Bicycles that do not consume gasoline provide an economic means of transportation. Since they don't discharge exhaust fumes, they are environmentally friendly. They are also a good way to keep physically fit, do not require a license nor take up a large parking space like cars, which cost as much as 100 times to buy.

Currently there are about 86 million bicycles in Japan. The figure roughly corresponds to the population of people of working age. However, despite the fact that Japan has the third largest number of bicycles in the world, the social standing of bicycles has remained low. When cyclists use the roadway, they often find themselves reeling from the wind pressure of passing cars. While bicycles are allowed on sidewalks, they are a pain to pedestrians. And bicycles left in front of train stations by commuters have become synonymous with ``nuisance.''

The roots of the bicycle problem stem from the government's inconsistent policy concerning bicycles.

Japan enacted a basic bicycle law in 1980 aimed at promoting the safe use of bicycles. However, since the law mainly cracked down on illegally parked bicycles, in effect, it did more to shut out rather than to accommodate cyclists. Before establishing the law, the government revised the Road Traffic Law to deal with the growing number of bicycle-related accidents and allowed people to ride bicycles on sidewalks that carry signs permitting it. As a result, the basic law has remained virtually ineffective except for regulating illegal parking.

Personally, I think the revised Road Traffic Law that made it possible for cyclists to use sidewalks is a major factor that caused disruption in urban traffic. That's because it led to the common misconception that people are free to ride their bicycles on all sidewalks.

Because of bicycles, sidewalks are no longer a safe place for pedestrians to walk, let alone for people in wheelchairs trying to get somewhere. The Road Traffic Law requires that people walk on the right side of the road and cars run on the left side. But since the law does not apply to bicycles, it has caused cyclists to disregard common sense. Many cyclists carry passengers or ride without lights on at night. It is common to see people talking on cellphones while riding their bicycles. But little is done to control such reckless behavior. As a politician, I admit that we are to blame for failing to implement measures to deal with the situation.

This awareness prompted me to start the ``Legislators' Association for Promoting Bicycle Use'' in the Diet. For the past several years, we have been conducting surveys and discussions aimed at establishing a new bicycle law.

As I mentioned before, the current basic law mostly regulates the illegal parking of bicycles. What the law lacks is a system to promote the positive use of bicycles. Our bill proposes the following measures:

*The establishment of a Cabinet minister post in charge of implementing effective and comprehensive bicycle administration.

*The creation of bicycle lanes in urban areas.

*Promoting cooperation between local governments and police on bicycle issues.

*Requiring cyclists, who are the key players, to observe traffic rules and proper behavior. In addition, we plan to incorporate clauses to encourage cyclists to develop the awareness that as beneficiaries they must shoulder the cost of various services and properly pay parking fees and other expenses.

We also plan to call for the re-examination of the Road Traffic Law that allows cyclists to use sidewalks and to revise the rules of the National Public Safety Commission to advance the computerization of bicycle registration to prevent theft.

The United States, which is the world's second largest bicycle user after China, established a nationwide ``bicycle coordinator system'' in 1991. With the implementation of educational programs and policies to promote bicycle usage, the system was successful in reducing accidents and resolving bicycle-related trouble.

In Europe, some central urban areas have lanes exclusively designed for bicycles. Some cities ban the entry of cars in central areas and are advancing city planning centering on pedestrians, bicycles and streetcars. It is trendy there-even cool-to ride bicycles that are not only environmentally friendly but also promote health.

In Japan, too, a growing number of urban residents are using bicycles to go to school and work. It appears that environmentally and health-conscious people who want to improve their quality of life are beginning to take a new look at the benefits of bicycles. Although Japan is lagging behind the United States and Europe by more than 10 years in this regard, a bicycle boom is finally budding.

It has been 55 years since I became an ardent cyclist. The current boom is an ideal opportunity to positively advance bicycle policy. I wish to establish a new bicycle law that reflects the people's candid opinions as soon as possible. Let's work together to realize a vehicular society in which ``cool'' cyclists play the leading role.

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The author is a Lower House member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He contributed this comment to The Asahi Shimbun.(IHT/Asahi: December 25,2004)