Shizuoka Prefecture took a positive step forward in mid-February when it enacted revised traffic rules and opened new one-way bicycle lanes in Shizuoka City. Taking place on a larger scale than other pilot projects around the country, it should be a harbinger of improved bicycle policies throughout Japan. Unfortunately, however, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is approaching bicycle policy in a piecemeal fashion.
That little-by-little approach seems especially strange since Japan is the third biggest cycling nation in the world. Japan's 70 to 80 million bicycles might not compare with China's staggering 500 million cycles or the Netherlands 99 percent bike ownership rate, but with over 10 million new bicycles sold each year, the current regulations, facilities and infrastructure are far from sufficient. The central government needs a coherent plan and concrete action to make bicycle riding a greater part of the transportation network.
Bicycles are the most sustainable and efficient form of urban transportation. With the right planning, they smoothly interface with the rest of the transportation network. Many cities have already studied traffic flow patterns, but more funding must be devoted to planning and construction. Though new infrastructure will be needed, it will last for years and more than pay for itself by helping to reduce automotive pollution and congestion.