A reminder that new cycling rules start tomorrow (April 1st)

If you're like me and use a bike quite often to get from A to B, this is just a quick public service announcement that new bike laws come into effect from tomorrow, April 1st (not an April Fool's Day joke). 

You can find more details on the National Police Agency website here, but new fines include things like using your phone while riding, wearing headphones or earphones, riding with an open umbrella, cycling at night without lights, ignoring traffic lights, riding on the wrong side of the road, and carrying a second person on one bicycle. Smartphone use while cycling is one of the more expensive violations, so that's one to be especially careful about. 

In short, if you're used to biking around Japan and assuming some things are "probably okay," now is a good time to be a bit more careful!