April 24, 2008

JAMA- and NMCA-Sponsored Petition Drive Collects More than 900,000 Signatures
Targeting the Greater Availability of Motorcycle Parking Bays

Petition Drive Tops 900,000 Signatures
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) and the Nippon Motorcycle Association (NMCA) have been conducting a petition drive (in cooperation with the Japan Mini-Vehicle Association, the Japan Motorcycle Safety Association, the Motorcycle Federation of Japan, and the Japan Autobike Cooperative Society) aimed at an expansion of parking space availability for motorcycles. As of 10 April 2008, 916,784 persons have signed the petition.

This number reflects the ever-growing concern of motorcycle owners and non-owners alike over the glaring lack of parking spaces for motorcycles in Japan’s urban areas, and underscores just how acute this problem has become.

In recent years Japan has addressed the parking space management issue by revising its relevant legal framework, namely the country’s Road Traffic Act and so-called garage law. These initiatives raised hopes that the central and local governments would take active measures to ensure greater motorcycle parking availability. At present, however, significant progress in constructing new motorcycle parking facilities and in upgrading existing ones lags conspicuously behind the required level. As a result, the number of motorcycle parking bays in urban areas remains extremely limited and there has consequently been a sharp rise in the number of motorcycle parking violations in those areas.

Against this backdrop, the JAMA-NMCA petition drive lists specific demands aimed at securing more motorcycle parking spaces, including requests that local governments implement programs and financial support measures to that end and that current bans on on-street motorcycle parking be eased (see annex for details).

JAMA and NMCA Plan Further Activities to Demand Progress in This Area
Bolstered by the petition endorsed with over 900,000 signatures, JAMA and NMCA plan to implement highly focused efforts aimed at securing a rapid expansion of motorcycle parking availability. This campaign will specifically urge the central and local governments (including the individual wards and municipalities within metropolitan Tokyo and designated cities with populations of 500,000 or more) to address the dire shortage of motorcycle parking spaces in the vicinity of train stations, in busy commercial districts and in other areas where vehicle parking demand is high.

Note: Signatures for this petition can be received online at www.nmca.gr.jp.

For inquiries, please contact: Ms N. Yamashita or Mr T. Tanuma, Traffic Affairs Department, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, tel: (03) 5405-6123.

 

[Annex]

Summary of Content of Petition to Secure the Greater Availability of Motorcycle Parking Bays

Petition Objective:

Motorized bicycles (i.e. mopeds) as well as ordinary- and large-size motorcycles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “motorcycles”) are now in widespread use as a highly convenient means of individual mobility characterized by their compactness, maneuverability, and fuel economy. In stark contrast to these multiple benefits, however, the provision of parking facilities for motorcycles lags far behind the extent of their use. To redress this situation, the present petition demands vigorous efforts on the part of the central and local governments to expand motorcycle parking availability in the vicinity of train stations, in busy commercial districts and in other areas where vehicle parking demand is high.

Specific Demands (partial):

1. Local governments are requested to implement programs and financial support measures to promptly redress the chronic shortage of motorcycle parking availability.
2. Local governments are requested to adopt regulatory and other measures necessary to promote the accommodation of motorcycles within existing parking facilities.
3. Local governments are requested to adopt regulatory and other measures necessary to promote the introduction of on-street motorcycle parking bays.
4. It is requested that regulations banning motorcycle parking in designated zones be reviewed for the purpose of easing those regulations to the greatest extent possible or abolishing them entirely.
5. In the case of time-limit parking zones, it is requested that motorcycle parking permits and/or other means facilitating the ready use of these zones by motorcyclists be promptly introduced.
6. Road transport authorities are requested to encourage the cooperation of prefectural government public safety commissions and other relevant entities in ensuring the provision of on-street motorcycle parking availability.

 

 

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