Bicycle insurance mandatory in several Japanese prefectural governments

In Japan, the government has urged cyclists to purchase a third party liability insurance. Serious accidents can involve cyclists with pedestrians or with motor vehicles.

Between 2015 and 2019, a dozen Japanese prefectural governments and several major cities introduced ordinances making third party liability insurance mandatory for bicycle users. At the beginning of 2019, 64.3% of insured cyclists were reported in these prefectures against 56% nation wide.

It should be noted that more than 5 000 accidents involving bicycle-riders were recorded in 2017 throughout Japan, an increasing figure in 2018, according to the authorities.

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