Summary: Japan has introduced strict new penalties for cyclists using mobile phones or riding under the influence, aiming to curb rising bicycle accidents. Cyclists caught using phones now face up to six months in jail or a 100,000 yen fine ($655; £508), while riding drunk can lead to three years in prison or a 500,000 yen fine ($3,278; £2,541). These rules follow a rise in bicycle accidents, which now account for over 20% of Japan’s traffic incidents, as cycling grew during the pandemic. The measures build on recent laws requiring helmets and imposing fines for cycling violations.
This might be survivorship bias. If you get hit by a cyclist, you might - worst case Ontario - break a limb or something if they send you flying into something else. If you get hit by a driver, you are definitely going to break something and you will most likely die.
As for how likely it is that you actually get hit - do you think it’s easier to avoid a 2’ x 6’ object moving at 15 mph or a 8’ x 16’ object moving at 45 mph?
The cars are where I expect them to be - and they are much more likely to slow if they see me on the crosswalk. Dude on a bike just swerves around me at speed.
Cyclists like to think they’re still pedestrians when it suits their purpose.
shrug Where I live, cars feel (and know) that they’re invincible and likely to suffer no punishment if they kill someone.
Drivers like to think that they can do no wrong all the time, not just when it suits their purpose.
I used to bike like this when I was a teenager, and I try not to now. If someone was in the crosswalk, I’d slightly adjust my speed and path to pass behind or in front of them as space allowed, just like they were any other obstacle. Because I didn’t realize how unpleasant it feels to be startled by a bike going past, or even if you know they’re coming it’s still uncomfortable that they’re going fast.
As a biker it took me a lot of life experience to realize that even if the situation was perfectly safe (I’ve always been in control and never hit anyone), pedestrians are not unreasonable for disliking bikes riding fast in their personal space.
But in a lot of countries, bikes have to be like pedestrians sometimes because the bike infrastructure is so spotty or non-existant. You’ll try to use the bike path but it just ends. Or there’s so safe way to turn left, or whatever.
But in other places, like Berlin, Germany, old people will yell at you if you’re biking in the wrong place and it’s pretty great because there’s usually a good bike path right there that you could be using.
PS. In my walking experience, bikes are way more likely to see me if I’m crossing a crosswalk than cars. Sometimes cars drive right through when you’re waiting to cross, where a biker will usually acknowledge me and let me cross.
Fair response - thanks for your insight.