bikes. Problems like, people who are paying more attention to their phone than where they’re going on their bike, smashing into other people, smashing into buildings, smashing into vehicles.

    Those sound like really familiar problems… It’s almost as if you shouldn’t drive or operate any vehicle while you’re not paying attention. But that can’t be the problem. Not on my bike!

    • TimeSquirrel
      3•18 hours ago

      First, who are you quoting?

      Literally the person four comments above this one, right before yours. You gotta slow down when reading comments dude.