Third National Cycling Promotion Plan Cabinet-Approved; MTB Usage Officially Integrated into National Policy

Based on the Cycling Promotion Act, the government's 'Third National Cycling Promotion Plan' (hereinafter 'the Plan') was cabinet-approved on May 29, 2026. The Plan officially acknowledges that the use of various bicycles, including MTBs, can be a solution to social issues—such as regional revitalization (utilizing forests, promoting tourism, leveraging existing infrastructure, and creating relational populations), safety education, and disaster response—and specifies concrete measures and policies to achieve this.

The 'MTB Promotion Consortium,' a partnership between Oriental Consultants, JPF, Yamaha Motor, and Yamamori-bito, welcomes the fact that numerous advanced cases created over many years and the requests made to the government based on these experiences have been appropriately received in the sound policy-making process and clearly positioned in the new five-year plan.

Key Points of the Plan Revisions Related to MTB

The Plan assumes MTB usage in the following areas, and the MTB Consortium is committed to contributing further to these efforts.

1. Promotion of Bicycle Usage During Disasters

Bicycles (especially MTBs) are agile during disasters and play a critical role in maintaining traffic functionality. They have been officially positioned in the Plan.

Current Status and Issues Surrounding Bicycles [Safety and Security]
'In recent large-scale disasters such as the Kumamoto Earthquake and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, gasoline shortages and traffic congestion occurred. Given that bicycles are a mobile means of transport in such situations, it is important to promote their use during disasters.'

Goal 2: Realization of a Safe and Secure Society without Bicycle Accidents
'Leveraging the agile nature of bicycles during disasters, we will promote their use as a means of assessing disaster damage and based on local characteristics.'

[Measures to be Implemented]
14. Promote the use of bicycles during disasters to improve safety and security in local communities.

[Necessary Measures to be Taken]
To quickly assess damage to roads and other infrastructure during disasters, bicycle deployment will be promoted at National Highway Offices, and crisis management systems will be strengthened through repeated training. Local governments will also be encouraged to promote the use of bicycles during disasters.
We will proceed with collecting and disseminating information on the use of bicycles as a means of transport during disasters by local governments, taking into account disaster and local characteristics.

2. Promotion of Children's Bicycle Safety Education and Usage of Urban and Natural Parks

The importance of bicycle safety education in schools is growing due to the high number of bicycle-related injuries among young people and increased commuting distances resulting from school mergers. This is also stated in the Plan.

Current Status and Issues Surrounding Bicycles [Safety and Security]
'In recent years, it has been pointed out that fewer children are able to ride bicycles. According to actual bicycle ownership data, the percentage of children aged 10 and under who hardly use bicycles increased from 11% in FY2018 to 15% in FY2021. This is believed to be due to a lack of safe environments to ride or practice. Surveys indicate a demand for the creation of safe environments using public roads and parks in both urban and rural areas.'

Goal 2: Realization of a Safe and Secure Society without Bicycle Accidents
'We will utilize parks and other facilities to ensure safe environments for children to ride and practice cycling.'
'It is important to enhance traffic safety education by educational entities such as schools. Therefore, we will promote bicycle traffic safety education by facilitating collaboration between schools, relevant organizations, and groups for age-appropriate education from preschool through high school, and by enhancing training for instructors to deepen their understanding of traffic rules, in addition to raising parents' safety awareness.'

[Measures to be Implemented]
8. Promote bicycle traffic safety education.
12. Promote the creation of environments where children can safely ride bicycles by utilizing parks and other facilities.