The National Police Agency on Thursday unveiled a draft for a special measure to allow electric scooters to operate in bicycle lanes in authorized areas, although their use is normally limited to roadways by law.
The move comes in response to requests from electric scooter operators, based on the law for strengthening industrial competitiveness. The NPA will begin accepting public comments about the matter from Monday.
Electric scooters, or powered stand-up scooters, have become popular mainly in Europe and the United States. In Japan, they are classified as motorized two-wheeled vehicles under the Road Traffic Law, meaning riders must carry a driver's license and wear a helmet.
Once the special measure is approved, three businesses will operate electric scooter-sharing services in Tokyo, Fukuoka and other places until March next year to verify the safety and convenience of the vehicle.
According to one of the operators, they sought the approval because the electric scooters' maximum speed of about 20 kph should be considered "safer in [bicycle] lanes than on roadways."
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