A cutting blade clutch for a riding mower, configured in such a manner that the clutch lever for the mowing device is disposed directly under the steering wheel of the operator"s seat of the mower to enable the power of the mowing device to be immediately shut off in an emergency. A riding mower is provided with a clutch lever (12) for the cutting blade, the clutch lever (12) being disposed directly under the steering wheel (7) of the operator"s seat. The power is connected by lifting up the clutch lever (12) and is shut off by lowering the clutch lever (12). The clutch lever (12) is a U-shaped lever mounted under the steering wheel (7) so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction, and is configured so that, when the power is in a shutoff state, the clutch lever (12) is suspended vertically under the steering wheel (7) and, when the power is in a connected state, the front end of the U-shaped lever is located near the circular steering wheel (7) at a position directly under the operator"s seat-side outer edge thereof.
