Japan Introduces "Blue Ticket" System for Bicycle Violations

On Tuesday, the Japanese parliament, known as the Diet, approved a bill that will establish a "blue ticket" system aimed at penalizing bicycle riders aged 16 and above for minor traffic infringements, which is scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2026. This new legislative measure outlines fines that vary from ¥3,000 (approximately $20) to ¥12,000 depending on the nature of the violation, which encompasses 113 different types of infractions. For instance, using a mobile phone while cycling could lead to a penalty of ¥12,000, while ignoring traffic signals could result in a fine of ¥6,000, and double riding would incur a ¥3,000 penalty.

Prior to the bill's passage, a significant number of public comments—5,926 in total—were received, with many individuals expressing their concerns about the fairness of penalizing cyclists who ride on sidewalks. The National Police Agency has stated that cyclists could face fines if they are observed riding on sidewalks at dangerously high speeds or if they do not heed police warnings.