Using a Bicycle

Where you are

You're about to ride a bicycle in Japan.

Do this now

• 1Ride on the left side of the road.
• 2Treat the road, not the sidewalk, as the default place to ride.
• 3Only use the sidewalk where a sign or specific legal exception allows it.
• 4Yield to pedestrians whenever you do use a sidewalk.

Why

Bicycles are legally treated as vehicles in Japan — sidewalk riding is the exception, not the norm.

What kind of rule is this?