Ehime Prefecture

Make Ehime Prefecture aCycling Paradise
Background and Reason for the Project
Ehime Prefecture runs a unique cycling project,advocating for the principles of a Cycling LifeStyle, where citizens can nurture a healthy
lifestyle and gain motivation in life andfriendship, with the aim of Ehime becoming a
Cycling Paradise.
Project Aims
By comprehensively running this project using
cycling as a gateway, the prefecture promotes
the prosperity of the region by increasing their
number of non-resident tourists, creating
actual demand, preventing traffic accidents
through safe use of bicycles, and promoting
the health of citizens in the prefecture.

municipal governments, in addition to public
transport, police and tourism associations,
who review the courses if necessary and makeefforts to have citizens continually enjoy themas “practical courses”.
Apart from Blue Lines, pictographs and signs
are also placed warning cyclists about zones
where residential houses are concentrated
and hazardous locations on the roads. It also isworking on expanding road shoulders tosecure a safe cycling space for cyclists. The
prefecture has reallocated the width ofexisting roads to expand road shoulders tomore than 1.0 metre. It will also allocate morethan 1.0-metre shoulders when newly
developing roads.

Project Outline, Features and Innovation
 Ehime Marugoto Cycling 28 Courses
The prefecture has established a total of 28
courses across the prefecture, including 11
courses for middle to advanced level cyclists
and 17 courses for family cyclists, andintroduced Blue Lines (blue colour guiding
lines on the left along roadways which guidecyclists to reach their destinations without amap) with indications of distance anddirection in place every kilometre.
The prefecture regularly discusses the safetymeasures and use promotion measures forthe courses in the “Marugoto Cycling Safetyand Use Promotion Conference”. Thisconference involves national, prefectural and
Cycling Shimanami, an international
cycling event in Setouchi Shimanami Kaido
Cycling Shimanami is the only cycling event
held in Japan that restricts road traffic on inservice expressways. Through this event,
Hiroshima Prefecture and local municipal
governments work together to strongly
promote the appeal of “Cyclists’ Paradise Shimanami Kaido” both in Japan and overseas.
It is an event where participants can enjoy
various courses with beautiful scenery along
the Shimanami Kaido and the hospitality ofcitizens along the event route.
The first race was held in 2014. Mid-sized(approx. 3,500 participants) and large-sized(approx. 7,000 participants) events are held1

every other year in rotation. In the third
Cycling Shimanami in 2018, 7,215 cyclists
participated.

They also run rest facilities where cyclists caninteract with the local community.

Cycling Shimanami, international cycling eventin Setouchi Shimanami KaidoCycle Oasis
 Cycle Rescue
Bicycle shops, rental bicycle businesses andgas stations provide emergency andtransportation services (both paid and freeservices) as much as they can making use of
their own specialties in case cyclists havetrouble during cycling.

 Securing secondary transportation for
cyclists
Although bikes usually have to bedisassembled and put into bags when cyclists
carry them on trains, some season- and zonelimited train and bus services are provided
where bikes can be carried as they are,without putting them into bags to improve
convenience for cyclists.

Securing secondary transportation for cyclists

Cycle Rescue Cycle Oasis
Cycle Oasis lets cyclists use bicycle pumps,water, toilets and benches (rest equipment),
and provides information for free withcooperation from a diverse range ofbusinesses and facilities including local stores,
roadside stations and convenience stores.

 Information delivery
1. Ehime Marugoto Cycling service site
The site distributes information perfectfor a wide range of cyclists from beginners
to advanced by introducing Ehime
Marugoto Cycling 28 courses using maps
and movies.
22. Cycling map
Of the Ehime Marugoto Cycling courses,
the 11 courses for middle to advanced
level cyclists are listed in the prefecture
map with detailed information about
each course.

internationally promote itself to the world asa cycle road representing Japan.

 Project implementation system
As a prefectural organisation, the Cycling LifeStyle Promotion Division, which governs thecycling project, and several other divisions
including the Tourism and Local Products
Division, International Affairs Division andRoad Maintenance Division cooperate witheach other and engage in the cycling projectwith full cooperation across the prefecturalgovernment.
It has also established a public and private
partnership organisation “Ehime Prefecture
Cycling Life-Style Promotion Association”
consisting of businesses, groups and local
governments, and works on promoting andexpanding the Cycling Life-Style across Ehime.

Future Developments (expected effects andproject vision and issues)
 The prefecture is promoting tourism withcycling as a main focus through thedevelopment of an environment towelcome cyclists by efficiently distributing
information through the Ehime Marugoto
Cycling site and strengthening secondarytransport services.

Issues, Problems and Responses
The prefecture will continue working on
achieving Cycling Paradise.

 The prefecture will hold Cycling Shimanami
2020 in October 2020 and strives to vitalise
the regions, by widely delivering
information on the attractions ofShimanami Kaido.
Reference URLs
https://ehime-cycling.jp/(Ehime Marugoto Cycling)https://cycling-shimanami.jp/(Cycling Shimanami, international cycling
event in Setouchi Shimanami Kaido)
https://www.pref.ehime.jp/h12180/jitenshas
hinbunka/suishin/keikaku.html(EhimePrefectureCycling
Life-StylePromotion Plan)
https://cycling-ehime.com/(CYCLING EHIME)

Results of the ProjectThe use of Shimanami Kaido rental bicycles in
the prefecture has been increasing every year
and about 58,000 bicycles were rented out inthe fiscal year 2018.
In Cycling Shimanami 2018 there were about
7,215 participants in total; which includes
people across Japan and the largest evernumber of participants, 701, from 26
countries and regions mainly from Asia, suchas Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which shows
improved awareness of “Cyclists’ Paradise Shimanami Kaido” both in Japan and overseas.
Under these circumstances, on 7 November,
2019, Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road was
designated by the country as a primary“National Cycle Route”, which is allowed toContact
Division in charge: Tourism and Local
Products Division, Tourism and Exchange
Sub-department, Ehime Prefecture Economyand Labor Department
3

・CYCLE RESCUE
・Cycling Life-Style Promotion Division
・Tourism and Local Products Division
・International Affairs Division
・Road Maintenance Division
・ Ehime Prefecture Cycling Life-Style
Promotion Association

Phone: +81-89-912-2490
E-mail: kankou@pref.ehime.lg.jp
Terminologies and Coined Terms Used
・CYCLING PARADISE
・CYCLING SHIMANAMI・CYCLE OASIS4