{"id":2907,"date":"2022-11-18T17:55:09","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T08:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2022-11-18\/2907"},"modified":"2022-11-18T17:55:09","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T08:55:09","slug":"a-superficial-introduction-to-japanese-traffic-signage-for-bicyclists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2022-11-18\/2907","title":{"rendered":"A Superficial Introduction to Japanese Traffic Signage for Bicyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

Japanese roads often have different rules between bicycles and cars, such as a bicycle<\/span> being allowed\nto go against traffic on many one-way roads, or a bicycle<\/span> being prohibited from certain road sections.\nHowever, the related traffic signage can be confusing even for Japanese natives.<\/p>\n\n

Making it even more confusing is that certain kinds of situations have different signage in different parts of the\ncountry.<\/p>\n\n\n

This article goes into some of the details as I understand<\/span> them (which is imperfect, for sure).<\/p>\n\n

First of all, under Japanese law, a bicycle<\/span> is a vehicle<\/i>, just as a\ncar<\/span> is a vehicle,<\/span> so traffic signs and traffic laws fully apply to bicycles. For example, it's\nillegal for any vehicle, including bicycles, to travel on a sidewalk...<\/span> unless, of course, there's\nsignage or local ordinance explicitly allowing some kinds of vehicles, as is often the case for bicycles on sidewalks. Bicycles are vehicles under the law.<\/p>\n\n

(This means, among much else, that bicycles must come to a complete<\/span> and full stop at stop signs, may not cross red lights, must\nyield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, and must stop at railroad tracks not controlled by a traffic<\/span> light. I know cyclists<\/span> who\nhave been stopped by police for some of these infractions.)<\/p>\n\n

Let's look at some of the basic road signs to recognize as a cyclist.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Signs that explicitly prohibit bicycles<\/b>\n\n