New suitcases are causing problems in Japan. They are rideable. Travellers can sit on them. They have a top speed of 13 kph. People are riding them around airports and train stations. However, Japan's laws class the luggage as a motorized vehicle. This means the rider needs a helmet, a driver's license, and insurance. The suitcases must have a rear-view mirror and indicator lights. Japanese airports have asked tourists to pull the suitcases and not ride them.
Electric luggage has been around since 2016. Rideable suitcases are now popular with celebrities. K-pop stars Blackpink have posted online videos of themselves riding their luggage. Companies have rules for the suitcases. British Airways will allow them on airplanes if the batteries can be removed. A transport expert said: "Unexpected new forms of transport will continue to emerge." He added that we will need more new laws.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Rideable Suitcases - Level 0, Rideable Suitcases - Level 2 or Rideable Suitcases - Level 3
Sources- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/07/17bb6dc8b49c-japan-puts-the-brakes-on-electric-suitcases-amid-tourism-boom.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/japan-rideable-luggage-suitcases-ban-crack-down-tourism
- https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/motorised-suitcases-banned-from-airports-in-japan-after-crashes/ar-BB1qOVnL
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