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License no longer required for e-kick scooters in Japan starting July

By on January 19, 2023

With the growing number of electric kick scooters in Japan, the National Police Agency will introduce new rules to take effect from July 1.

The newly revised road traffic law enacted last year wasn’t supposed to go into effect until April 2024 but the NPA decided to enforce the rules earlier amid advanced preparations by the transport ministry.

Japan’s National Police Agency said that electric kick scooters will be reclassified as ‘specific small motorized bicycles’ which means riders will no longer be required to have a driver’s license for models that run at 20 kph max speed. However, they are still urged to wear a helmet during the ride. Children under 16 are not allowed to ride e-kick scooters.

Under the new rule, e-scooter riders can take the left side of motor vehicle lanes as well as in bicycle lanes and on walkways but are restricted from going over 6 kph speed.

Up until now, the wearing of helmets is not mandatory when a scooter is rented from especially authorized operators. This will be abolished with the newly revised rules in July.

Read also:  Electric kick scooters return to the streets of Tokyo

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