Lessons from US Bicycle Policy about Promotion of Bicycle Use As a Means of Transportation

The bicycle is the most energy efficient vehicle. Among Japanese people, it is used as one of the most important means of transportation for commuting compared with US. But the safety environment for bicycle user is very sever in Japan. We can get many lessons from the US policy, because of its progressiveness and strength.US Transportation policy gives priority on non-mortorized vehicle, especially on the bicycle. According to US Code 23 (High Way), the bicycle is considered as means of transportation. And financial assistances by federal government to the States for multi modal transportation are very hospitable, and accordingly every state shall make comprehensive and long term transportation plan which includes a bicycle plan. And in addition to this, every state shall put the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator in the State department of transportation. There are no such policy situations in Japan.Bicycles have the same rights and duties as motor vehicles, and are treated as a means of transportation on the road by vehicle laws of many state. The motor vehicle users must share the road with bicycle. There are the same obligations to give attention to each other for both motor vehicle drivers and bicycle riders. As a result, the number of the traffic accident fatalities of bicycle riders is much smaller compared with that of Japan and decreasing in these years. Japanese Policy needs to learn the fundamentals of those of US.Lessons from US bicycle policy are as follows. The Bicycle must be considered clearly as the means of transportation by law, and at the same time, had better be given the same rights and duties as motor vehicle. And through these actions, the bicycle policy can be put more priority among Japanese transportation policies. To realize these points, such legislation and financial measures needs to be taken by the Japanese government.