Bicycles are considered vehicles, therefore, riders must follow traffic regulations. Owners must register their bicycles with the police. This usually occurs at the point of purchase or one must go directly to the police station. If there is a change of ownership, this registration change must also be processed. One should never "borrow" a bicycle without permission. Even if it appears abandoned or you plan to use it "just this one-time", you can be arrested for theft (this has happened in Tsukuba). Bicycles must be ridden on the left side of the road and can only be ridden on sidewalks which are designated for dual pedestrian and cycling use. Riders must walk their bicycles through pedestrian crossings (crosswalks). Cyclists are prohibited from using their cell-phones (mobile phones) and umbrellas while riding. Bicycles must be parked in designated parking areas.
The old bicycle parking lot near the bus terminal will now be known as Tsukuba Center Bicycle Parking Lot and it will be divided into three sections. Section (1) is for bikes, motorized bicycles ("gentsuki"), and motorcycles under 250cc (no sidecars) and will be open from 6am to 10pm. Sections (2) and (3) are only for bicycles and will be open 24 hours. Parking for under two hours in Section (1) will be free. There will be discounts for students and people who park their bikes on the tops of the double-decker cycle racks when they buy a pass for a fixed period. Sections (2) and (3) will be fee-based.
Kenkyu Gakuen station will have room for 138 bicycles, 140m west of the entrance. Banpaku Kinen Koen station will have room for 174 bicycles, 60m north of the entrance. Midorino station will have room for 192 bicycles, 130m north of the entrance. Bikes, motorized bicycles ("gentsuki"), and motorcycles under 250cc (no sidecars) can park in these lots for free.
The City has implemented a "bicycle no-parking zone" around Tsukuba Center. There will be new bicycle parking areas on the first and second floors of Q't and on the first floors of Jusco and Seibu. These parking areas are only for people who are shopping at the malls. Bicycles that are left in no-parking zones will be confiscated and you will have to pay a 1000 yen fee to get your bicycle back (1500 yen for motorbikes).
Tsukuba has a rental bicycle service that operates out of the Tourist Information Center in Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express Line). The bicycles can be used by residents and visitors to Tsukuba. The rental service is available from 9am to 6:30pm and it costs 500 yen to rent an adult bike and 250 yen for a child's bike. There are 25 bicycles available (4 for children).
In order to promote recycling and a clean environment, the City along with the Ibaraki Prefecture Bicycle Association have recycled bicycles from the City’s waste disposal center. After inspection and repair, these bicycles have been distributed to various distribution locations throughout the city for sale.
Contact: Division
The yellow blocks in the pavement of sidewalks are there to guide people with visual impairments. Leaving bicycles or any other object on the yellow blocks creates a very dangerous situation for the people who use these blocks. Please be considerate and pay attention to the yellow blocks.
Topics: Transportation
Relevant for: Tourists, Newcomers, Residents
Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.