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Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom
Riders of motorised luggage – popular in parts of Asia – require safety equipment and a driver’s licence, according to Japanese law
Two major Japanese airports have already asked travellers not to ride motorised suitcases within their facilities, according to Kyodo news agency, while police are urging domestic retailers to warn customers of the strict laws concerning their use. In July, a boy from Indonesia rode a motorised suitcase past pedestrians along a street in Osaka’s bustling Dotonbori shopping district, according to Kyodo, which said his family was surprised to learn that a driving licence was mandatory for such vehicles in Japan. According to Takeru Shibayama, a senior scientist at the Vienna University of Technology’s Institute for Transportation, Japan’s broad range of vehicles – which fall under the category of motorised bicycles – may force the country to discuss “whether a new classification should be established” to deal with electric suitcases.
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