Realizing a Japan with Zero Traffic Fatalities

We support "April Dream," an initiative that designates April 1st as a day to broadcast dreams. This press release is the dream of VOL Bicycle Plus One Co., Ltd.

The State of Traffic Accidents in Japan

In 2025 (Reiwa 7), there were 2,495 fatal traffic accidents, resulting in 2,547 deaths (Source: "Status of Fatal Traffic Accidents and Traffic Law Enforcement in Reiwa 7," Traffic Bureau, National Police Agency, February 2026). The number of injured people exceeded 330,000, meaning many people are suffering due to traffic accidents. Furthermore, in over 90% of these fatal accidents, automobiles and similar vehicles (including motorcycles and general mopeds, hereafter referred to as "cars" *Note 1) are the primary parties involved *Note 2.

Realizing "Zero Traffic Fatalities" through the Spread of Safely Ridden Bicycles

Since its establishment, VOL Bicycle Plus One has focused on the convenience, economy, health benefits, enjoyment, tourism promotion effects, and environmental impact reduction of bicycles. We have been working to popularize bicycles under the banner of "regional revitalization through bicycles."

The spread of safely ridden bicycles not only plays a role in alleviating traffic congestion and smoothing traffic flow but also leads to a reduction in severe traffic accidents, such as fatal ones. While collaborating with initiatives in other fields, such as the development of safety devices for cars and the spread of autonomous driving, VOL Bicycle Plus One will realize a society with zero traffic fatalities by promoting the use of safe bicycles.

To popularize bicycles, VOL Bicycle Plus One conducts the following businesses:

Roadmap to Realizing Zero Traffic Fatalities

Even if we aim for zero traffic fatalities, realizing it immediately will be quite difficult, so we aim to achieve it in stages.

As mentioned above, bicycles can be expected to have various positive effects beyond just reducing fatal and serious accidents. Therefore, including these positive effects, we will realize towns (municipalities) with zero traffic accidents by collaborating with regions that actively work on popularizing safe bicycles. Based on such success stories, we will expand similar initiatives nationwide to realize a Japan with zero traffic fatalities.

Since there are issues that cannot be addressed by bicycles alone, we aim to solve them through advocacy in other fields.

The Positive Effects and Social Significance of Bicycles

Finally, besides realizing "zero traffic fatalities," we would like to convey the positive effects brought by bicycles and the significance of the society realized by bicycle policies.

When visiting regional cities, we often hear, "You can't live here without a car."

But is that really true?

How do children without driver's licenses live?

How should the elderly who have returned their licenses live?

For those who don't have or cannot hold a license—a group that has been increasing recently—do they have no choice but to be picked up and dropped off by someone who has a license and a car?

Along with public transportation initiatives, bicycles can help address this. We will support the realization of regions and municipalities where the significant percentage of "people without a license" can live safely and happily.

Even in regional cities, gathering people generates significant consumer purchasing power. Furthermore, in these times when the aging of infrastructure threatens human lives, decentralized cities invite financial strain.

However, to create compact cities and walkable districts, it is not enough to think only about walking. The utilization of bicycles is an important factor in creating compact, walkable districts that bring liveliness and healthy finances.

"Freedom of choice" brings people happiness and improves their QOL. You can take the train, ride a bicycle, or drive a car. A society where you can freely choose your mode of transportation based on your situation is a wonderful society.

This applies to both residents and tourists (visitors). Bicycles bring great benefits, especially to regional cities facing challenges in accessing tourist destinations, and to regions aiming to increase walkability and stay duration.

Walkable towns where even minorities can live safely and happily, lively towns with healthy finances and freedom of mobility are attractive to both residents and tourists. Without injecting budgets into subsidy-based settlement promotion or excessive promotion, we will realize a natural and reasonable increase in settled, exchange, and related populations.

The exercise effect of bicycles promotes health and supports the reduction of medical and nursing care costs.

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*Note 1: A bicycle is a light vehicle and is part of a car in a broad sense, but to distinguish between automobiles and bicycles clearly in the text, automobiles are deliberately referred to as "cars."

*Note 2: The "primary party" refers to the person with the heaviest negligence among the accident parties initially involved in the traffic accident.

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■ About VOL Bicycle Plus One

Collaborating with governments, companies, and local people to create "regional related populations through bicycles," such as consulting on bicycle policies for local governments (formulating bicycle utilization promotion plans, etc.), creating cycling routes, and holding/managing events. In May 2022 (Reiwa 4), we opened "Ando Cycling Tokyo," a base for enjoying bicycles, creating a community that connects regions with people and people with people, and aiming to form a community-based community beyond the framework of bicycles in the future.

<Company Profile>

Trade name: VOL Bicycle Plus One Co., Ltd.

Representative: Yasutaka Kawamura, Representative Director

Location: Shinada Building 101, 2-2-1 Higashiueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015

Established: August 2017 (Heisei 29)

Business: Regional revitalization and consulting related to bicycles, service business utilizing bicycles

Capital: 3,600,000 yen

URL: https://bicycle.vol-c.com/

■ Contact Information for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Company Name: VOL Bicycle Plus One Co., Ltd.

Contact Name: Yasutaka Kawamura

TEL: 03-5830-7017

Inquiry URL: https://bicycle.vol-c.com/inquiry/