au Insurance Conducts Survey on Fiscal Year 2025 Bicycle Insurance Enrollment Rates
au Insurance surveyed 14,098 bicycle users across Japan and found that the national bicycle insurance enrollment rate dropped to 64.2%, the first decline since the survey began in 2018. The study also highlights a concerning decrease in awareness regarding mandatory insurance requirements in regions where it is legally required.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 13:02 (1526h 6m after Collected)
au Insurance Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Takeshi Nakai; hereinafter "au Insurance") has conducted a survey on bicycle insurance enrollment status, targeting 14,098 male and female bicycle users aged 15 to 69 across Japan.
The results revealed that the national bicycle insurance enrollment rate is 64.2%, marking the first decline from the previous fiscal year since the survey began in 2018.
Bicycle insurance enrollment is mandated by many local governments to provide relief to victims of bicycle accidents. This decline in the enrollment rate suggests that the importance of preparing for bicycle accidents may not be sufficiently understood by those who use bicycles.
au Insurance has been continuously surveying the national bicycle insurance enrollment rate since fiscal year 2018. Given the significant response received each year, the company is publishing the results for fiscal year 2025 as well.
1. National bicycle insurance enrollment rate drops to 64.2%, the first decline on record
When surveying the enrollment status of insurance to prepare for bicycle accidents, the combined rate of those who answered "I am enrolled" or "I am likely enrolled" was 64.2% (9,053 people), marking the first decline from the previous year since the survey began [Table 1].
The "Second Bicycle Utilization Promotion Plan" published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2021 set a goal to increase the insurance enrollment rate to 75% by fiscal year 2025 (Note 1). Although a simple comparison cannot be made due to differences in the timing and criteria of the aggregation, this survey resulted in a figure below that target.
2. Enrollment rate in mandatory regions remains high at 66.4%, but declines for the second consecutive year
Looking at the data by region, the enrollment rate in areas where bicycle insurance is mandatory (Note 2) was 66.4%, significantly higher than in areas where it is not mandatory (47.6%) [Table 1]. These results suggest that mandatory requirements promote insurance enrollment. On the other hand, even in regions where it is mandatory, the enrollment rate has declined for two consecutive years, suggesting that the spread of insurance enrollment triggered by the mandates may have reached a plateau.
3. Awareness rate of mandatory bicycle insurance remains low at 36.5%
When surveying residents in areas where bicycle insurance is mandatory regarding their awareness of this requirement, only 36.5% of respondents answered that they "know about it." This is a 2.3-point decrease from the previous year and marks the fourth consecutive year of decline from 49.4% in fiscal year 2021 [Table 2].
These results suggest that the fact that bicycle insurance enrollment is mandatory is not being sufficiently communicated, which may be a contributing factor to the decline in the enrollment rate.
4. To further promote bicycle insurance, "increasing awareness" of mandatory enrollment is crucial
Until now, the implementation of mandatory bicycle insurance across the country has led to an increase in enrollment rates. However, this survey suggests that if people are unaware of the existence of systems such as mandatory enrollment, it may not lead to actions such as enrolling in or reviewing insurance policies. Therefore, to steadily increase the enrollment rate in the future, it is important to raise the awareness rate of mandatory insurance requirements.
au Insurance has been supporting local governments in publicizing ordinances regarding mandatory insurance and conducting awareness activities for safe bicycle use, based on "Agreements on Safe Bicycle Use" concluded with various municipalities. Moving forward, the company will continue to support everyone's safe and secure daily life through initiatives such as promoting the adoption of bicycle insurance and encouraging safe bicycle use.
End
[Survey Overview] *Conducted by au Insurance
Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire
Target: Bicycle users
Target Region: Nationwide Japan
Number of Respondents: 14,098
Age of Respondents: 15 to 69 years old
Survey Period: January 16, 2026 – January 19, 2026
*Figures in this survey are rounded to the first decimal place.
(Note 1) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Second Bicycle Utilization Promotion Plan": https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/content/001406524.pdf
(Note 2) "Mandatory regions" in this release include: Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima prefectures.
[Table 1] Bicycle Insurance Enrollment Rate
*Enrollment Rate = (Number of respondents who answered "I am enrolled" or "I am likely enrolled") / (Total number of respondents in each prefecture)
*Mandatory regions include areas where the prefectural capital has mandated insurance.
*Figures rounded to the first decimal place.
[Table 2] Awareness of Mandatory Enrollment in Mandatory Regions
The results revealed that the national bicycle insurance enrollment rate is 64.2%, marking the first decline from the previous fiscal year since the survey began in 2018.
Bicycle insurance enrollment is mandated by many local governments to provide relief to victims of bicycle accidents. This decline in the enrollment rate suggests that the importance of preparing for bicycle accidents may not be sufficiently understood by those who use bicycles.
au Insurance has been continuously surveying the national bicycle insurance enrollment rate since fiscal year 2018. Given the significant response received each year, the company is publishing the results for fiscal year 2025 as well.
1. National bicycle insurance enrollment rate drops to 64.2%, the first decline on record
When surveying the enrollment status of insurance to prepare for bicycle accidents, the combined rate of those who answered "I am enrolled" or "I am likely enrolled" was 64.2% (9,053 people), marking the first decline from the previous year since the survey began [Table 1].
The "Second Bicycle Utilization Promotion Plan" published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2021 set a goal to increase the insurance enrollment rate to 75% by fiscal year 2025 (Note 1). Although a simple comparison cannot be made due to differences in the timing and criteria of the aggregation, this survey resulted in a figure below that target.
2. Enrollment rate in mandatory regions remains high at 66.4%, but declines for the second consecutive year
Looking at the data by region, the enrollment rate in areas where bicycle insurance is mandatory (Note 2) was 66.4%, significantly higher than in areas where it is not mandatory (47.6%) [Table 1]. These results suggest that mandatory requirements promote insurance enrollment. On the other hand, even in regions where it is mandatory, the enrollment rate has declined for two consecutive years, suggesting that the spread of insurance enrollment triggered by the mandates may have reached a plateau.
3. Awareness rate of mandatory bicycle insurance remains low at 36.5%
When surveying residents in areas where bicycle insurance is mandatory regarding their awareness of this requirement, only 36.5% of respondents answered that they "know about it." This is a 2.3-point decrease from the previous year and marks the fourth consecutive year of decline from 49.4% in fiscal year 2021 [Table 2].
These results suggest that the fact that bicycle insurance enrollment is mandatory is not being sufficiently communicated, which may be a contributing factor to the decline in the enrollment rate.
4. To further promote bicycle insurance, "increasing awareness" of mandatory enrollment is crucial
Until now, the implementation of mandatory bicycle insurance across the country has led to an increase in enrollment rates. However, this survey suggests that if people are unaware of the existence of systems such as mandatory enrollment, it may not lead to actions such as enrolling in or reviewing insurance policies. Therefore, to steadily increase the enrollment rate in the future, it is important to raise the awareness rate of mandatory insurance requirements.
au Insurance has been supporting local governments in publicizing ordinances regarding mandatory insurance and conducting awareness activities for safe bicycle use, based on "Agreements on Safe Bicycle Use" concluded with various municipalities. Moving forward, the company will continue to support everyone's safe and secure daily life through initiatives such as promoting the adoption of bicycle insurance and encouraging safe bicycle use.
End
[Survey Overview] *Conducted by au Insurance
Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire
Target: Bicycle users
Target Region: Nationwide Japan
Number of Respondents: 14,098
Age of Respondents: 15 to 69 years old
Survey Period: January 16, 2026 – January 19, 2026
*Figures in this survey are rounded to the first decimal place.
(Note 1) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Second Bicycle Utilization Promotion Plan": https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/content/001406524.pdf
(Note 2) "Mandatory regions" in this release include: Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima prefectures.
[Table 1] Bicycle Insurance Enrollment Rate
*Enrollment Rate = (Number of respondents who answered "I am enrolled" or "I am likely enrolled") / (Total number of respondents in each prefecture)
*Mandatory regions include areas where the prefectural capital has mandated insurance.
*Figures rounded to the first decimal place.
[Table 2] Awareness of Mandatory Enrollment in Mandatory Regions