Japan Implements New Rules: Riding A Bike Without Brakes Fines 5,000 Yen Starting 2026

JAKARTA - The Japanese government is increasingly tightening traffic safety regulations for cyclists. The national police have released a new guidebook outlining fines and sanctions for cycling violations, including a fine of 5,000 yen (around Rp555,000) for those riding bicycles without brakes. This rule will take effect April 1, 2026, as part of efforts to reduce accidents involving cyclists.

The guidelines, announced on September 4, 2025, target cyclists aged 16 years and over. Violations that have the potential to endanger safety, such as using cell phones while cycling, will be subject to a "blue ticket" with administrative fines. If the fine is not paid within the specified time, the offender can face criminal lawsuits.

For minor offenses, initial sanctions remain in the form of verbal or written warnings, according to old policies. However, if these violations are deemed to threaten the safety of others, the police are authorized to give direct fines. Examples of minor violations include cycling on prohibited sidewalks, carrying umbrellas while pedaling, or not turning on the headlights at night.

The statement about the ban on cycling on the sidewalk comes after the government collected public input. Most respondents rejected the initial plan proposing a fine of 6,000 yen for the breach, so the final rules were more flexible with warning priorities.

A blue ticket will be applied for moderately high-risk violations, such as:

Meanwhile, gross offenses such as riding a bicycle in a drunken state (with blood alcohol levels of 0.15 mg/liter or more) remain categorized as a "red ticket" (red ticket), leading to criminal sentences such as imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to 500,000 yen.

This revision of the traffic law is a continuation of changes that take effect in November 2024, which has introduced stricter sanctions for the use of mobile phones and getting drunk while cycling. With more than 70,000 bicycle units registered in Japan each year, especially in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, this new rule is expected to reduce the number of accidents that reach thousands of cases per year.