Efforts for bicycle manners and safety
"Thanks to your continued support, Docomo Bike Share has grown into a nationwide service enjoyed by many. It has been widely embraced as a highly convenient, eco-friendly, and healthy mobility option."
We aim to contribute to healthy and environmentally friendly "urban development" in Japan by providing new mobility services that are rooted in the community and loved by the people.
In order to realize this mission, it is essential that we sincerely listen to the voices and requests of all our customers, town residents, municipalities, governments, and companies, and reflect them in our services.
For your safe use of bicycles
Under the Road Traffic Law, bicycles are vehicles. If a bicycle rider fails to follow the rules and causes an accident, he or she is the aggressor and the bicycle driver is held responsible. The driver himself may also be seriously injured in an accident.
For more information, please see Bicycle is 5 Rules for Safe Driving for Children and Adults (in Japanese). For the proper way to ride a bicycle, see Traffic Rules and Manners for Bicycle Use (Japanese).
5 Rules for Safely Using Bicycles
1. In principle, cyclists should ride
on the left side of the street and use sidewalks
only in exceptional case.
2. Cyclists must obey traffic lights
at intersectios and check for safety
after coming to a full stop.
3. Use bicycles lights at night.
4. Cyclists are prohibited from riding
under the influence of alcohol.
5. Wear a bicycle helmet.
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*With the enforcement of the amendment to the Road Traffic Law, penalties for using smartphones while riding a bicycle will be strengthened from November 1, 2024, and "riding a bicycle under the influence of alcohol" will also become subject to penalties.Please see here. (Japanese only)
*As a result of the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Law, the wearing of helmets by bicycle riders became mandatory from April 1, 2023. Please see here. (Japanese only)
In addition to learning about bicycle accident cases and rules and manners, please use the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bicycle Safety Learning App to experience bicycle riding, such as starting, stopping, and avoiding obstacles.
Click here to download (Japanese only)
About the Introduction of "Blue Tickets"
Starting April 1, 2026, "Blue Tickets" will be introduced for bicycle traffic violations.
What is a Blue Ticket?
✔「悪質・危険な反則行為をしたときや実際に交通への危険を生じさせたときなどに交付される」「交通反則告知書」を指します。
✔ Violators who receive a Blue Ticket will be exempted from criminal prosecution by paying a penalty fine.
✔ Applies to bicycle riders aged 16 and older.
* When a bicycle rider under 16 commits a violation, a Blue Ticket will not be issued; instead, guidance or a warning will be given.
* Users of Specified Small Motorized Vehicles (e.g., electric scooters) are also subject to this.
Major Violations and Penalty Fines
Use of Mobile Phones, etc. (Holding)
- Holding a mobile phone
(smartphone, etc.) to talk or looking at
the screen while riding
- Penalty fine: 12,000 yen
Ignoring Traffic Lights
- Penalty fine: 6,000 yen
Violation of Traffic Lanes
- Riding in the wrong direction
(riding on the right side of the road),
riding on sidewalks (where prohibited), etc.
- Penalty fine: 6,000 yen
Violation of the Obligation for Safe Driving
- Riding while holding an umbrella,
or riding while unable to hear surrounding
sounds/voices due to earphones, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Failure to Stop at Designated Places
- Passing through intersections while
ignoring stop signs, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Riding Double / Riding Side-by-Side
- Penalty fine: 3,000 yen
Poor Maintenance
- Riding without lights (riding at night
without turning on the light),
riding with brakes that do not work properly, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Right Choice Guide to Avoid Blue Tickets
CASE① The road is dangerous! Can I ride on the sidewalk?
原則、車道の左側走行ですが、以下の場合は例外として歩道を通行できます。
✔道路状況によるやむを得ない場合
工事中、路上駐車車両がある、交通量が非常に多く危険を感じるなど
✔「普通自転車歩道通行可」の標識がある場合
※歩道では歩行者が最優先のため、徐行で通行してください。
※特定小型車両はいかなる場合でも歩道走行が禁止されています。
CASE② Might be broken? Keep riding and it becomes a maintenance violation
Continuing to ride while knowing the lights do not turn on or the brakes are faulty may subject you to enforcement for "Poor Maintenance."
✔ If any abnormality (brakes, lights, etc.) is found, immediately pull over in a safe place and stop using the bicycle.
✔ Please promptly report it to the Docomo Bike Share Support Center.
* Before riding, always check if the lights turn on and the brakes work properly.
About the Revision of the Road Traffic Act (Including Blue Tickets)
- Holding a mobile phone
(smartphone, etc.) to talk or looking at
the screen while riding - Penalty fine: 12,000 yen
- Penalty fine: 6,000 yen
Violation of Traffic Lanes
- Riding in the wrong direction
(riding on the right side of the road),
riding on sidewalks (where prohibited), etc.
- Penalty fine: 6,000 yen
Violation of the Obligation for Safe Driving
- Riding while holding an umbrella,
or riding while unable to hear surrounding
sounds/voices due to earphones, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Failure to Stop at Designated Places
- Passing through intersections while
ignoring stop signs, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Riding Double / Riding Side-by-Side
- Penalty fine: 3,000 yen
Poor Maintenance
- Riding without lights (riding at night
without turning on the light),
riding with brakes that do not work properly, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Right Choice Guide to Avoid Blue Tickets
CASE① The road is dangerous! Can I ride on the sidewalk?
原則、車道の左側走行ですが、以下の場合は例外として歩道を通行できます。
✔道路状況によるやむを得ない場合
工事中、路上駐車車両がある、交通量が非常に多く危険を感じるなど
✔「普通自転車歩道通行可」の標識がある場合
※歩道では歩行者が最優先のため、徐行で通行してください。
※特定小型車両はいかなる場合でも歩道走行が禁止されています。
CASE② Might be broken? Keep riding and it becomes a maintenance violation
Continuing to ride while knowing the lights do not turn on or the brakes are faulty may subject you to enforcement for "Poor Maintenance."
✔ If any abnormality (brakes, lights, etc.) is found, immediately pull over in a safe place and stop using the bicycle.
✔ Please promptly report it to the Docomo Bike Share Support Center.
* Before riding, always check if the lights turn on and the brakes work properly.
About the Revision of the Road Traffic Act (Including Blue Tickets)
- Riding in the wrong direction
(riding on the right side of the road),
riding on sidewalks (where prohibited), etc. - Penalty fine: 6,000 yen
- Riding while holding an umbrella,
or riding while unable to hear surrounding
sounds/voices due to earphones, etc. - Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Failure to Stop at Designated Places
- Passing through intersections while
ignoring stop signs, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Riding Double / Riding Side-by-Side
- Penalty fine: 3,000 yen
Poor Maintenance
- Riding without lights (riding at night
without turning on the light),
riding with brakes that do not work properly, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Right Choice Guide to Avoid Blue Tickets
CASE① The road is dangerous! Can I ride on the sidewalk?
原則、車道の左側走行ですが、以下の場合は例外として歩道を通行できます。
✔道路状況によるやむを得ない場合
工事中、路上駐車車両がある、交通量が非常に多く危険を感じるなど
✔「普通自転車歩道通行可」の標識がある場合
※歩道では歩行者が最優先のため、徐行で通行してください。
※特定小型車両はいかなる場合でも歩道走行が禁止されています。
CASE② Might be broken? Keep riding and it becomes a maintenance violation
Continuing to ride while knowing the lights do not turn on or the brakes are faulty may subject you to enforcement for "Poor Maintenance."
✔ If any abnormality (brakes, lights, etc.) is found, immediately pull over in a safe place and stop using the bicycle.
✔ Please promptly report it to the Docomo Bike Share Support Center.
* Before riding, always check if the lights turn on and the brakes work properly.
About the Revision of the Road Traffic Act (Including Blue Tickets)
- Passing through intersections while
ignoring stop signs, etc. - Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
- Penalty fine: 3,000 yen
Poor Maintenance
- Riding without lights (riding at night
without turning on the light),
riding with brakes that do not work properly, etc.
- Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Right Choice Guide to Avoid Blue Tickets
CASE① The road is dangerous! Can I ride on the sidewalk?
原則、車道の左側走行ですが、以下の場合は例外として歩道を通行できます。
✔道路状況によるやむを得ない場合
工事中、路上駐車車両がある、交通量が非常に多く危険を感じるなど
✔「普通自転車歩道通行可」の標識がある場合
※歩道では歩行者が最優先のため、徐行で通行してください。
※特定小型車両はいかなる場合でも歩道走行が禁止されています。
CASE② Might be broken? Keep riding and it becomes a maintenance violation
Continuing to ride while knowing the lights do not turn on or the brakes are faulty may subject you to enforcement for "Poor Maintenance."
✔ If any abnormality (brakes, lights, etc.) is found, immediately pull over in a safe place and stop using the bicycle.
✔ Please promptly report it to the Docomo Bike Share Support Center.
* Before riding, always check if the lights turn on and the brakes work properly.
About the Revision of the Road Traffic Act (Including Blue Tickets)
- Riding without lights (riding at night
without turning on the light),
riding with brakes that do not work properly, etc. - Penalty fine: 5,000 yen
Right Choice Guide to Avoid Blue Tickets
CASE① The road is dangerous! Can I ride on the sidewalk?
原則、車道の左側走行ですが、以下の場合は例外として歩道を通行できます。
✔道路状況によるやむを得ない場合
工事中、路上駐車車両がある、交通量が非常に多く危険を感じるなど
✔「普通自転車歩道通行可」の標識がある場合
※歩道では歩行者が最優先のため、徐行で通行してください。
※特定小型車両はいかなる場合でも歩道走行が禁止されています。
CASE② Might be broken? Keep riding and it becomes a maintenance violation
Continuing to ride while knowing the lights do not turn on or the brakes are faulty may subject you to enforcement for "Poor Maintenance."
✔ If any abnormality (brakes, lights, etc.) is found, immediately pull over in a safe place and stop using the bicycle.
✔ Please promptly report it to the Docomo Bike Share Support Center.
* Before riding, always check if the lights turn on and the brakes work properly.
About the Revision of the Road Traffic Act (Including Blue Tickets)
docomo Bike Share Safety Initiatives
Relocation and maintenance of bicycles
- To provide a comfortable travel experience,
we rearrange the placement of bicycles
to the cycle port and maintain the bicycles.
Quick detection of vehicles that are experiencing problems
- We have the ability for customers to report problems
with their bicycles themselves.
This allows for faster problem detection
and maintenance response.
How do cycle ports keep you safe?
- In order to maintain the safety of the cycle ports,
we have set a limit on the number of bicycles
that can be parked at some of the cycle ports.
We ask for the understanding and
cooperation of our customers who use these bike ports,
as this is an important mechanism for maintaining
the landscape and ensuring the safety of our customers
and the residents of the city.
Mobility development in response to customer feedback
- docomo Bikeshare is constantly developing and
updating its bicycles and attachments (keys).
Based on regular customer interviews
and feedback from our customers,
we will continue to make improvements
to ensure that all users can use our service safely.
Distribute safety awareness content
- When riding a bicycle, the way you ride
and the clothes you wear can greatly affect your safety.
In addition to raising awareness of the essential
knowledge of traffic manners and rules,
we also provide detailed information
on the dangers of riding a bicycle, such as slipping
after rain or getting caught in a coat,
through our app and website.
In some cases, the following safety measures have been implemented by docomo Bike Share in addition to the above.
-Automatically subscribed to bicycle insurance
-Freeze accounts of users who threaten safety