Japan

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http://blog.orbike.com/archives/2007/02/ February 28, 2007 (from Oregon Bike, U.S.A)

Photos From Japan

I just returned from a trip to Japan. It wasn't a bike touring trip, though I wish it were; I've heard great things about bike touring in Japan. I had the opportunity to spend a day riding around Aomori, which is on the coast in the northern part of the main island. I modeled my riding style on those around me. I found myself riding sidewalks and riding slowly. People of all ages ride bikes, and there were plenty of seniors with large packages and kids, riding around like it was no big deal. Part of this is that they ride step-through frame bikes. They're solid bikes, very sturdy, and they call them a Mamma Chari. I also saw a few three-wheeled bikes.

Click on any of these photos for a larger version

Bikes are used to carry a lot. Each bike has a least a front basket, often a front basket and a rear child seat. They also mount mini child seats on the top tube so that the parent's arms are around the child while riding. You know those images of other countries where people are carrying bales or hay, refrigerators and other impossibly large objects? Well, I didn't see any of that, but I did see people with large boxes on the back.

Overall bikes were everywhere. They seemed to exist well with cars. Mostly cyclists rode on the sidewalk, sometimes in the street. Japanese drivers are not prone to honking or yelling, so it was hard to guage what they thought of cyclists, but the cyclists, for their part, seemed to be very cautious and respectful road users. It was not uncommon to see a long line of bikes in what would otherwise be a series of car parking spots (like this photo).

I was impressed with the low-key riding style.

Again, the Japanese ride slowly. They seem very relaxed.

They also don't wear any special gear - which is a little surprising given that they're a nation that absolutely loves uniforms and special gear for specific projects.

Skirts, suits, high-heeled boots - you name it, they wore it while riding. I never saw a set of rain pants or a rain coat - even through it rained a lot when I was there. Cyclists frequently ride with one hand on the handlebar and the other holding an umbrella. It's a really graceful riding style.

Overall, bikes are very much a part of the pulse of Japan. They move people and cargo everywhere on a daily basis. They are embraced as a reasonable, standard mode of transportation. Riding a bike seemed as natural as driving a car. I look forward to a time when biking in our culture is as accepted.

For information on where to get bicycles in Japan

 http:/www.japan-guide.com/e/e2210.html

Bicycles are widely used in Japan for everyday life by people of all age groups and social standings. Commuting to school, work or to the closest railway station, picking up children from preschool or doing the daily groceries are among the activities commonly done by bicycle.

Types of Bicycles

In Japanese, bicycles are known as jitensha or charinko (slang). The most common bicycles for every day use are typically equipped with a basket and/or a child seat (or two), a simple lock, a kickstand and just one gear.

Basic everyday bicycles cost around 10,000 Yen (about US$ 100), while used ones are available for less. More advanced models with multiple gears, for example, are slightly more expensive.

Foldable bicycles, mountain bikes and road racing bicycles are getting more common, but are still vastly outnumbered by the inexpensive everyday bicycles.

Road Rules

In theory, bicycles are supposed to use the streets and not the sidewalks, except when signs indicate that the sidewalks are for common use by pedestrians and cyclists. In praxis, however, cyclists tend to use the sidewalks at all times.

Due to the high popularity of bicycles, there are dedicated bicycle parking areas near most railway stations and shopping centers. Here and there you may even find multi-storey parking garages for exclusive use by bicycles.

Where there is a lack of designated parking space, bicycles will be ruthlessly parked even in clearly designated non-parking zones. In some areas, wrongly parked bicycles may be removed by the local authorities and can only get returned against a fine.

Bicycle Theft and Registration

Bicycle theft is not uncommon. Especially the scenario of being stranded at a railway station without continuing bus connection or someone to drive you home, creates occasional thieves. In order to fight bicycle theft, every bicycle in Japan is supposed to be registered with the police against a small one-time fee.

If you buy a new bicycle, the registration process will likely be handled by the store, but if you take over a used bicycle from somebody else, you are supposed to re-register the bicycle under your name at the local police station in order to avoid misunderstandings.

Most bicycles are equipped with a basic lock (see illustration below on how to use it), but more sturdy locks are required if you are concerned about bicycle theft.

http://www.roarfish.com/2005/12/the_bicycle_in_.html

http://www.runmuki.com/paul/writing/japantrip.html