Blue “bicycle lanes” are off-limits to all motorcycles
First, there is the type of lane that has the words “Bicycles Only” written in white, as well as bicycle symbols and arrows, within a blue lane. This is also called a “bicycle lane,” but its official name is a “normal bicycle lane.”
An example of a blue lane marked “Bicycles Only.” Officially, it is called a “Regular Bicycle Lane.”
This is a lane for vehicles that is legally required to be ridden in by bicycles. As you know, bicycles are classified as “light vehicles” under the Road Traffic Act, so they must basically ride on the road. In particular, on roads with this lane, bicycles must basically ride on the left side of the lane (riding the wrong way is not allowed).
So, can two-wheeled vehicles, or so-called motorcycles, ride in regular bicycle lanes? The answer is no. If you ride a motorcycle, or even a moped (motorized bicycle), you will be in violation of the traffic classification and will be subject to enforcement.
Furthermore, if you are caught violating
Penalty points: 2 points
Penalty fee: 7,000 yen for motorcycles, 6,000 yen for mopeds
will be penalized.
Cases where entering a lane is not a violation
However, there are exceptions. For example,
・When entering a parking lot or a store such as a convenience store that is off the road
・When turning left at an intersection
・When temporarily giving way to an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance
・When it is unavoidable due to road conditions or other circumstances
In such cases, bicycles are usually allowed to enter bicycle-only lanes.
Parking of motorcycles and cars is also prohibited. If you park in a regular bicycle lane, you will be issued a ticket for “parking violation.”
Generally, parking of motorcycles and cars is prohibited in bicycle lanes.
However, unless you are in a no-parking zone, you are allowed to make “temporary stops” to load or unload luggage or to pick up or drop off passengers. For example, a delivery scooter is allowed to stop for a short time to deliver a package. However, from the cyclist’s perspective, to avoid parked motorcycles or cars, you will need to change lanes toward the center line, which can lead to accidents. If you absolutely need to stop, it is best to do so as quickly as possible.
The white “bicycle mark” is a sign for safe riding
On the other hand, the white bicycle mark and arrow on the left side of the road are called “bicycle navigation marks,” and the blue arrows at intersections are called “bicycle navigation lines.”
Bicycle navigation mark
As mentioned above, when riding on public roads, bicycles basically need to ride on the road, just like motorcycles and cars. Bicycle navigation marks and bicycle navigation lines indicate the areas you should ride on and the direction you should go in order to ride safely on the road.
Bicycle navigation marks are usually found on the left side of straight roads, and bicycles should generally follow these. Also, at intersections with bicycle navigation lines, bicycles should follow the blue arrows when making a two-stage right turn, for example.
Bicycle Navigation Line
However, unlike regular bicycle lanes, these are signs that are not stipulated by law. Therefore, they do not necessarily have to be obeyed. They are merely “guidelines” for riding safely on the road, so when it comes to actual traffic, bicycles must follow traffic regulations such as laws and road signs.
Is it illegal to ride a motorcycle along bicycle navigation marks or bicycle navigation lines?
So, is it a violation for motorcycles or cars to drive with this mark? The answer is no. As mentioned above, this mark is not specified by law, so it is not a violation in principle.
In particular, when there are bicycle navigation marks or lines on narrow roads, wide vehicles such as buses and large trucks may not be able to drive unless they place their left front and rear tires in these lanes. However, in such cases, it is not a violation. Also, even for ordinary passenger cars, there is no problem if they enter these marks or lines when moving to the left edge of the road before making a left turn.
Buses, large trucks, and other wide vehicles may not be able to pass through unless they are within the bicycle navigation markings.
On the other hand, motorcycles have more compact bodies. Legally, they are allowed on the roads, and some people may think that, for example, on congested roads, it would be faster to ride alongside cars and follow the bicycle navigation signs or lines.
However, you should be careful of the risk of coming into contact with a bicycle. Unlike motorcycles, wearing a helmet is mandatory for bicycles, and few people wear protective gear. If a bicycle comes into contact with a motorcycle, it could lead to a serious accident, including serious injury. For this reason, it is probably best to avoid riding motorcycles through bicycle navigation marks and bicycle navigation lines as much as possible.
It is not illegal to ride a motorcycle through a bicycle navigation system marking, but bicycle safety should also be taken into consideration.
It is also possible to park and stop on bicycle navigation marks and bicycle navigation lines, as long as they are not in no-parking zones. However, just like in regular bicycle lanes, if there are parked or stopped motorbikes or cars, cyclists will need to change lanes to avoid them, which increases the risk. This is purely my personal opinion, but unless it is unavoidable, I think it is best to avoid parking and stopping on roads with bicycle navigation marks or bicycle navigation lines as much as possible.
