E-scooters can use bicycle-only lanes on roads in 6-month trial run : The Asahi Shimbun

Electrical standup scooters will probably be allowed on bicycle-only lanes on roads in some components of the nation in a six-month demonstration experiment beginning in October, the Nationwide Police Company mentioned.

The experiment was deliberate after the company, the trade ministry and different associated authorities acquired requests from firms that purpose to develop their e-scooter sharing enterprise.

Customers of electrical scooters presently can solely journey on roads by holding to the far-left lane as a result of they’re categorised as motorized bicycles below the Highway Visitors Legislation.

The businesses have referred to as for allowing electrical scooters on bicycle-only lanes, saying they’re allowed to take action in the USA and European international locations, the place the automobiles are being extensively used.

The experiment will probably be performed to test for security functions and to find out if there’s a want for such a use of e-scooters in Japan, in accordance with the NPA.

Underneath the experiment, three firms will hire out electrical scooters to residents for journey on the bicycle lanes.

Fifty to 100 automobiles are anticipated to be made out there for hire at every potential goal space: Chiyoda, Shinjuku and Setagaya wards in Tokyo; Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture; Fukuoka metropolis; and different components of the nation.

Based on the NPA, the e-scooters must meet sure standards to be used on the lanes. They need to measure inside 140 centimeters in size and top and 80 cm in width, weigh 40 kilograms or much less, and have a most velocity of 20 kph.

The collaborating firms will even be requested to maintain a journey log of their electrical scooters and supply studies when an accident happens.

Riders have to have a driver’s license for motorized bicycles, put on a helmet and take out obligatory car legal responsibility insurance coverage coverage to journey the automobiles on public roads.

The NPA solicited opinions from the general public concerning the experiment from Aug. 3 by way of Sept. 1 on the web and by mail to make a ultimate resolution on the main points.