I found this story just now and must share it with all my Tokyo cycling brethren.
Beginning today the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department will be cracking down on commuter cyclists on the 10th of each month. During regular commuting hours police will be out on the street watching cyclists closely for traffic rule violations. The police will be stopping cyclists to check their registration, checking that fixies have brakes, ensuring we have headlights etc. and to hand out bicycle safety brochures.
Interestingly, in the event that the 10th falls on a weekend police will be out in force on the Friday beforehand.
So fellow commuters, I know we all bend the rules occasionally, but be careful on the 10th of each month because they're out to get us!
You can read the article in Japanese here.
A typically rigid and pointless official Japanese endeavor.
ReplyDeleteDo it everyday. Some crazy bike guy hit an old lady in front of my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't seem to be out this morning, we'll see how the ride home goes.
ReplyDeleteHow will this affect foreign tourists who bring their own bicycles when touring in Japan (re:registration).
ReplyDeletellewellyn,
ReplyDeleteThis is all about safety and not bicycle registration so I don't believe it will impact on tourists (unless they're breaking the law). I recommend tourists cary a copy of their tourist visa if they have one, or a picture of themselves with the bicycle taken overseas. That is usually enough to prove ownership should you run into an overzealous officer.