59% Say 'Blue Ticket' System for Bicycle Violations Will Impact Their Lives; 34% Say It Won't

[KSI Online Survey] Survey on the Use of Bicycles

Kioicho Strategy Institute (KSI, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Naoya Bessho), which provides comprehensive consulting in the public affairs domain, including policy activities and risk management support for companies challenging new industries, conducts online surveys centered on current affairs topics about twice a month.

■ Survey Overview

Starting in April 2026, a traffic infraction notification system (the so-called 'Blue Ticket System') requiring the payment of administrative fines for traffic violations was introduced for bicycle drivers aged 16 and older. In response to requests received after the introduction was decided, the National Police Agency has begun considering a review of the upper age limit for children who can ride together in child seats on bicycles. To understand what people think about the stricter bicycle traffic rules and enhanced enforcement, an online survey was conducted on May 12, targeting 1,000 people aged 18 and older nationwide.

■ Survey Results Summary

When asked to choose the single most frequent purpose for using a bicycle, 'Shopping' was the most common at 44.5%, followed by 'Commuting to work/school' at 17.5%, 'Leisure/Exercise' at 9.5%, 'Work/Business' at 2.2%, and 'Picking up/dropping off children' at 0.8%. 'Other' accounted for 5.3%, while 20.2% answered 'Do not use a bicycle.'

Due to the revision of the Road Traffic Act, the traffic infraction notification system (the so-called 'Blue Ticket System') was introduced starting April 2026 for bicycle drivers aged 16 and older. There are 113 types of violations subject to this system, including driving while using a smartphone and failing to stop at stop signs. 61.0% 'Knew' that there were 113 types of bicycle violations subject to the blue ticket, while 39.0% 'Did not know.'

Looking at those who answered 'Knew' by region, Hokkaido was at the top in the 70% range, while Shikoku was the lowest in the 40% range. By occupation, students were the most common in the 80% range, and pensioners/unemployed were the fewest in the 40% range.

By frequency of bicycle driving, those who use it almost every day were the most common in the 70% range, and those who do not ride at all were the fewest in the 40% range. By frequency of car driving, those who drive almost every day, 3-4 times a week, and 1-2 times a week were in the 60% range, while those who rarely or never drive were in the 50% range.

59% say 'Blue Ticket' introduction for bicycle violations 'Impacts daily life'

Regarding the stricter traffic rules and enhanced enforcement concerning bicycles starting April 2026, such as the introduction of the blue ticket system, 'Very much impacts' and 'Somewhat impacts' accounted for a total of 59.9% regarding their own daily lives, while 'No impact at all' and 'Not much impact' totaled 34.8%.

Among those who answered 'Very much impacts', by age group, those in their 20s were the most numerous in the 30% range, followed by those in their 30s in the 20% range, and others at 10% or below, roughly showing a tendency to be higher among the younger generation. By frequency of bicycle driving, those who use it almost every day were the most numerous in the 30% range.

Confidence in avoiding bicycle violations subject to Blue Tickets

There are 113 types of bicycle violations subject to blue tickets. When asked how confident they are in using a bicycle without committing these violations, 'Confident in not committing some violations, but not confident overall' was the most common at 43.3%, followed by 'Confident in not committing most violations, though not all' at 32.4%, 'No confidence at all in not committing violations' at 10.9%, and 'Confident in not committing any violations' at 7.5%.

Regarding those who answered 'Confident in not committing any violations', by age group, those in their 20s and 30s were in the 10% range, and others were zero or single digits. By frequency of bicycle driving, those who use it almost every day were in the 10% range, and others were single digits. Even by frequency of car driving, those who drive almost every day were in the 10% range, and others were single digits. By supported political party, the Conservative Party of Japan was the highest in the 20% range.

In response to the stricter traffic rules and enhanced enforcement regarding bicycles starting April 2026, such as the introduction of the blue ticket system, 70.6% said their frequency of riding a bicycle would 'Not change,' 18.8% said it would 'Decrease,' and 3.1% said it would 'Increase.'

Top violations that should be fined: Riding double, Riding with an umbrella, Failing to stop

After showing examples of bicycle violations subject to blue tickets, when asked to select multiple items they think need to be subject to enforcement accompanied by fines, the top three were 'Riding double' at 73.0%, 'Riding with an umbrella' at 72.2%, and 'Failing to stop' at 66.0%.

On the other hand, excluding 'Other,' those with fewer votes were 'Carrying elementary school children or older in child seats' at 35.6%, 'Two-stage right turn violation' at 35.7%, and 'Hanging luggage on the handlebars' at 36.0%.

1-meter rule when passing bicycles: 58% say 'Cannot follow depending on the situation'

From April 2026, it is necessary to keep a 'sufficient distance' when cars pass on the right side of a bicycle, and the standard for that distance is at least about 1 meter. When asked if they think they can follow this rule when driving a car, 58.6% said 'I think I cannot follow it depending on situations such as crowded roads,' which was the most common, while 19.9% said 'I think I can follow it,' and 15.6% said 'I don't think I can follow it.'

Looking at those who answered 'I think I can follow it' by bicycle driving frequency, those who use it almost every day or 3-4 times a week were the most numerous in the 20% range, and others were in the 10% range. By car driving frequency, those who drive almost every day, 3-4 times, or 1-2 times a week were all in the 20% range, and others were in the 10% range.

Furthermore, assuming the standpoint of a bicycle user, 43.9% said they 'Do not think it will increase' their sense of security when traveling on the road due to this rule, while 42.2% said they 'Think it will increase,' showing an even split.

Enhanced enforcement will 'Decrease' violations: 44%, 'Do not think so': 36%

Regarding whether highly dangerous and nuisance violations for pedestrians and other vehicles will decrease due to the stricter bicycle traffic rules and enhanced enforcement starting April 2026, 44.2% 'Think they will decrease,' and 36.3% 'Do not think they will decrease.' 'Don't know' was 19.5%.

Among those who answered 'Do not think they will decrease,' by bicycle driving purpose, work/business was the top in the 50% range. By supported political party, the Centrist Reform Coalition (including those who simultaneously support CDP or Komeito) was the most numerous in the 50% range.

Top effective bicycle safety measure: 'Development of dedicated lanes, etc.' 65%

When asked in a multiple-choice format what they think is effective in promoting safe bicycle use, the top three were 'Road development such as dedicated bicycle lanes' at 65.1%, 'Traffic safety education at schools and workplaces' at 59.3%, and 'Police enforcement' at 53.4%.

Political party support rates were LDP 21.3% (previous survey April 7-8, 2026: 20.2%), DPP 4.9% (4.8%), Japan Innovation Party 4.3% (5.2%), Sanseito 3.5% (3.5%), CDP (excluding those who simultaneously support centrists) 2.8% (2.0%), Reiwa Shinsengumi 2.6% (1.3%), Team Mirai 2.2% (3.3%), Communist Party 1.8% (1.4%), Centrist Reform Coalition (excluding those who simultaneously support CDP or Komeito) 1.7% (2.1%), Centrist Reform Coalition (including those who simultaneously support CDP or Komeito) 1.3% (2.4%), Conservative Party of Japan 1.1% (1.1%), Komeito (excluding those who simultaneously support centrists) 0.5% (truncated).