Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations

Rule Book

Bicycle is a vehicle
The bicycle is a convenient and familiar vehicle in everyday life used forcommuting to school and work and leisure, and people of all ages use it.
However, unless the bicycle is used correctly, it can become a hazardous vehicle that causes accidents, as incidents caused by discourteous
bicyclists continue unremittingly, resulting in accidents that incur hefty
compensations.
As such, Osaka Prefecture has enacted the Regulations for thepromotion of the safe and appropriate use of bicycles in Osaka Prefecture（Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations） for promoting the safe andappropriate use of bicycles, preventing accidents, and preparing andprotecting victims of accidents.

Road Traﬃc Act Article 2, Paragraph 1, 8 and 11．
A bicycle is a light road vehicle under the Road Traﬃc Act and is
stipulated as a vehicle in the same class as automobiles and motorbikes.

Osaka Prefectural Government

1Liability protection is an obligation!

Under the Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, bicyclists must purchaseliability protection to prepare for accidents and provide aid for the wounded party.
（Mandatory）
Employers must purchase liability protection to compensate for damages
caused by accidents during working hours.
（The regulations on liability protection came into force on July 1, 2016．）●What is the liability protection stipulated in the regulations?
It refers to insurance or mutual aid that would compensate for the life or
physical damage of other persons caused by bicycle accidents, just as personal
liability insurance would.
For this reason, it is not accident insurance against the loss of personal life or
physical damage.

●A case history of heavy liability claims
In some cases, people are liable to pay compensation in tens of millions of yen
due to damages caused by bicycle accidents.
Minors are not exempt from compensation liability.

Amount of compensation

Rough outline of accident

An elementary school boy on his way home on his bicycle
had a head-on collision with a walking woman. The woman
suﬀered a fractured skull and remained comatose, and the95.21 million yen boy s mother who was liable for the damage was ordered
to pay compensation.
（Kobe District Court, court ruling, July 4, 2013．）
A high school boy on his bicycle crossed the road diagonally and collided with a male oﬃce worker who had
92.66 million yen traveled in a straight line on the opposite lane. The maleoﬃce worker suﬀered sustained disabilities, including theloss of speech function.
（Tokyo District Court, court ruling, June 5, 2008．）
A junior high school boy rode his bicycle on a sidewalk
without the light on and collided with a male oﬃce worker.
39.70 million yen The male oﬃce worker had a severe blow to his head when
he tumbled and died.
（Osaka District Court, court ruling, July 10, 2007．）（Liability protection cover）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations Article 12, Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3
The Bicyclist（The Custodian in the case of minors）shall purchase liability protection.
The Employer shall purchase liability protection pertaining to the use of bicycles when
their employees use bicycles in business activities.

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Let s check if you havebicycle insurance

There is a variety of bicycle insurance, and sometimes you are already covered
without realizing.
Please check ﬁrst whether you are already covered.

●The types of bicycle insurance
Some bicycle insurance is included in an automobile or ﬁre insurance, somecover family members and not the policyholder, and there are corporate/groupinsurance policies such as mutual aid and PTA cover.
Insurance with the TS mark covers the body of the bicycle, so no matter who isriding the bicycle they are covered in the case of accidents.
For employers, there is insurance with the TS mark and premises liability
insurance which indemniﬁes against bodily damage caused by the execution ofwork.
The types of bicycle insurance

Personal liability insurance

Rough outline of insurances

Insurance for bicycles

Cover against bicycle accidents

Special form of automobile insurance

Special cover attached to an automobile insurance

Special form of ﬁre insurance

Special cover attached to a ﬁre insurance

Special form of accident insurance

Special cover attached to an accident insurance

Mutual aid

Zenrosai, public mutual aid, etc.

Corporate/group insurance

Corporate insurance

Cover for members of organizations.

PTA insurance

Cover purchased through PTAs and schools.

Insurance with the TS markCover for the body of bicycles.

Insurance attached to credit cards

Cover for credit card members.

Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations website
http://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/dorokankyo/osakajitensha/index.html（The Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, leaﬂet on bicycle insurance,and check list for bicycle insurance coverage are published.）*Japanese only.

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Let s educate our children andemployees to prevent accidents

To adhere to traﬃc rules and improve manners, it is essential to continuously
educate children from a small age in homes and schools.
Employers should provide road safety training to employees.

●Road safety education starts at home・ Since children grow up observing their parents/guardians, let us follow thetraﬃc rules and improve our manners.
・ Let us discuss road safety with children on a routine basis.

●Road safety education from elementary school children to high school
students
・ As children enter elementary school, they expand their range of activities
using bicycles and would increasingly act on their own away from theirparents/guardians.
・ Junior high and high school children are becoming involved in bicycle accidents or becoming oﬀenders with increasing frequency.
・ Let us teach them to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for riding abicycle and improve their know-how and ability for predicting and avoiding
dangers according to road and traﬃc conditions.

●Road safety education for employees
・ Provide training to employees to reverify their care toward pedestrians, theeﬀect of reﬂectors and the need for bicycle insurance.
・ Raise their awareness toward road safety to prevent bicycle accidents.
（Road safety education by the heads of schools）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, Article 8, Paragraph 1
The heads of elementary, junior high and high schools shall provide the necessary roadsafety education for the safe and appropriate use of bicycles to children and students.
（Road safety education by custodians）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, Article 9, Paragraphs 1 and 2
The Custodian shall take courses on the safe and appropriate use of bicycles and provide
the necessary road safety education for the safe and appropriate use of bicycles tominors in their custody.
The Employer shall provide the necessary road safety education for the safe andappropriate use of bicycles to their employees.

Osaka Prefecture Police Road Safety Test website
http://www.police.pref.osaka.jp/03kotsu/kotsu̲anzen/test/test.html（Once a month, road safety issues, answers, and explanations are publishedfor elementary, junior high and high school children. Please use them for roadsafety education in the home and schools.）*Japanese only.
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Let s wear life-saving helmets

The heads of children are larger than those of adults relative to their body size, andthey tend to hit their heads when they fall.
Elderly people often die by injuring their heads in bicycle accidents.
For these reasons, the Road Traﬃc Act requires children under 13 and the Osaka
Prefecture Bicycle Regulations require adults over 65 to wear a helmet.

Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-11
The Custodian of children shall have children wear
a bicycle helmet when the children ride bicycles orwhen they have a small child on a child bike seat.
（Wearing of bike helmets）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, Article 11, Paragraph 2
The Elderly shall wear a bike helmet when riding a bicycle.

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A bicycle with two children on board

Use the bicycle lighting at night

Accidents frequently occur at night and intersections, so let us prevent them byimproving visibility from others by equipping your bicycle with a front lamp and side
reﬂectors.

Vehicle lamps

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ECTUECPUGGOGRoad Traﬃc Act, Article 52, Paragraph 1．
Osaka Prefecture Road Traﬃc Regulations, Article 10-1．
Penalty: a ﬁne of up to 50,000 yen.

The front lamp shall be on when riding a bicycle at night（from dusk to dawn）.
*Front lamp: white or pale-yellow color that can identify objects 10 meters ahead at night.

（Equipping of reflectors）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, Article 11, Paragraph 1
The Bicyclist, Bicycle Rental Service and those who ride bicycles for a business purpose shall equip
their bicycles with side reflectors when riding a bike for personal or business use at night.

Make sure the brakes work
Bicycle brakes
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-9, Paragraph 1
Penalty:
The Bicyclist shall not ride a bicycle equipped with brakes that
do not comply with the standards which may cause traﬃc risks.
a ﬁne of up to 50,000．

Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-10
Penalty:
The Police have the right to stop and inspect bicycles which
they deem to be lacking in brakes that comply with the stana ﬁne of up to 50,000．
dards and order the Bicyclist to take emergency measures orcease the use of the bicycle.
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Bicycles also need inspection and maintenance.

A bicycle is a vehicle.
To ensure the safety of your bicycle, inspect and maintain it just as you would
a car.
Inspect your bicycle daily to check the tire pressure and brakes or have abicycle shop carry out inspection and maintenance on a regular basis.

●Bicycle anatomy

HandleBell
Handlebar
Front suspension fork

Brake leverFrame（pipe）

SaddleSeat stay

Frame（upper pipe）

Mud ﬂap
Rear lamp

Lamp
Spoke

Hub

Tire

Reﬂector Mud ﬂap

Crank

Pedal

Chain

Stand

（Inspection and maintenance of bicycles）
Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations, Article 10, Paragraphs 1 and 2
The Bicyclist（The Custodian in the case of minors）, Bicycle Rental Service and those who ridebicycles for a business purpose shall carry out the necessary inspection and maintenance of theirbicycles for their safe and appropriate use.

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A course for ill-mannered bicyclists.

Bicyclists who are charged with Unsafe Acts, as set out in Paragraph 14
below, more than twice within three years must take a course in road safety.
（Revised Road Traﬃc Act, June 1, 2015）● Unsafe Acts in Paragraph 14
Ignoring a traﬃc light.
Violating a NO THROUGH ROAD.
Not reducing speed on a pedestrian path.
Ignoring a traﬃc division.
Obstructing a pedestrian on a side strip.
Entering a rail crossing when the crossing bar is down.
Obstructing traﬃc on a right-of-way at an intersection.
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Obstructing a right-turning vehicle with a right-of-way at an intersection.
A breach of duty to proceed safely at a rotary.
Stop sign violation.
Obstructing a pedestrian on a sidewalk.
Riding a bicycle without brakes.
Riding a bicycle while under the inﬂuence of drink.
Violating the road traﬃc law.

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It is a traﬃc oﬀense to ride a bicycle
outside of designated areas.
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Traﬃc divisionRoad Traﬃc Act, Article 17, Paragraph 1．

Penalty: up to three-month imprisonment
or a ﬁne of up to 50,000 yen.
The Bicycle shall travel on roadways when
the sidewalk and road are divided.

Ride on the left side
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 18, Paragraph 1．
The Bicycle shall travel on the left side of the road.
＊On roads where there are vehicular lanes, travel on the leftmost lane.

Traveling on side strips for light road vehicles.
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 17-2, Paragraph 1．

+HVJGTGCTGRGQRNGThe Bicycle can travel on a side strip on the
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left side of the road, except when doing so
6JKUKU TKFGQPVJGTQCFYC[may signiﬁcantly hinder pedestrian traﬃc. CUKFGUVTKRRoad Traﬃc Act, Article 17-2, Paragraph 2
Penalty: a ﬁne of up to 20,000 yen
or petty ﬁne.
Travel on a side strip at a speed and way
which do not hinder pedestrian traﬃc.
○Side strip（solid white lines）
Side strip

Medial line

Side strip○No parking, no-stopping side strip（solid and dashed white lines）
Side strip

Medial line

Side strip○Side strip for pedestrians（solid double white lines）
Side strip

Medial line

Side strip

Bicycles cannot travel on pedestrianside strips as illustrated.
You can either push your bicycle orride it on the side strip-side of
the roadway.
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There are traﬃc rules even on sidewalks
where bicycles are allowed.

Riding an ordinary bicycle on a sidewalk
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-4, +ECPCNUQTKFGQP
Paragraph 1．
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Article 26 of the Order of Enforcement of
the Road Traﬃc Act.
Bicycles may travel on sidewalks in thefollowing cases.
●When there is a street sign permitting
bicycles on the sidewalk.
●When the bicyclist is:
・A child under the age of 13．
・An elderly over the age of 70．
・A person with physical disabilities.
●When there are roadworks, when there areparked vehicles or when there is a large
volume of traﬃc, and when it is unsafe totravel on the roadway.

自転車通行可This tells you that bicycles are
permitted on the sidewalk.

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Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-4,
Paragraph 2．
Penalty: a ﬁne of up to 20,000 yen
or a petty ﬁne.
●Bicycles must travel next to the roadway
when traveling on sidewalks.
●When traveling on sidewalks, bicycles shalltravel at a reduced speed that would allow
them to stop rapidly.
●Bicycles must momentarily pause when
they may obstruct pedestrian traﬃc.
●Bicycles must travel on a designated lane
for bicycles when there is one.

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There are rules for crossing

11 and riding at intersections.
Crossing and riding at intersections
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 63-6 and 7;QWOWUVTKFGJGTG

If there is a bicycle crossing lane at or nearan intersection, bicycles shall travel on the
crossing lane.

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Pedestrians crossings are for pedestrians,
and unless there is no one crossing or
there is no danger of hindering pedestrian
traﬃc, you cannot ride your bicycle onpedestrians crossings.

Duty to comply with traﬃc lights.
Penalty: up to three-month imprisonment
or a ﬁne of up to 50,000 yen.

.GV̉UQDUGTXGVJGNKIJVUThe Bicyclist shall comply with traﬃc lights
when traveling on roads.
歩行者
専用
自転車

Road Traﬃc Act, Article 7 and Article 4, Paragraph 4．
Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Order of Enforcement of
the Road Traﬃc Act.

歩行者
専用
自転車

Road Traﬃc Act, Article 7．

Penalty: up to three-month imprisonment
or a ﬁne of up to 50,000 yen.
When the traﬃc light has pictographic
symbols, the Bicyclist shall comply with thetraﬃc light when it displays the『歩行者・自転
車専用（for pedestrians/bicycles）』sign.

This means it s forpedestrians and bicyclists.

Momentary pause in designated areas.
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 43． $GUWTGVQUVQRCPF
Penalty: up to three-month
imprisonment or a ﬁne of
up to 50,000 yen.
At intersections with a stop sign, theBicyclist shall pause at the stop line andconﬁrm the safety of the intersection.

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stop.

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A bicycle is for one person

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Road Traﬃc Act, Article 57, Paragraph 2．
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Osaka Prefecture Road Traﬃc Regulations,
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Article 11

Restrictions to riding bicycles

Penalty: a ﬁne of up to 20,000 yen or a petty ﬁne.
Only one person shall ride a two-wheeled bicycle, and athree-wheeled bicycle shall only be used by the number ofpeople for which the vehicle is designed.
However, when the Bicyclist is over the age of 16, he/she may:・ Ride with one child under the age of 6 in a child bike seat.
・ Ride with two children under the age of 6 in child bike seatson a bicycle designed to carry two children.
・ Ride with one child under the age of 4, tied securely on
his/her back.
（Except when two small children are carried on a bicycle
designed for carrying two children.）
However:・ These rules do not apply in the event when another person
other than the Bicyclist is riding a tandem bicycle together.

BAA mark

SG mark*Ride bicycles designed for carrying two children safe by following its instructions, i.e., releasing the safety lock, etc.

Use safe bicycles designed for carrying two children that come with the SG or
BAA marks which stand for Japan s safety standards.

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Don t ride a bicycle while doing something else.

Never ride a bicycle while doing the following for it is hazardous
as it will distract your attention and you may lose balance!
Road Traﬃc Act, Article 71-6
Osaka Prefecture Road Traﬃc
Regulations, Article 13．
Penalty: a ﬁne of up to 50,000 yen.

While emailingon a cell phone● Ride a bicycle in a way that may obstructvision or signiﬁcantly aﬀect stability, i.e., carryan umbrella, carry an item on your shoulder, or
carry an article in your hand.
● Ride a bicycle while holding a cell phone
to talk or email.
● Ride a bicycle while wearing earphones tolisten to music at full blast（at a volumelevel that may prevent you from hearing an
alarm, a siren of emergency vehicles, andpolice s caution regarding safe driving）.
*Regardless of volume, you may be in breach of duty to ride safely.

9

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to music
at full blast*HVGTRTQQ
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While holding
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Regulations pertaining to the promotion of safe and appropriate use of bicycles in Osaka Prefecture.
（Objectives）
Article 1 These regulations deﬁne the responsibilities of the Prefectural Government and bicycle（asstipulated in the Road Traﬃc Act（No.105 of 1960）Article 2, Paragraph 1-11-2．The same applies
hereinafter.）users（hereinafter referred to as the Bicyclist .）, and deﬁne the roles of businesses, roadsafety organizations（hereinafter referred to as Road Safety Organizations .）and Prefectural Residents.
They are aimed at having the parties mentioned above cooperating to prevent traﬃc accidents involving
bicycles and protect the victims by ensuring the safety of bicycles on the road and establishing theregulations necessary for promoting the appropriate use of bicycles（hereinafter referred to as safe andappropriate use. ）（The responsibilities of the prefectural government）
Article 2 The Prefectural Government shall take measures to promote the safe and appropriate use of
bicycles.
2 In taking the aforementioned measures, the Prefectural Government shall cooperate with businesses, Road
Safety Organizations, Prefectural Residents, the national government, and local governments.
3 The Prefectural Government shall cooperate with relevant institutions to prepare a road and traﬃcenvironment for the safe and appropriate use of bicycles.
4 The Prefectural Government shall support activities pertaining to the safe and appropriate use of bicycles
by Road Safety Organizations and Prefectural Residents.
（The responsibilities of bicyclists）
Article 3 The Bicyclist shall strive to ride th bicycle safely and appropriately by recognizing whether its use
may cause traﬃc risks so that pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles（Refers to those stipulated in the RoadTraﬃc Act, Article 2, Paragraph 1-9．The same applies hereinafter.）and motorized bicycles（Refers to those
stipulated in No.10 of the aforementioned paragraph. The same applies hereinafter.）may travel on the roadsafely.
（The role of employers）
Article 4 The Employer shall strive to deepen their understanding of the safe and appropriate use of bicycles,
and independently and actively carry out activities of promoting the safe and appropriate use of bicycles
through their business activities.
2 The Employer shall strive to cooperate with the Prefectural Government s measures for promoting the safe
and appropriate use of bicycles.
（The role of road safety organizations）
Article 5 The Road Safety Organization shall strive to actively further activities of promoting the safe andappropriate use of bicycles.
2 The Road Safety Organization shall strive to cooperate with the Prefectural Government s measures forpromoting the safe and appropriate use of bicycles.
（The role of prefectural residents）
Article 6 The Prefectural Resident shall strive to deepen their understanding of the safe and appropriate useof bicycles, and independently and actively engage in eﬀorts pertaining to the safe and appropriate use of
bicycles in their home and community.
2 The Prefectural Resident shall strive to cooperate with the Prefectural Government s measures forpromoting the safe and appropriate use of bicycles.
（Provision of information by bicycle retailers）
Article 7 Those whose business it is to sell bicycles（hereinafter referred to as the Bicycle Retailer ）and
those whose business it is to rent bicycles（hereinafter referred to as the Bicycle Rental Service ）shallstrive to advise their purchasers（hereinafter referred to as the Purchaser ）and rentees（hereinafterreferred to as the Rentee ）to wear a helmet and provide them with the necessary information pertaining
to the safe and appropriate use of bicycles.
（Road safety education by the heads of schools）
Article 8 The heads of elementary schools, junior high schools, compulsory education schools, high schools,
secondary schools, special-needs schools, specialized vocational high schools, and advanced vocational schools
with advanced courses（hereinafter referred to as Schools ）stipulated in the School Education Act（ActNo.26 of 1947）shall strive to provide road safety education necessary for the safe and appropriate use of
bicycles to their children and students.

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The Prefectural Government shall strive to advise on road safety education stipulated in the previous
paragraph to those who have established or manage schools other than prefectural schools, and take othernecessary measures.

（Road safety education by custodians）
Article 9 The custodian（Those with parental authority and guardians of minors who have custody of minors.
The same applies hereinafter.）shall strive to take a course in the safe and proper use of bicycles and shallalso provide road safety education pertaining to the safe and proper use of bicycles to minors in theircustody.
2 The Employer shall provide the necessary road safety education pertaining to the safe and proper use of
bicycles to their employees.
（Inspection and maintenance of bicycles）
Article 10 The Bicyclist（Excluding minors. The same applies in Paragraph 1 of Article 12.）, Bicycle Rental
Service and those who ride bicycles for business shall carry out the necessary inspection and maintenance ofthe bicycles they use for their safe and proper use.
2 The Custodian shall carry out the necessary inspection and maintenance of the bicycles used by the minors
in their custody for their safe and proper use.
（Fitting of reﬂectors and use of bicycle helmets）
Article 11 The Bicyclist, Bicycle Rental Service and those who ride bicycles for business shall equip theirbicycles with reﬂectors on the sides if they ride bicycles at night or for business purpose.
2 The elderly shall wear a helmet and take the necessary precautions against the impact of bicycle accidents
when riding a bicycle.
（Purchase of liability protection, etcetera.）
Article 12 The Bicyclist shall purchase liability protection（An insurance or mutual aid that would cover theloss of life and bodily damage caused to others in accidents involving a bicycle. The same applies
hereinafter.）However, this shall not apply when others use the bicycle if they have liability protection.
2 The Custodian shall purchase liability protection when minors in their custody ride bicycles. However, thisshall not apply when others ride the bicycle if they have liability protection.
3 The Employer shall purchase liability protection when their employees ride bicycles for business purpose.
4 The Prefectural Government and road safety organizations shall mutually collaborate to provide information
on liability protection for the convenience of those intending to purchase liability protection.
（Veriﬁcation of liability protection coverage, etcetera.）
Article 13 The Bicycle Retailer shall verify the Purchaser s liability protection coverage when they purchase abicycle.
2 Should the Bicycle Retailer fail to verify liability protection coverage in the provision set forth in thepreceding paragraph, they shall provide information on liability protection to the Purchaser.
3 The Bicycle Rental Service shall rent bicycles with liability protection to the Rentee.
（Conditions for motorists.）
Article 14 The Motorist and Motorized Bicyclist shall ride with adequate care to prevent traﬃc risks andaccidents.
Supplementary provision
These regulations shall come into eﬀect on the First of April 2016. However, conditions under Articles 12 and13 shall be enforced on the First of July of the same year.

Osaka Prefecture Bicycle Regulations desk - Tel.: 06-6944-6736（Road Environment Division, Traﬃc and Road Oﬃce, Urban Improvement
Department, Osaka Prefecture.）*Japanese only.
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