"Bicycle NAVITIME" updated to comply with the Road Traffic Act amendment effective April 1st

NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Keisuke Onishi) announced that effective March 27, 2026 (Friday), its bicycle navigation app 'Bicycle NAVITIME' will be updated to comply with the Road Traffic Act amendment taking effect on April 1, 2026 (Wednesday). With this legal amendment, the National Police Agency has announced the introduction of a traffic violation notification system (commonly known as the 'blue ticket' system) for bicycle traffic violations. Users have expressed concerns, stating they are unsure about the details of the penalties and wish to reconfirm the correct traffic rules. In response, 'Bicycle NAVITIME' has developed new features to help deter some of the targeted violations as a dedicated bicycle navigation app. We aim to reduce user anxiety and support an environment where people can use bicycles safely and securely. The newly added features are as follows: New FeatureDetails1. No-light riding preventionDuring navigation, 30 minutes before sunset, the app automatically prompts the user to turn on their lights via voice guidance and a screen notification.2. Stop sign guidanceDuring navigation, the app displays icons for the three nearest stop signs on the route and provides voice alerts as the user approaches them.3. Five Rules for Safe Bicycle UseImmediately after tapping the start button for the first navigation session, a dialog box appears to remind users of these safety rules.4. Display of traffic rulesUsers can check traffic rules at any time via the 'For Safe Use' and 'List of Signs' sections in the 'My Page' tab.5. Screen distraction prevention mode[Description truncated in original]