tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39497810788823833412024-03-05T17:54:15.709+09:00Tokyo By Bike : Cycling in Tokyo and around JapanExplore Tokyo & Japan's vibrant cycling culture with Tokyo By Bike, and learn why the best way to experience Japan is by bicycle. Tokyo, Its better by bike!Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-27501332423405294872022-09-05T11:16:00.005+09:002022-09-05T12:02:06.398+09:00 Tokyo's Bicycle Navigation Marks - What do they mean?<p>The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been actively increasing the number of bicycle navigation marks and lines at intersections around the city, but what do they mean? Do they change cycling rules in any meaningful fashion? Do they keep cyclists safe? Or are they just more government sponsored graffiti?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO9XXi6o-phLAoXi83HdBsVdXAtci4dY0JjWrQfhwR0qpbJl09AVWk-o0i-UTax1h8sbMpY_gefagbmoXPLyjNRhOqPENQHrpTg3_uk_BPDMKxMfUwCvAheONwsfHYe5BRldwtNafm5Y5YusKNHbAOzjFBSYEIyx_yO9XSZP_zFQ27WYqhEVpfA/s1255/sharrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bicycle Navigation Marks (Sharrows), Tokyo, Japan" border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1255" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO9XXi6o-phLAoXi83HdBsVdXAtci4dY0JjWrQfhwR0qpbJl09AVWk-o0i-UTax1h8sbMpY_gefagbmoXPLyjNRhOqPENQHrpTg3_uk_BPDMKxMfUwCvAheONwsfHYe5BRldwtNafm5Y5YusKNHbAOzjFBSYEIyx_yO9XSZP_zFQ27WYqhEVpfA/w400-h300/sharrows.jpg" title="Bicycle Navigation Marks (Sharrows), Tokyo, Japan" width="400" /></a></div><p>I'm sure you're aware already that these bicycle markings are nothing more than stencilled graffiti with little to no actual meaning, the need for which is made even more confusing by the official explanation of how they tie into sidewalk and road cycling. </p><div>In short the official explanation of these markings does nothing more than highlight that bicycles are considered unwelcome impostors on both the sidewalks and roads of Japan.<p></p><p>The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's own explanation of these marks defines them "markings which show the area and direction in which a bicycle should travel" and that bicycles should "travel in the direction the arrows are pointing". (Because you may have forgotten how arrows work, right?).</p><p>But most the most telling statements regarding these markings are: </p><p></p><blockquote>"Bicycle navigation marks/ bicycle navigation lines are not stipulated by law, and they do not signify the designation of a new traffic system." </blockquote><p></p><p>and </p><p></p><blockquote>"These marks do not indicate right of way for bicycles nor do they imply other legal protections for cyclists." </blockquote><p></p><p>Which is basically an admission from the Government that motorists are not bound to recognize or honour these markings and that they do indeed offer no additional safety benefits to cyclists who are already familiar with the concepts of "left", "right", and the direction of arrows.</p><p>Cycling these lanes does not give cyclists a right to space on the road, bicycles are still a guest in the motorists domain. Cyclists are encouraged to obey all the laws of the road but not worthy of the the same courtesy from motorists. You can be struck while cycling within these markings, and have no legal standing because by the Tokyo Metropolitans own documentation they have absolutely no legal status, and thus no merit for cyclists.</p><p>Not surprisingly the entire explanation of these markings centres on the obligations of the cyclists, there is not a single word about the obligation of motorists to observe these markings at all. In fact officials make it clear that when cycling on these markings that it is the obligation of the cyclists to check behind them when overtaking cars parked on the markings. This is a blatant admission from the government that: </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Motorists have no obligation to pay attention to the vehicles in front of them.</li><li>It is perfectly OK for motorists to park on top of these markings.</li></ul></ol><p></p><p>Of course, the conversation becomes even more complicated when you mix in sidewalk cycling. Just look at the following text lifted from an official website:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Cycling on a pedestrian sidewalk is never the norm. Pedestrians have the right of way, and bicycles should travel slowly and keep to the side near the road. Even on roads that have bicycle navigation marks, a bicycle can travel on a pedestrian sidewalk" </blockquote><p></p><p>The site then goes on to list situations when sidewalk cycling is acceptable including when "travelling on the sidewalk is unavoidable for safety reasons". </p><p>If the alternative is cycling on the road over painted arrows motorists can freely ignore I'd say sidewalk cycling us unavoidable for safety reasons for the majority of the Japanese public.</p><p>Jut remember its never the norm, forget what you see on the streets everyday, OK? We good?</p><p>Until the Tolko Metropolitan Government makes a decision on where cyclists belong, and provides the necessary infrastructure to support that decision, the majority of Japanese will cycle on the sidewalk regardless of what some chauffeured Japanese officials may say. Sidewalk cycling certainly IS the norm and it is not going away until Japanese cyclists have safe alternatives and these painted arrows are certainly not that.</p><div><br /></div></div>Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-66792880725257581522022-08-29T13:17:00.002+09:002022-08-29T13:17:41.346+09:00 The 78 Bollards of the Tamako Cycling Road, Tokyo.<p>The <a href="https://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/12/cycling-tokyos-tamako-cycling-road.html?m=1" target="_blank">Tamako Cycling Road </a>is one of my favorite rides in Tokyo.</p><p>This is a route I discovered as a newbie to cycling, and indeed Japan, way back in 1997 and has been a comfortable fall back route when I'm looking for a stress free ride out to a spot of nature by the lakes of Tamako and Sayamako on the Tokyo/Saitama border.</p><p>Now I say stress free, but that's relative to what stresses you.</p><p>You see, along the 10km of the Tamako Cycling Road you will encounter no less than 78 bollards.</p><p>On a recent ride with partner in crime Chad Feyen I suggested he film each of the bollards and make a "Bollard Supercut". In my mind I imagined a fast pace angst filled video set to a thrash metal soundtrack conveying the stress of having to deal with the all to frequent interruptions to our ride. I figured it'd be a quick, entertaining, laugh.</p><p>But Chad, you see, is an adult, a professional who took the footage he shot that day and created a thoughtful and insightful 10 minute video introducing you to the Tamako Cycling Road and its ever present bollards, discussing why the bollards exist, their benefit and detractions.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CU7t0ShoRYI" width="320" youtube-src-id="CU7t0ShoRYI"></iframe></div><br />If you think a 10 minute video about bollards is a real snoozefest, think again, Chad has some valuable insights and provides a more thoughtful commentary other than simply "bollards bad, slow me down". <p></p><p>Please do give it a "like", and subscribe for more (very infrequent, sorry!) videos from the Cycling Embassy of Japan.</p>Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-78497736292531225652022-08-28T11:45:00.004+09:002022-08-28T12:05:43.629+09:00The 8th Annual Firefly Ride in Tokyo. Sept 17, 2022.<p> Tokyo's <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/firefly/?lang=en" target="_blank">8th Annual Firefly Ride</a> event will take place on Saturday September 17th from 18:00 starting at the United Nations University in Aoyama.</p><p>The Firefly Ride is an annual social group ride organised by the <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/" target="_blank">Cycling Embassy of Japan</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NPC_TDF" target="_blank">Night Pedal Cruising</a> at which participants can enjoy decorating their bicycles with lights and sound to create a grand spectacle as they cycle the streets of Tokyo. The Firefly Ride aims to promote the fun, friendly and social side of cycling. In a city where cycling is so much a normal part of everyday life that it fades into the background, for one night of the year we wish to bring it to the forefront and celebrate cycling as a social activity that can be enjoyed by all.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcs-cDRI7tp-6OPiY3I1cxbJJSH4dSHeASlyHzBdzVBOApsnHron3bZZDlTkx5Mki_GUlwYodOXeVQrusQlVX6uFE8psAnYvFCejyOh2bKHRGABryEz7daj6UkMfisYRYmeOP4A0CZtqJrgj2HQ9nWAJ8MZQkYGNDiEGYHENWnCV6nHRAUDquJg/s370/firefly2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcs-cDRI7tp-6OPiY3I1cxbJJSH4dSHeASlyHzBdzVBOApsnHron3bZZDlTkx5Mki_GUlwYodOXeVQrusQlVX6uFE8psAnYvFCejyOh2bKHRGABryEz7daj6UkMfisYRYmeOP4A0CZtqJrgj2HQ9nWAJ8MZQkYGNDiEGYHENWnCV6nHRAUDquJg/w320-h320/firefly2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1CqK8pNCyBBoWVtRtFnjig5SK9z4Bg9A&ll=35.64028300837824%2C139.72575098127442&z=12" target="_blank">route</a> this year is a little longer than usual at roughly 25Km, but don't let that put you off. We cycle at a leisurely pace taking many breaks along the way to rest, chat, take photographs and just enjoy the vibe of the different areas of the city we visit. We keep the ride very casual.<p></p><p>The Firefly Ride will start at the United Nations University Aoyama and travel around the city to some familiar Night Pedal Cruising locations, including Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge for the shutterbugs. Once we reach Tokyo Tower we will meander along the shore and up the Meguro River until we end at Yoyogi Park. The key word here is "meander".</p><p>How long will the ride take? We don't know, we aren't in a hurry, lets just let the city buzz around us as we take our time.</p><p>All ages are welcome, but please be aware of the distance, and that we will cycle on the roads amongst traffic if you are planning to bring your children with you. </p><p>Also as an added bonus, at this years Firefly Ride participants will be able to participate in an AR Stamp Rally, so charge up your phone and get ready to catch some Pokemon! Wait, no, not that .. I'm still foggy on the details myself but can't wait to try it out this innovation developed by Chad Feyen of <a href="http://freewheeling.jp/" target="_blank">Freewheeling Japan</a>.</p><p>As COVID is still a thing, and wearing masks in group situations is customary, please bring a mask with you and don it at the appropriate times. Also, it goes without saying, if you have a temperature before the ride then stay home and watch it on TV (Wait, what?) and we'll welcome you back next year!</p><p>I look forward to meeting you all at the 8th Annual Firefly Ride in Tokyo!</p>Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-78626241806719983532022-08-16T09:10:00.003+09:002022-08-17T09:04:18.167+09:00 The Solution for Sweaty Summer Bicycle Commuters<p>OK, first up, anyone who says they don't cycle to work in the Japanese summer because they get too sweaty is fooling themselves. You can't set foot outside your apartment here in summer without melting faster than a Nazi at the opening of the Ark of the Covenant. </p><p>If you're going to sweat anyway, why stop cycling? Get out there, get gloriously gross and deal with it when you reach your destination with my number 1 summer cycling tip:</p><p>Freeze a towel.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5iKSjE-OSoyVxYZx0IT-s9TMbTwhk_uePG-etDEwrG3_jAZMAAcSVDkCdeRjhygm5RBFT2DxuJekvq94gGrJnbqpnPm_a_hOjiJ-rgFSlSsXtTScQE_JBZqOiulRTK5RDJDLOkQksDI7aj2rVybuv02CBmUjpDTMJefxSXS99PWjD6e977jx6g/s1169/sky1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tokyo summer sky" border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1169" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5iKSjE-OSoyVxYZx0IT-s9TMbTwhk_uePG-etDEwrG3_jAZMAAcSVDkCdeRjhygm5RBFT2DxuJekvq94gGrJnbqpnPm_a_hOjiJ-rgFSlSsXtTScQE_JBZqOiulRTK5RDJDLOkQksDI7aj2rVybuv02CBmUjpDTMJefxSXS99PWjD6e977jx6g/w640-h480/sky1.jpg" title="Tokyo summer sky" width="640" /></a></div><br />For years this is the method I used to keep fresh on my daily commutes through the unforgiving Japanese summer.<p></p><p>Its simple, in short simply soak a towel in water, roll it up into a drink bottle sized package, Ziploc it and toss it into the freezer the night before your ride. </p><p>On the day of your ride, remove it from the freezer, garnish with spring onions and cilantro (no wait, don't do that...) and place it in a bottle for your commute. Be sure not to pack it against anything you need to keep dry as there will be condensation build-up. But do experiment with packing it close enough to your change of clothing so that it cools those along the way.</p><p>Upon arrival at your destination, allow yourself some time to cool down naturally otherwise you'll just sweat through your fresh change of clothes. Find some privacy, strip down and wipe down your hot, sweaty body with a nice cool towel before deodorizing and changing into your work clothing. I just complemented you on a hot body, just accept it and lets move on before this gets awkward...</p><p>You can also add to the refreshing experience by wiping down with an ice cool body wipes, available at pretty much any drugstore here in Japan.</p><p>This ALWAYS left me feeling refreshed and ready for work. Arriving at my desk, head clear and alert, blood pumping from the exercise, cool and fresh meant a much more productive start to the day than when I arrived exhausted, hot and sweaty from riding a packed commuter train.</p><p>The towel can go back into the drink bottle for the day and be sealed up to prevent any nasty odours. When arriving home at the end of the day remember to give the towel and the bottle a good wash to prevent unpleasant smells, or worse, mould.</p><p>Unfortunately at the end of your ride you're left with a pile of wet, possibly smelly, clothes and unless you have somewhere you can dry them out (unlikely for most city office workers) you may find yourself climbing into cold wet clothing at the end of your workday. *ugh* gross, really, trust me I've been there *eew*.</p><p>To avoid this choose rapid drying fabrics. Honestly if you hang your gear somewhere while you towel down, give it a good flap in the wind before you pack it away, through the magic of modern materials technology there is a good chance your gear will be (more or less) dry. It may be a little on the nose after being packed in your bag all day but if your goal is to sweat it up on the cycle home and take a shower upon arrival its bearable.</p><p>Of course you can always carry a second, dry, set of clothing for the ride home. But remember if you're storing sweaty gear in your bag the entire day keep it sealed tight, your co-workers will thank you.</p><p>Finally get in to the habit of washing everything the second you arrive home and hanging it to dry immediately. I'm not your mother, but trust me, its for your own good.</p><p>This simple routine got me through over two decades of daily bicycle commuting through Japanese summers. Give it a try, if you're going to sweat, sweat it out on a bicycle.</p><div><br /></div>Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-58110880020220526422022-08-01T13:31:00.028+09:002022-08-17T09:52:27.131+09:00New Bike Day - Tern Link B8<p> If you've been a long time reader, and it has been a LONG time, you may have noticed I've not been around much lately. I've got some solid reasons for my disappearance, but you're going to have to get to know me better before you're privy to all the details.</p><p>Anyway, back to it. After my long absence, during which I watched 3 bicycles rust away in the parking lot due to neglect, it was time to get a new set of wheels. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sb6Vy0I9VIsyl4fFSAU4UQLoA0p4RGtqV8Uk3YovCq6s3NGwioQChACK-oaYkbhoQ18pdSHEf_VDbBxalEaZbRgzNvDndfpfuO3SgXjSkbAGrTpSpGuoBAl2cHmMX0pUi49ZTfU6VSjItMnSe4rp2jNmt09rM4dfeCGlT5IUA3BlfWRmKUm7fg/s4032/IMG_3907.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tern Link B8" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Sb6Vy0I9VIsyl4fFSAU4UQLoA0p4RGtqV8Uk3YovCq6s3NGwioQChACK-oaYkbhoQ18pdSHEf_VDbBxalEaZbRgzNvDndfpfuO3SgXjSkbAGrTpSpGuoBAl2cHmMX0pUi49ZTfU6VSjItMnSe4rp2jNmt09rM4dfeCGlT5IUA3BlfWRmKUm7fg/w640-h480/IMG_3907.HEIC" title="Tern Link B8 - Inokashira Park, Tokyo" width="640" /></a></div><p>What was I looking for in a bicycle at this stage in my cycling life anyway? </p><p>I wanted a versatile city bicycle, with carrying capacity for shopping runs, but also one capable of a longer social ride and a bit of sightseeing. Maybe even the odd trip out of the city by train to cycle the countryside around Tokyo. </p><p>While I fit the upper end of the demographic, I'm not a MAMIL and have no desire for a a high end bicycle (OK, maybe just a little desire). I've been watching the Giant Escape for a long time, and honestly thought it would be my next commuter bike if I was ever in the market. Its certainly not high end, but its a solid city bike suitable for a longer ride, that isn't too heavy, nor prohibitively expensive. But now its time to choose I realize that commuting will not be the main function of my future bike.</p><p>With all that in mind I chose the Tern Link B8 Disc folding bicycle as my loyal companion for future adventures. How did that happen?</p><p>As I mentioned, there is intense competition for undercover parking at my apartment and I am still traumatized from watching my bicycles rust away. I'd like to store my bike in a clean dry environment to prolong its life and reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep it in tip top condition.</p><p>In addition, a recent excursion to the mountains after too many years of social isolation and a poor work life balance had me yearning to get out of the city. </p><p>I remember cycling in the mountains West of Tokyo and how breaking down my bike to carry on the train would inevitably leave me covered in chain grease before the ride even began. I'd always been envious of impeccably dressed Brompton riders magically conjuring up a bicycle, giving it a swift kick before effortlessly cycling away. I wanted to add that kind of simplicity to my out of town rides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u3K_nSRG-Fp_Y-layJ0GmVOEN1BTKcjRp2Pko3VBXxeDYPxvgyzJXQjC9UXa7_rcBOmWgpQHKsBS7h4Qp4XpTYZC6psV8OST--yXKwRH7GdW8QZCzlCSf9Z3ADdV2SbZ3-2wlQ1GYHnV_UBfhLz3Ruayn6X9chVdla08fCmJSGz1sS5-mwZTDw/s4032/IMG_4017.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tern Link B8" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u3K_nSRG-Fp_Y-layJ0GmVOEN1BTKcjRp2Pko3VBXxeDYPxvgyzJXQjC9UXa7_rcBOmWgpQHKsBS7h4Qp4XpTYZC6psV8OST--yXKwRH7GdW8QZCzlCSf9Z3ADdV2SbZ3-2wlQ1GYHnV_UBfhLz3Ruayn6X9chVdla08fCmJSGz1sS5-mwZTDw/w640-h480/IMG_4017.HEIC" title="Tern Link B8. Tamako Cycling Road after the addition of rack and pannier." width="640" /></a></div><p>Travel has been a big part of my life since I disappeared even during COVID times. As a result have visited many places I'd love to revisit on my bicycle, one of the first being Biwako in Shiga.</p><p>My company has a facility in Shiga, somewhere I admit was never high (or even on) my list of must visit destinations. Until I discovered that a short cycling distance from my hotel is Biwako, Japan's largest freshwater lake, around which runs the increasingly popular Biwa-ichi cycling course. This route offers a 200km loop around the lake, with shorter options for the less enthusiastic. I've been to Shiga countless times over the past few years and can't believe I've never taken advantage of this to experience such a wonderfully scenic cycling route. I hope to change this sooner rather than later.</p><p>Both the Biwako-ichi and the immensely famous Shinmanami-kaido cycling routes are easily accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and taking a folding bike by train is a lot more appealing (for me) than breaking down a full size bike.</p><p>Air travel is also a big part of my career, and while I'd love to take my bicycle on business trips unfortunately, even with a folding bicycle, the hassle (for me) still outweighs the benefit. For short business trips I still feel I'd be better off renting a bicycle at my destination than taking my own.</p><p>Occasionally I find my self on site for a longer project for which I would consider taking my bicycle, but for he shorter trips, where I may not get a lot of opportunities to ride, its just a little too much hassle. Of course if the intent of my trip was purely a vacation, I would not hesitate to take my bicycle by air, its just too troublesome to fit into short business trips.</p><p>All things considered a folding bicycle seemed like a sensible and versatile option for me, even if some of those use cases fail to pan out as I have imagined.</p><p>So, off to the Brompton website I went, only to perform an Olympic record breaking U-turn after viewing the prices.</p><p>Twitter informed me that if you're lucky you may occasionally find good deals on second hand Brompton's online which was promising. But soon after someone who I've followed for over a decade, whose opinion I trust, pointed out that he'd bought a brand new Tern Link D8 for a fraction of the price of a second hand Brompton and he only had good things to say about his experience.</p><p>So being in an impulse buying kind of mood, and based on nothing but his word, a smidgen of research, and a handful of YouTube videos I ordered the Link B8. (It's all on you now Drew!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5crH21Av3QnvTKMhegtFGTB-G74MVjQvqMcEpLdCMaYGx4q74UZ0nwlzvRzSo6lQ60sNpgPPNQM-E-0ng6jgHHBbL3k5fqSlnG9mfF17WuX-5YvCNB-XSMOAoacOcqfc3pbkvBDZLfaVG2DmN2j65ZzRDc-sWFhC8pcgz_GsN1I8thw0UIt0YLw/s4032/IMG_3905.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tern Link B8 - Omiya Hachiman Shrine, Eifukucho" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5crH21Av3QnvTKMhegtFGTB-G74MVjQvqMcEpLdCMaYGx4q74UZ0nwlzvRzSo6lQ60sNpgPPNQM-E-0ng6jgHHBbL3k5fqSlnG9mfF17WuX-5YvCNB-XSMOAoacOcqfc3pbkvBDZLfaVG2DmN2j65ZzRDc-sWFhC8pcgz_GsN1I8thw0UIt0YLw/w640-h480/IMG_3905.HEIC" title="Tern Link B8 - Omiya Hachiman Shrine, Eifukucho" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I honestly considered going cheaper than the B8, as my cycling needs really are quite modest, and I'm constantly surprised how good cheaper bicycle are to ride. The dormant bike nerd in me pushed for something more expensive but honestly it was difficult for me to justify the purchase not knowing how long this cycling resurgence may last. (Answer: I'm back and in hindsight I could have gone a little higher, but absolutely no regrets.)</p><p>In the end the B8 fit my price point and feature list, with the added advantage of mechanical disk brakes, which I consider a must for wet weather cycling regardless of the extra weight they add to the package and the final decision to buy was an easy one, even if it was a little impulse driven at the time.</p><p>I've had the Tern Link B8 Disc for just over 1 month during which time I've done my shopping trips, neighbourhood cruises, longer rides across town and a handful of rides longer than 40km. I love how smooth this bike rides, and more often than not I forget I am even on a folding bicycle.</p><p>There are many things I love about this bike, although its not all fairy-tales and unicorns, but I'll save those opinions for a later review.</p><p>For now just know I am loving the Tern Link B8 Disk and I'm happy to announce I'm back on the bike, and back on the blog!</p><p>Cheers! See you around!</p>Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-91582579929286468662019-07-01T11:37:00.000+09:002019-07-01T11:37:35.619+09:00Tokyo Ranked 16th Bicycle-friendly City in 2019Tokyo was recently <a href="https://copenhagenizeindex.eu/cities/tokyo" target="_blank">ranked 16th</a> in the <a href="https://copenhagenizeindex.eu/the-index" target="_blank">2019 Copanhagenize Index of bicycle-friendly cities</a>. With a multitude of cities around the globe with forward-looking mayors and planners taking positives strides towards emulating the outstanding success of cycling in The Netherlands and Denmark and investing in safe, well-designed cycling infrastructure, I was surprised that Tokyo had not disappeared from the top 20 altogether.<br />
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The Copenhagen Index is a biannual ranking of the worlds most progressive cycling cities which was first released by the Copenhagen Design Co. in 2011 and has since become a, occasionally somewhat controversial, yardstick for measuring cycling cities against one another. Utilizing their curated database of over 600 cities with populations over 600,000 inhabitants those cities where cycling enjoy a modal share over 2% are selected and given a score in 14 separate categories. The top 20 are ranked and revealed in the report.<br />
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So, <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2017/06/how-can-tokyo-be-ranked-9th-most.html" target="_blank">as I asked in 2017</a>, how did Tokyo, a city making little, if any, progress towards becoming bicycle friendly, without leaders who acknowledge cycling's unique place in the cities transportation network and seemingly without a comprehensive infrastructure plan that would bring safe, continuous and consistent cycling infrastructure to the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area achieve such a high ranking against literally hundreds of cities where cycling is being actively supported?<br />
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People did this, not governments.<br />
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This award belongs not to the city of Tokyo, not to the Mayor nor the urban planners. This award belongs to the residents of Tokyo who, despite no support from their leaders, continue to cycle daily in mind-boggling numbers. This award belongs to the people who cycle daily in dangerous conditions on the sidewalk with pedestrians or unprotected on roads never designed with cycling in mind along with automobiles hurtling along at speed. This award belongs to parents who cycle their children to school, sometimes with two children per bicycle, to the elderly who remain social and connected to their neighborhood because of the bicycle. This award belongs to the businessmen in suits commuting, to their local train station, to the delivery people who use bicycles to cover that last mile. This award belongs to everyone who cycles to the supermarket, the dry cleaners, dentist, doctors, cafe's or hairdressers. If I missed your cycle-to business of choice, I'm sorry, but this award still belongs to you.<br />
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This award belongs to everyone in Tokyo who continues to cycle on despite a lack of commitment to cycling by the city's authorities.<br />
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Tokyo has literally millions of cyclists, a cycling culture so deeply embedded in everyday life that the majority of citizens do not identify themselves as cyclists. The bicycle is just another tool that Japanese families use in their daily life, most Japanese think about bicycles and cycling as much as we think about marathons and running when we pull on a pair of joggers to walk to the shops.<br />
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Cycling in Japan flies so far under the radar that nobody here recognizes how widespread and important it is, nobody considers the benefits it brings society, health, economic, and environmental benefits of cycling in Tokyo alone are enormous.<br />
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This is both wonderful and a curse for cycling in Tokyo. Cycling is such a natural act that despite some of the <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/12/seriously-tokyo-what-is-this-shit.html" target="_blank">worst examples of cycling infrastructure</a> in the world cycling is central to the lives of Japanese citizens that it continues on unnoticed. But, because it is unnoticed, even by the people partaking of it Japanese people do not realize how important cycling is to them and to everyone living around them and if they did I am sure they would demand better cycling infrastructure.<br />
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So, where are Japanese authorities in all this? Rarely are they seen and rather than supporting cycling in Tokyo Japanese authorities consider cycling to be something that needs to be controlled, regulated. Each time authorities step into the cycling space and try to change the rules or the environment it shows that they've not done their research and their ill-advised decisions have a negative impact on cyclists around the city.<br />
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Cycling is so important to residents of Tokyo that when a poor decision has a negative impact on cycling it has a negative impact on their lives.<br />
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Therefore Tokyo ranks so highly not because the city is supporting cycling, but because people are and continue to cycle in numbers that can't be matched. Imagine a Tokyo Metropolitan Government educated in all the benefits cycling brings to society, imagine the HUGE untapped potential for cycling in a city where cyclists already thrive without support. Imagine the largest city in the world embracing cycling in a similar manner to Amsterdam or Utrecht and demonstrating to cities around the world, no matter the size of the city cycling can and will work.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2017/06/how-can-tokyo-be-ranked-9th-most.html" target="_blank">Read my take on Tokyo's 9th place ranking in 2017, really, not much has changed.</a></div>
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Footnote:<br />
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OK, I'll admit it, a lot of my articles have a negative vibe, and this article could have easily gone in that direction, but despite my constant complaints I really do I see great potential for cycling in Tokyo. If not I would not be banging out these endless words on my laptop.<br />
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As cycling advocates in Japan, we face an unusual problem. Advocates around the world are working hard trying to get people to cycle more and enjoy the resulting benefits. But in Japan, we already have a huge cycling population, yet it is a population that hasn't really thought about the benefits to themselves or society too deeply. Cycling is just something they do like walking.<br />
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Here in Japan, we need to begin educating the public and decision makers of the benefits of cycling. We need to raise awareness that Tokyo is already way ahead of the world in everyday cyclists numbers, and the number of trips being made per day by bicycle is what other cities around the world can only dream of.<br />
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I know Tokyo does not routinely canvas public opinion, hold "town meetings" nor does it react well to "public protest" and that accessing officials is like trying to get an audience with the Queen, but getting our message to the ears of the decision-makers in Tokyo is the tough nut we have to crack. Who's with me?<br />
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<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-29609653613242649262019-06-24T09:49:00.001+09:002019-06-29T11:36:39.687+09:00Cycling as a Transport Alternative for Japan's Elderly MotoristsFatal traffic accidents in Japan have fallen to one third the figure of 30 years ago, despite this over the past 10 years, we have seen a dramatic increase in traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers in Japan with a recent report indicating that drivers over 75 cause twice as many fatalities as younger drivers. According to the latest study approved by cabinet motorists over the age of 75 cause 8.2 fatal accidents per 100,000 licensed motorists in 2018 which is approximately 2.4 times the rate of motorists under the age of 74.<br />
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This is a disturbing figure, but not a surprising one for anyone who keeps an eye on the news. Increasingly we are hearing reports of fatal accidents involving elderly drivers who "mistook the accelerator pedal for the brake", who "did not notice the pedestrians" or whose car "just kept accelerating".<br />
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With the average life expectancy for Japanese women reaching 87 years and 81 years for men, a demographic train wreck being visible for decades, yet despite this, the Japanese government is caught unprepared. It is only now that the very predictable problems of a shrinking and aging population including a shrinking labor force, increasing health care costs, a failed national pension system, and lack of affordable aged care are manifesting themselves that our equally aged politicians are waking from their slumber.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDxnaHiOX315zsDJVQLeGNH8TtjTDw2eFdzg0vsxxQ_BcbgOPPSe4yNbGzzb1s6oWN079_i-0B7B2V-iEy1GBfVN4swTEaq3CrxRv8WkOYcIYORfnGyADRGB3gKt0WFmXjiRP_ZTIxA/s1600/IMG_2716+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDxnaHiOX315zsDJVQLeGNH8TtjTDw2eFdzg0vsxxQ_BcbgOPPSe4yNbGzzb1s6oWN079_i-0B7B2V-iEy1GBfVN4swTEaq3CrxRv8WkOYcIYORfnGyADRGB3gKt0WFmXjiRP_ZTIxA/s640/IMG_2716+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all age differently. Cycling is a valid transportation option for millions of elderly people around Japan. With bicycles specifically designed for the elderly, infrastructure built with them in mind and more flexible laws allowing alternative pedal-powered vehicles on our streets we can keep people mobile without an over-reliance on motor vehicles.</td></tr>
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In order to resolve the problems caused by elderly drivers, the government is "urging society" to come up with measures to prevent accidents. Before I accuse our geriatric cabinet ministers of passing the ball (they're passing the ball) they have been forthcoming with suggestions of their own such as automatic braking systems in cars, self-driving vehicles and more strict license requirements .. so let us investigate each of these...<br />
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As we all know there is no problem that can't be solved without technology *cough* and thus the Japanese government is looking to autonomous vehicles and automatic braking systems to reduce the rate of fatal traffic accidents caused by the elderly. Yes, the Japanese government proposed that in an economy where prices are rising and wages have remained stagnant that the elderly who (according to a report <b>rejected</b> by Finance Minister Asao Taro) require retirement savings in excess of 30 million yen to survive on a government pension scheme they've been paying into for decades, go out and purchase brand new motor vehicles.<br />
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Perfect! And when they arrive home from this exhausting shopping spree they can slip into a robe and slippers before enjoying cake and a pipe in their drawing rooms. Yes, cake, let them eat cake.<br />
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While autonomous vehicles do promise a decrease in fatalities I'm always astounded at the government's automatic assertion that any problem with automobiles can obviously be solved by more automobiles. It's the American gun debate over here!<br />
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Stricter licensing measures have been proposed for elderly drivers, including a cognitive test and limiting elderly motorists to certain types of vehicles, such as those with automatic braking systems. Wait, what? Stricter licensing requirements are just more expensive motor vehicles in disguise? Oh, OK. I was worried I'd have to do more research for this paragraph, but it looks like I'm in the clear. Thanks Japanese government!<br />
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This is not a traffic problem, it's not a vehicle problem, its a societal problem that spans transport, aged care, health, urban design, and the provision of services, which can not be solved by looking at it from a transport perspective alone. One solution will not present itself, we need to chip away at the problem with a number of different approaches until it disappears and it would be easier to know where to start if we had a study analyzing how the elderly use their vehicles and their attitudes towards public transport.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB-c5ezkMb5_ss3URV-9dOGIyyPZ5z7o9FNtl0pwcVQ7o2o9FFeIj3akSntyCc9Xe6FfMGai7DUw_-pMFzP-m8qL12SvS7NXZEEgtGaEq-C1QXDtMXD2fZdKG5CxU63hSzooOfm7OXA/s1600/2015-12-14+10.49.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB-c5ezkMb5_ss3URV-9dOGIyyPZ5z7o9FNtl0pwcVQ7o2o9FFeIj3akSntyCc9Xe6FfMGai7DUw_-pMFzP-m8qL12SvS7NXZEEgtGaEq-C1QXDtMXD2fZdKG5CxU63hSzooOfm7OXA/s640/2015-12-14+10.49.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycles are already in heavy everyday use in Japan, shifting elderly motorists to bicycles should be a no-brainer but needs a firm commitment from authorities to ensure convenience and safety, two of the biggest concerns of the elderly.</td></tr>
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Have officials considered: Busses, trains, accessibility, more frequent stops? A slower pace and less pressure for elderly public transport users? Cheaper taxi's, ride-hailing services and payment methods that are not too difficult to understand? Grocery and meal deliveries? Opportunities to shop and socialize closer to home? Walkable streets, wide smooth pavement for wheelchairs, frames and shopping carts? Wider distribution of medical clinics rather than centralizing facilities in large hospitals.<br />
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There is a lot of thinking to be done about how the elderly interact with their neighborhood, their city, and its services to reduce their unnecessary reliance on motor vehicles. Despite having my own opinions, and given this is "Tokyo by Bike", I'd like to advocate a few ideas around cycling.<br />
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<h3>
Improved cycling infrastructure</h3>
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We all age differently but the number of elderly cyclists cruising around the suburbs of Tokyo is surprising and that number could be increased and sustained with the proper investment in cycling infrastructure. Elderly cyclists need to feel safe, this means clearly marked, wide, smooth bicycle lanes separated from traffic and free from parked bicycles and pedestrians. Elderly cyclists need to feel comfortable cycling at lower speeds in such lanes, and not threatened or intimidated by younger, faster, cyclists around them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8rknEmIMMhQTMnI5_nqJ1CpPlxYEa0KNFRoJwNbeZNoI6a2L2uF-i8kHrxCZ9sXmdEKOqjjA7m_d2a-mZp6Npyc0WijdPtNRCNqx_w2UvQf-2rjNbx9sA0OlUmCvuAfUn6eHwq7_w/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8rknEmIMMhQTMnI5_nqJ1CpPlxYEa0KNFRoJwNbeZNoI6a2L2uF-i8kHrxCZ9sXmdEKOqjjA7m_d2a-mZp6Npyc0WijdPtNRCNqx_w2UvQf-2rjNbx9sA0OlUmCvuAfUn6eHwq7_w/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of this, please. Maybe a little wider and with more consideration of how pedestrians, bicycle, and motorists interact at intersections. We're not far from getting it right.</td></tr>
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But there is more to it than bicycle lanes, the elderly need easily accessible and convenient bicycle parking close to the businesses and services they visit often. Often bicycle parking is an afterthought (if thought of at all) in an out of the way place, on uneven or even steep ground. Parking areas are often disorganized chaos making it difficult for an elderly person to effectively park their bicycle. If bicycle parking is not designed with the elderly in mind, the elderly will not cycle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ5lFv7VWbB5FRhDHMaeASW4mxlKCpsDMDFx-HwopE6lxFEg01OEJqjCsp2o_fxjOfhSZ8ZDCSfXc-RQkIAYVDyAOGADuX40LACHB1hM21tGuEw4M5dMFVJx8kpa8M3oWp-oB1M7RYA/s1600/parking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="812" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ5lFv7VWbB5FRhDHMaeASW4mxlKCpsDMDFx-HwopE6lxFEg01OEJqjCsp2o_fxjOfhSZ8ZDCSfXc-RQkIAYVDyAOGADuX40LACHB1hM21tGuEw4M5dMFVJx8kpa8M3oWp-oB1M7RYA/s640/parking.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better organized than most of Tokyo's bicycle parking, this parking lot is still too narrow and crowded for an elderly person to use effectively.</td></tr>
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Remember the aim is to get the elderly out of motor vehicles and on to alternative means of transport, if none of those means of transport are as convenient as the car, the elderly will not willingly give up driving.<br />
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<h3>
Improved bicycle design</h3>
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Remember in the early 2000s when the Tokyo Metropolitan Police department tried to ban parents from carrying two children on their bicycles? The ban failed when officials realized the practice was essential to the smooth running of millions of lives around the city and instead implemented strict guidelines on the design of bicycles for carrying children. Compare a child carrying mamachari from the 2000s to those you see today which have been specifically designed for the task with electric assist, low centers of gravity, safer child seats with side impact protection.<br />
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Until officials stepped in, the cycling industry was happy to sell cheap, dangerous, bicycles and accessories for carrying children. After the intervention, an entirely new and lucrative bicycle market opened up. It's crazy that bicycle manufacturers did not see this market and act before being forced to by legislation and it is crazy they do not see a growing market for bicycles targeted towards the elderly.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s1600/DSCF3772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s640/DSCF3772.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese bicycles underwent a transformation when laws governing the designing of bicycles for transporting children were introduced in the early 2000's.</td></tr>
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While I am not suggesting legislation limiting elderly cyclists to bicycles of a particular design, given Japan's current aging demographic, there is a market out there for bicycles specifically designed for the elderly. Again with low centers of gravity, high stability, luggage carrying capacity and of course electric assist.<br />
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"Cake!" I hear you say, "Now you are asking the elderly to eat cake, electric bicycles aren't cheap you hypocrite!"<br />
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Yes, electric assist bicycles are not cheap but they're a LOT cheaper than automobiles and a government subsidy or a discount coupon on a new bicycle purchase when an elderly motorist gives up their license could make this much more affordable.<br />
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Electric bicycles have already transformed transport for elderly people, imagine effort is applied to their design making a range of bicycles and tricycles designed specifically for elderly riders, making them safer and more practical allowing the elderly to maintain their independence until much later in life. That not only transforms bicycle design, but it transforms lives.<br />
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<h3>
Bicycle taxi services</h3>
OK so the official study has yet to be done, but let me take a guess. Most elderly residents don't venture too far from home, they're going shopping, visiting the doctors, going to lunch with friends. If they do need to cover longer distances they may be less reliant on an automobile if they can conveniently reach the nearest station or bus stop (and their destination from the closest bus stop or station).<br />
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In logistics there exists a problem called the "last mile problem", how to get goods from distribution hubs to customers. In this area, there has been an increase in the usage of bicycles. What we see in in the case of the elderly and their transport needs is a reverse last mile problem, that of getting customers to goods instead. Why not employ bicycles for this too?<br />
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<a href="https://cyclingwithoutage.org/" target="_blank">Cycling Without Age</a> has been offering the elderly bicycle outings in 42 countries serving 114,000 passengers since its launch in Copenhagen in 2012. Employing electric assist tricycles with space for two passengers up front Cycling With Age has been improving the lives of the elderly by giving them a social outing and reconnecting them with the joy of cycling in their younger years. There is no reason why a similar service (backed by government funding) could not be implemented in Tokyo to transport the elderly around their neighborhood, to and fro between shops, restaurants, cafes, doctors appointments, and train stations etc.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2SVke9BHpd7WlwzIKuDaDPLvTfOFmIUsf07yF3RG6af201Ajw7QefNUOgObqqq-1iwxCMu-zwT1XGYL8B3cZoIHEgPDNkMUl0ITVnpUQFRkl0eIJE5vir39JD2JK1hd3NkR_7ptldA/s1600/Hbg4_600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2SVke9BHpd7WlwzIKuDaDPLvTfOFmIUsf07yF3RG6af201Ajw7QefNUOgObqqq-1iwxCMu-zwT1XGYL8B3cZoIHEgPDNkMUl0ITVnpUQFRkl0eIJE5vir39JD2JK1hd3NkR_7ptldA/s640/Hbg4_600x400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycling Without Age offers free bicycle rides for nursing home residents. Bicycles such as these could be used as taxi's for the elderly but only if our roads were designed to accommodate them. Is our government that committed to the elderly or will they choose the easy option of taking their drivers licenses without providing viable transport alternatives?</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, Japanese roads and sidewalks are not designed for such wide bicycles, but with redesigned bicycles and better infrastructure, Tokyo could not only solve the last mile problem but also make lives more convenient for the elderly and reducing traffic fatalities in the process.<br />
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A final benefit of a "bicycle taxi" service similar to Cycling Without Age is that a friendly familiar guide provides the elderly with not only mobility but a moment of much needed human contact and companionship, the mental health benefits of which may be unmeasurable.<br />
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<h3>
Alternative Pedal Assist Vehicles</h3>
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In an event of impeccable timing, just as I had finished writing this article I received an email from a 74-year-old Hogyo resident who holds no illusions that the day is fast approaching when he will be unable to renew his drivers license. Afraid of losing his independence and the ability to easily go places with his wife he is already researching viable alternatives of which he has found many, but the legality of these vehicles on Japanese roads is questionable to the narrow registration and licensing system.<br />
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One such alternative he has discovered is the <a href="https://www.evovelo.com/en/index.php#mo" target="_blank">EvoVelo Mo</a> a hybrid human/solar-powered electric vehicle. Classified as a pedal-electric vehicle in the EU this vehicle is both road and bicycle lane legal and requires no registration or license. Technically it is no different than an electric assist tandem bicycle except its packaged differently. Despite impressive safety features including a maximum pedal assisted speed of 45km/h this vehicle is fully enclosed with a front crash crumple zone, side impact protection, hydraulic disc brakes, and seat belts a vehicle such as this still requires registration and licensing in Japan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dgq1gYa_sBbBLWL2FtSuPAJj9tVjIMBDc0lx0faY8Zoe20LPVsX-2w78d5QWxCAb7BCx29xQ6Sfc03ZnDvyPYeVOUkMFzNfZRjim5wGT-V2yU9bCfQ-8aHXZKQL_GTFhojJgPcMI-g/s1600/mo-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dgq1gYa_sBbBLWL2FtSuPAJj9tVjIMBDc0lx0faY8Zoe20LPVsX-2w78d5QWxCAb7BCx29xQ6Sfc03ZnDvyPYeVOUkMFzNfZRjim5wGT-V2yU9bCfQ-8aHXZKQL_GTFhojJgPcMI-g/s640/mo-main.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Evovelo Mo, nothing here that you would not see on an electric assist tandem bicycle, except that it is packaged as a vehicle keeping passengers protected from the weather and providing ample cargo space. Will Japanese road laws ever be able to keep up with the pace of innovation?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As Japan's population ages authorities should consider alternative vehicles suitable for the elderly, alternative licensing and registration requirements for those vehicles, and amendments to existing laws to allow varying types of vehicles on our roads. The EU is already way ahead in this regard giving Japanese authorities the opportunity to learn from their research to speed up the use of alternative vehicles here in Japan.<br />
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A knee jerk reaction to an increase in accidents by elderly motorists would be to ban them from driving after a certain age, but this is discriminatory and without viable transport, alternatives would seriously affect the physical and mental health of millions of elderly residents for whom these trips may represent the only social contact they have. Therefore I'd like to encourage officials to examine a multitude of possible solutions because as you can see from my completely unresearched ramblings here that there are numerous alternatives available to keep the elderly mobile and engaged with the community which does not rely on the use of motor vehicles.<br />
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Let's commit to keeping the elderly mobile and active in their communities without the need for motor vehicles.<br />
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Research shows that cycling is good for people, communities, and cities and any investment in cycling goes beyond improving transport to transforming the lives of all citizens (including those who do not cycle!), physical and mental health, the environment and economy, a mayor would be crazy to NOT invest in cycling, the returns are immeasurable.<br />
<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-41251275311111404772019-06-19T00:40:00.002+09:002019-06-30T01:34:37.036+09:00Best Cycling Purchase EverTires. Booooooring. With all the cool cycling gear out there how could my best ever cycling purchase be tires??<br />
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I hate flat tires, I hate the inconvenience, I hate removing my dirty wheels, I hate replacing the inner tube. To be honest, somewhere in the distant past I lost the skill of replacing innertubes and now have almost a 100% success rate of puncturing the new tube as I'm installing it which makes me hate punctures even more!<br />
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I have some poor neglected bicycles that are very rarely ridden and it seems every time I get the urge to take one for a spin I put some air in the tires only to hear it rushing back out twice as fast. Sometimes it seems every time I want to take a less used bicycle out I have to replace an inner tube. That's a serious kick in the balls for the joy of cycling right there.<br />
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This week I find myself with some time off work after a crazy schedule that has seen me spend more days overseas than at home in Japan for the past year. With some spare time on my hands and immaculate weather, I pulled my commuter from the tangle of neglected bicycles beneath the stairs, gave it a clean and some oil before inflating the tires and heading to the river.<br />
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I have some more expensive, more fun, less beaten up bicycles than my commuter but I pulled that bike from the tangle because I was confident it was the one I could get back on the road the fastest and I was confident because I knew without a doubt it wouldn't need replacement inner tubes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdvodcT6pIBqN4C9oWGRV7jgtzXXhuE2PKzxDHPGa84LsKdM6sVI04VqEzrsLgfn76iUowu0_zgUbadUVrHKcLCPiib_TGzOyRnhtlVXMdv5_R4FbN2h1H6q5jhzRJzPw8wb_GC_VrQ/s1600/schwalbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdvodcT6pIBqN4C9oWGRV7jgtzXXhuE2PKzxDHPGa84LsKdM6sVI04VqEzrsLgfn76iUowu0_zgUbadUVrHKcLCPiib_TGzOyRnhtlVXMdv5_R4FbN2h1H6q5jhzRJzPw8wb_GC_VrQ/s320/schwalbe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Where did this confidence come from? It came from the fact that I replaced the tires on this bicycle with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=schwalbe+tires&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4CVFSD4YSSNYWMFY&sprefix=schwal%2Caps%2C344&tag=tobybi-20" target="_blank">Schwalbe Marathon</a> puncture resistant tires in 2013 and have not had a puncture in years of daily bike commuting. In addition to this, despite the time this bike has sadly spent under the stairs barely shielded from the elements, the rubber has not perished or cracked. These tires are immortal.<br />
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A light treaded tire, originally designed for bicycle touring the Schwalbe Marathon or "Green Guard" tires are perfect for the conditions that an average urban commute will throw your way. Considered by some a little on the heavy side, they roll perfectly well for me and I appreciate the light tread on those wet commutes. In addition to being bullet-proof and providing extra grip, I would have otherwise forgone for a faster ride, the Schwalbe Marathon tire also has a reflective stripe around its side walls making me more visible from the side under lights at night. While I'm not a natural attention seeker when I'm on my bike on the busy city streets with the death machines I want all eyes on me!<br />
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If I have any complaint about these tires its the same complaint as many others, they're impossible for the mere mortal to apply to the rim. In doing so I broke 3 plastic tire levers and punctured 2 innertubes before giving up and taking my wheels to the bike store to see the guy there have an equally difficult time.<br />
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I said these tires were immortal, and without Thor's tire levers (which I am unable to hold) I'll never be able to fit them to my bike, so defer to the bike shop gods.<br />
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If you want to spend more time cycling that repairing flats, or worrying when your next perfect day will be ruined by a puncture check out Schwalbe tires. Based on years of experience with these tires, I can not recommend a product more highly.Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-71404259696482135702019-06-10T11:45:00.001+09:002022-06-22T10:21:00.752+09:00How is cycling infrastructure shaping up for the Tokyo Olympics?Six years have passed since Tokyo was announced as the host fo the 2020 Olympic games, as someone with a keen interest in urban development I was excited about all potential change and new developments the Olympics could bring to Tokyo, particularly in the area of transport and cycling infrastructure. So, how are things shaping up?<br />
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Much of my excitement for the future of cycling infrastructure beginning with the announcement in 2013 was the general acceptance in that, while the legacy did not last, the 2012 games in London boosted awareness of utilitarian cycling (cycling as transport rather than as a sport) and led to improvements in cycling infrastructure. Sadly much of the London Olympic cycling infrastructure has disappeared or fallen into disrepair and the Cycle Superhighways pale in comparison to Dutch or Danish cycling infrastructure, but despite this the Olympics did raise the awareness of cycling in London, and while the interest waned cycling still maintained a higher profile than it would have if the Olympics had not been held in London.<br />
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Surely Tokyo, with its constant development and reconstruction, would capitalize on the Olympics and present "the city for the future" to the world in 2020 as it did in 1964 when the Tokyo Olympics coincided with the unveiling of the highspeed bullet train, recently developed raised freeways, new 5 star hotels, and the monorail connecting Haneda Airport to the city centre. But oddly Japan is a paradox, simultaneously buzzing with activity yet moving at a glacial pace.<br />
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For transport nerds such as myself, one of the key developments in Tokyo before the 1964 Olympic Games were elevated multi-lane freeways. To prove to the world Tokyo was a world-class city someone had the enlightened idea of building monstrous elevated freeways over what could have been some of the cities most beautiful waterways. One such freeway passes over the historic Nihombashi Bridge, which has linked tow two sides of the Nihombashi river since the 17th century, obscuring a classic view of Mt Fuji captured by artists for centuries. Sadly in the 1960's natural beauty and conservation of historic sites was nowhere near as important as dick waving contests with other countries over how many metric craploads of concrete they could pour over the landscape.<br />
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With the global realization that freeways do more to increase traffic congestion rather than alleviate it and the private vehicle is not the saviour of big city transport I had secretly hoped that Tokyo would provide a strikingly progressive example to the world and focusing on cycling and cycling infrastructure for the 2020 games with as much enthusiasm as they had focused on freeways before 1964. To be honest I dreamed of Tokyo taking a page from Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak's playbook and begin tearing down expressways all over the city returning the waterways to their natural beauty and providing quiet, therapeutic public spaces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DpZQ-yo8_sWjvqqwq14ris6_WjM2utT9xRP-4ZobcR_Rp34YwhyKwxfrfZa-QYSPpD_QFwJeee6uuEmREGM9pLZv8fc2EjeV0oehxM8B1rH-w8OSFCt01t_0ZUN5-pRTvLXx_lavEA/s1600/IMG_2712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1539" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DpZQ-yo8_sWjvqqwq14ris6_WjM2utT9xRP-4ZobcR_Rp34YwhyKwxfrfZa-QYSPpD_QFwJeee6uuEmREGM9pLZv8fc2EjeV0oehxM8B1rH-w8OSFCt01t_0ZUN5-pRTvLXx_lavEA/s400/IMG_2712.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restored Cheonggyecheon river in central Seoul.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In 2003 Lee initiated a project to remove 11km of the elevated freeway from above the Cheonggyecheon river in central Seoul, creating a thriving public space filled with nature for citizens and tourists alike, in what has since been lauded as an outstanding success in urban renewal and beautification. Since the completion of this project, traffic entering downtown, Seoul has been reduced by 2.3% coupled with an increase in buses and subway usage. Invasive species have been eradicated from the stream's ecosystem, and the stream cools the surrounding inner-city areas an average of 3.6 degrees since restoration. This single project has revitalized this area of Seoul and should be an example to cities around the world.<br />
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Imagine the message Tokyo could have sent to the world: "In 1964 we believed freeways were the future of transport but over the intervening years we have realized we were wrong, which is why for the 2020 Olympics we have returned those areas to their natural beauty and invested in the future of transport, a citywide network of cycling infrastructure which compliments our clean convenient and safe public transport network. Not only have we improved mobility, reduced congestion, air and noise pollution but, we've improved the lives of our citizens with the creation of green public spaces teeming with wildlife by returning Tokyo's rivers to their natural beauty."<br />
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It sounds like a pipedream, but that is exactly what was achieved in Seoul. Imagine that message backed by the publicity of the Olympics. Imagine other cities around the world following suit. Sadly, we learned last week that Tokyo will "solve" its Olympic transportation woes with variable freeway rates during the games which will see tolls rise as much as 1000 yen during the Olympics, ensuring spectators pay more and those unable to afford the toll to take their congestion from the freeways to the streets. Nice one Tokyo.<br />
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While my dreams may have been a little too grand I still had hope that the 2020 Olympic Games, billed as the "compact" Olympics with all events would be held within a short distance of the Olympic village, could at least improve cycling infrastructure within the radius of the proposed compact games. With the vast number of Olympic events planned to take place in The Tokyo Bay area, an area notoriously underserved by public transport, improving the cycling and walking infrastructure and encouraging cycling was an absolute no brainer particularly given the abundance of space and wide avenues on these new islands drawn from the sea. But it appears this has never been seriously considered, and the "compact" games promise has since been broken due to rampant financial mismanagement which is the only thing thing that was certain going into this thing.<br />
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THE REALITY<br />
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So what has changed for cycling in Tokyo in the 6 years since Tokyo was selected to host the 2020 Olympics? I'm searching for a way to say something other than "nothing much", but actually ... nothing much has changed at all.<br />
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Cycling infrastructure, primarily in the form of cycling lanes and on road markings, is appearing around the city, but not at an accelerated pace one would imagine the Olympics would bring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWuTymNOt2dUQhIC4pZEXIaRlXCGq9mb_TVikyGw5kv1RBCtN97-Lsy2pb9_NIF8Gm0K52B3ktFjugrTghG-2cSb8Q6I_QDiEnzR8W0jT1D9Ve9LbuNwZjkyHWD4kDm8whE0-N2dvFQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWuTymNOt2dUQhIC4pZEXIaRlXCGq9mb_TVikyGw5kv1RBCtN97-Lsy2pb9_NIF8Gm0K52B3ktFjugrTghG-2cSb8Q6I_QDiEnzR8W0jT1D9Ve9LbuNwZjkyHWD4kDm8whE0-N2dvFQ/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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As has historically been the case the infrastructure that is being rolled out around the city is <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2014/09/tokyo-bicycle-lane-designs.html" target="_blank">terribly inconsistent</a>, disconnected and conveys no other message than "unplanned". It's obvious that the city has no plan for cycling lanes, there is no overarching cycling architecture, no vision, no consistent design and construction guidelines. We live with a hodgepodge of randomly occurring, disconnected cycling lanes all with their own different set of rules.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8rknEmIMMhQTMnI5_nqJ1CpPlxYEa0KNFRoJwNbeZNoI6a2L2uF-i8kHrxCZ9sXmdEKOqjjA7m_d2a-mZp6Npyc0WijdPtNRCNqx_w2UvQf-2rjNbx9sA0OlUmCvuAfUn6eHwq7_w/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8rknEmIMMhQTMnI5_nqJ1CpPlxYEa0KNFRoJwNbeZNoI6a2L2uF-i8kHrxCZ9sXmdEKOqjjA7m_d2a-mZp6Npyc0WijdPtNRCNqx_w2UvQf-2rjNbx9sA0OlUmCvuAfUn6eHwq7_w/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cycle around Tokyo and you'll experience on-street bicycle lanes most of which are unprotected from traffic, but the occasional protected lane is appearing. These lanes may go with the flow of traffic, they may go against it, they may be multi-lane with direction markings on just one side of the road, who knows what the next lane will look like? Your guess is as good as mine. Sidewalk lanes are even more inconsistent with sections reserved for cycling, sometimes separated by a barrier, sometimes not. Sidewalk bicycle lanes may be a different colour, they may be separated from pedestrians by a painted line, low barrier or plants, they may have direction indicators, or they may not, so keep your wits about you when cycling or simply ignore the markings as the bulk of cyclists and pedestrians do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGuX9m7PELxktzC-P-xUZlGCZQFy9ELI9P1XJsaKImLsiF3wVKRZzbNnSmgVNYVYpVZ1LSuyBKHEucCx8_hAwIgx50hsZYagC5VYFKxLgs4jj9DnGLibp1oQAPnmWFtcYeSReW_GGw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGuX9m7PELxktzC-P-xUZlGCZQFy9ELI9P1XJsaKImLsiF3wVKRZzbNnSmgVNYVYpVZ1LSuyBKHEucCx8_hAwIgx50hsZYagC5VYFKxLgs4jj9DnGLibp1oQAPnmWFtcYeSReW_GGw/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The only consistent thing regarding Tokyo's cycle lanes is that when they meet an intersection, driveway or bus stop they disappear only to re-appear a few meters ahead. This clearly demonstrates that nobody within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has seriously studied cycling infrastructure or that nobody in Government has been given the power to re-engineer street design to truly integrate cycling and elevate it to the same status as cars and trucks. Cycling infrastructure in Tokyo is an afterthought, nobody has even bothered to do the relatively simple homework to discover how bicycles and vehicles should interact at intersections.<br />
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<br />
THE FUTURE<br />
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The thing is, Tokyo does not have to do its homework, it just has to look over the shoulder of the Netherlands or Denmark, those guys have done their cycling infrastructure homework and are getting straight A's. Tokyo doesn't have to copy their homework either, it's in the public domain, and besides, they're friendly and willing to help if you ask as are literally thousands of transport consultants.<br />
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In order to improve the cycling situation in Tokyo cycling has to be incorporated into transport policy with cyclists treated with the same importance as motorists. To achieve that level of potential for change the people in decision-making positions (the people who take taxies or are chauffeured to work every day) need to be educated as to the importance of cycling for the everyday citizens, along with the economic, environmental and health benefits associated with cycling. You know what? You can forget all those words except "economic benefits" because they're the only words your local lawmaker heard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKXiEDNVHzBTvI800H4tuh8QiJ2pGeBRMt8xPlhb83WJGQuXVBrvJUV2IquHd4hZIbuyo0G_7Euqi8S681nSP9l-3swKTcRKJzmabvekjoCbDbiVhl9SsCc36_oBtCBR_A_CzIft-Sg/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKXiEDNVHzBTvI800H4tuh8QiJ2pGeBRMt8xPlhb83WJGQuXVBrvJUV2IquHd4hZIbuyo0G_7Euqi8S681nSP9l-3swKTcRKJzmabvekjoCbDbiVhl9SsCc36_oBtCBR_A_CzIft-Sg/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The homework has been done, studies show that local businesses thrive in areas where there are high cyclist and pedestrian numbers. A parking spot outside your business delivers one customer, a bicycle lane provides a constant stream of potential customers. But of more significant impact are the health-related economic benefits achieved by a cycling focused society. Again the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4504332/" target="_blank">homework has been done</a> in the Netherlands where it has been concluded that the economic impact of health benefits related to cycling corresponds to more than 3% of Dutch gross domestic product!<br />
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So while a few million may seem expensive for what many consider mistakenly consider a frivolous pastime, the proven positive economic impact is felt on a national scale. A city-wide network of carefully planned cycling lanes will pay for itself many times over in social security savings alone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbZY3jZbahLAmHRyKZ2BZLNNSA6hr9qqioKNpFBzPPf1VGMvbwTGuIp0C57X9oUytmptfwfD8AUcS8p2Z2MQa5LM2RkX_L5156V-v_h1n3GZ_tAmCRANjpf_txDWWZh3w_L0wxveBkw/s1600/123DSCF3941-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbZY3jZbahLAmHRyKZ2BZLNNSA6hr9qqioKNpFBzPPf1VGMvbwTGuIp0C57X9oUytmptfwfD8AUcS8p2Z2MQa5LM2RkX_L5156V-v_h1n3GZ_tAmCRANjpf_txDWWZh3w_L0wxveBkw/s400/123DSCF3941-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once the politician's attention has been snared with the lure of proven economic benefits they must be convinced to incorporate cycling into the national transport plan. If our leaders can commit they must then be educated as to the correct design and integration of cycling infrastructure. World class cycling infrastructure cannot simply be "bolted on" to the existing street design, streets need to be overhauled, completely redesigned from the ground up with cyclists given the same (if not more) importance than motorists. You know, the kind of upheaval, disruption and potential loss of the "motorists vote" that typically terrifies politicians into inaction.<br />
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Sadly politicians have no idea the important role that cycling plays in the lives of millions of Tokyo's residents. They see a lot of bicycles parked on the sidewalk, they see the problems of cyclists mingling with pedestrians and cars, they see cycling as a problem that needs to be solved, a menace to be stopped, rather than a <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2014/12/how-suburban-tokyo-promotes-cycling.html" target="_blank">vitally important part of the cities transport infrastructure</a> that contributes to the quality of life of Tokyo's residents in ways they can not imagine.<br />
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If managed correctly cycling could revolutionise transport in this great metropolis, why are we the only ones to see this?<br />
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Tokyo concentrated campaign of education, not directed towards the public, but at those in decision-making positions. It's only with their understanding and buy-in that the great potential of cycling in Tokyo will be realized. It will take more than the fleeting weeks of the Olympics to bring about the changes required to improve quality of life in this city, it takes education, determination and commitment. Does Tokyo have what it takes?<br />
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Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-50488251134804754692019-02-12T14:01:00.003+09:002022-08-02T16:29:36.413+09:00Infrastructure or Insurance: Which makes our roads safe for cycling?If you check my posting history you'll see I've been absent for a while for, well .. reasons. So imagine my surprise when I delved back into the news surrounding cycling in Japan only to find the same rubbish from years ago being regurgitated by the mainstream Japanese media. Have they learned nothing in my absence? Apparently not.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEzb3WajoR_DXpfZ07DV68AMXFdxc2VoEj2-jEZqy2WdukOYlgdDDVmLWK-ACYjuGnyUD_ibQV34hxQvQx-z1ooa9Gt5-yaelw4-x7d7PYxOkNTXJngsFjzcTYz1XxRJ-RUn_aT6Tfw/s1600/PT360009001.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEzb3WajoR_DXpfZ07DV68AMXFdxc2VoEj2-jEZqy2WdukOYlgdDDVmLWK-ACYjuGnyUD_ibQV34hxQvQx-z1ooa9Gt5-yaelw4-x7d7PYxOkNTXJngsFjzcTYz1XxRJ-RUn_aT6Tfw/s400/PT360009001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A recent article in the Yomiuri Shimbun entitled "<a href="http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005536263" target="_blank">Bicycle riders must be ready to pay significant damages for accidents</a>" is a perfect example of a journalist being lead along by the insurance industry and local government line without thinking too deeply about the real cause of the dangers of cycling in the city. (Hint: It's the lack of commitment to providing the quality cycling infrastructure that Japanese cities deserve.)<br />
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Please allow me back on my soapbox ...<br />
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Firstly the title of the article sent alarm bells ringing in my head: "Bicycle riders must be ready to pay significant damages for accidents".<br />
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Before reading any further I suspected this post to be nothing more than a sponsored post from the insurance industry. Immediately I wondered just how many paragraphs it would take before the author quoted the case from 2013 when the Kobe District Court ordered the parent of elementary school student pay ¥95 million in compensation after a bicycle accident caused the death of an elderly pedestrian. This case has been used by the local insurance industry ever since as the perfect example to scare the general public into purchasing cycling insurance, without thinking about the true cause of our dangerous cycling environment.<br />
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(Hint: The true cause of this dangerous cycling environment is the lack of commitment to providing the quality cycling infrastructure that Japanese cities deserve.)<br />
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Anyway, I digress, let's push on.<br />
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The article asserts cycling accidents have been on the rise. I've been out of the loop for a while so like any other regular reader lets just accept that without any evidence to back it up. After all, this is a respectable journalistic publication that undoubtedly hires the brightest investigative journalists to look much deeper than the surface of a story to expose all the facts right?<br />
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(Hint: wrong)<br />
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The article continues stating that the majority of bicycle accidents are perpetrated by "young people" and proposes that it is essential that we educate our young about cycling safety so they don't go about causing carnage on the streets, erm... sidewalks actually.<br />
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There it is, the problem is so simple! Those damn young people with their smartphones cycling on the sidewalks causing havoc for pedestrians with their rap music, social media and disregard for public safety, they're making the city unsafe for us all as we try to go about our grocery shopping in peace. Someone educate them so I can step outside my house without fear! I'm so glad the problem will finally be solved. All praise our savior the Yomiuri Shimbun!<br />
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(Hint: It's not young cyclists that make cycling in Tokyo dangerous for pedestrians, its the lack of commitment to providing the quality cycling infrastructure that Japanese cities deserve.)<br />
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Bingo! Three paragraphs! That's all it took before the author dropped the bomb that we could all be forced to pay ¥95 million in compensation if we are foolish enough to cycle without insurance. Without questioning the cause of the danger, readers are immediately encouraged to consider protecting themselves from a liability which would be greatly reduced if the true cause of the problem was addressed.<br />
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The remainder of the article goes on to talk about the percentage of cyclists involved in accidents who had accident insurance, the complexity, and cost of various policies out there, and the fact that pretty soon cycling insurance is going to be forced upon us all by local governments.<br />
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This really wound me up: Governments refuse to fund quality cycling infrastructure for their citizenry in order to create a safe cycling environment in cities that reap immense benefits (think financial, environmental, social, and health) from cycling, but instead "An increasing number of local governments have established ordinances requiring bicycle riders to have insurance".<br />
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So the government is essentially refusing to create a safe environment for cyclists and then forces citizens via new laws to take out cycling insurance. Imagine the government decided to stop funding traffic lights, signage and road repair then forced motorists to take out insurance to make up for the dangerous environment. How do you think that would fly?<br />
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What is frightening about this story is that the author of the Yomiuri Shimbun article considers compulsory insurance to be a "good thing" without ever questioning the true cause of the issue.<br />
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(Hint: The true cause of the issue is the lack of commitment to providing the quality cycling infrastructure that Japanese cities deserve.)<br />
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Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0Tokyo, Japan35.6761919 139.65031067.3659580638211537 104.49406060000001 63.986425736178845 174.8065606tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-25056642782349044362017-06-28T19:04:00.003+09:002022-08-02T16:36:31.646+09:00What Tokyo's Cycling Infrastructure Can Learn From Rail<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tokyo is a paradox in that cyclist numbers are outrageously huge yet quality cycling lanes are few and far between. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It all comes down to how the Japanese public use bicycles which I’ve covered before, but to summarize most Japanese use their bicycles for short trips around their neighbourhoods where almost all daily conveniences can be found within a kilometre or two of their local station. In addition to this many use their bicycles to cycle to the station where they park and take a train to their final destination.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnJSdlMbXFzPNQltVK-BJKE78RuclegitCiti2pTkc-gSkzkswXFvpddHZLoi_hruenRMQkPVnA9imRR-77YNUNw470ZL8_4_yuStO1UfMtRm_CDaT9USA0XonmpeSbxj6BV9lRjrqg/s1600/photo+2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnJSdlMbXFzPNQltVK-BJKE78RuclegitCiti2pTkc-gSkzkswXFvpddHZLoi_hruenRMQkPVnA9imRR-77YNUNw470ZL8_4_yuStO1UfMtRm_CDaT9USA0XonmpeSbxj6BV9lRjrqg/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suburban Tokyo streets are naturally calmed as they’re often so narrow it’s difficult for two cars to pass, few are straight, blind corners abound and sidewalks are uncommon meaning the road space is shared between pedestrians, cyclists, and automobiles. Under these road conditions and with strict liability laws, which hold the larger party financially responsible for accidents, motorists tend to drive cautiously once they deviate from the main roads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So while cities around the world are fighting for bicycle lanes cycling continues to grow in suburban Tokyo where nobody gives cycling infrastructure a second thought.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cycling in the suburbs of Tokyo is a wonderfully relaxed, stress-free affair, but I can’t help but feel that while bicycle usage is HUGE bicycle utilization lags behind.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By this, I mean that sure 14% or all journeys made in Tokyo per day are made by bicycle, but those journeys represent but a fraction of the total possible journeys which could be realized by bicycle with a little planning and cycling infrastructure.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Longer journeys such as heading into the city for some shopping, commuting to work, or visiting a centrally located museum, art gallery, cafe or park for a family picnic are almost exclusively taken by train. Sure the first leg to the station may be by bicycle, but while the destination may be less than 5 or 6km distant why stop cycling at the station, why not go all the way?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lfueFgx6a7y28H54wPMqVuJZpEPPm5oH0x6jFYLxZnXduvZWoXt-6yvggcZGM63egc6i9fWNkQbXTV2i1v_eIznwSgIajQR5NhENSPaVeB9Jrr0Gyie8ZJHN8bRTTFegGNDf7IyU5A/s1600/photo+5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lfueFgx6a7y28H54wPMqVuJZpEPPm5oH0x6jFYLxZnXduvZWoXt-6yvggcZGM63egc6i9fWNkQbXTV2i1v_eIznwSgIajQR5NhENSPaVeB9Jrr0Gyie8ZJHN8bRTTFegGNDf7IyU5A/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason most residents of Tokyo do not cycle longer distances is that the main roads and arteries are decidedly unfriendly so while a 1.5km journey on a traffic calmed suburban street is pleasant, a 4km journey on a hostile road or narrow crowded sidewalk shared with pedestrians is an unnecessarily stressful experience one would rather avoid.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Citizens of Tokyo are already accustomed to walking. When visiting a far-flung shopping district or going to work for example people logically take a train to the closest station and walk to their final destination. If they make a trip during the day they simply repeat the process as almost anywhere in Tokyo is reachable by train followed by a short walk.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using this already ingrained behaviour to their advantage Japanese urban planners should focus on providing a network of bicycle lanes, not on every street, but that replicate Tokyo’s famously efficient and convenient rail network. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine a network of safe, separated bicycle lanes connecting the naturally traffic calmed suburbs to a secure bicycle parking facility located near Tokyo’s many major train stations. Imagine those major centrally located train stations, in turn, are linked together by a network of bicycle lanes. Given this, coupled with the Japanese people’s acceptance that there are few direct door to door journeys and that walking is a natural part of any trip, you begin to understand that Tokyo does not need bicycle lanes on every street. What Tokyo needs is a carefully planned network of bicycle lanes that link up the suburbs with major city stations which are themselves connected to other stations around the city.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTbgnXGAQHer6A45k4dKPB67Cvn6kH8dUUYCc04FIy3sbDaFTb3FZjdS1qJ0XAwNOgV-ySMhPwPgPMP0pQppx9l__Qr81tLGJRZLw_8pSLg5_B24CkASPG4BSGiGhtXhA4NOowVNHFg/s1600/Capture.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1110" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTbgnXGAQHer6A45k4dKPB67Cvn6kH8dUUYCc04FIy3sbDaFTb3FZjdS1qJ0XAwNOgV-ySMhPwPgPMP0pQppx9l__Qr81tLGJRZLw_8pSLg5_B24CkASPG4BSGiGhtXhA4NOowVNHFg/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While cyclists in the suburbs demand the right to be able to park immediately outside the store they are visiting this is an unreasonable and unsustainable in a busy downtown pedestrian district such as Shibuya or Ginza given the staggering number of people sharing such a limited space. But if parking facilities were conveniently located I believe the Japanese practice of “walking the last mile” would translate easily from the current public transport situation to a cycling context.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With such a “rail-like” cycling network of separated cycling lanes cycling longer distances would be considered far safer, more comfortable and convenient than the existing situation and the bicycle would grow from being an easy way to get around the local neighbourhood to a city-wide transport revolution.</span></div>
Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-49838668181246908382017-06-21T16:59:00.000+09:002017-06-22T12:13:01.253+09:00 なぜ東京は自転車に優しい都市ランキング9位になれたのかコペンハーゲナイズ・デザインカンパニーが隔年で開催している<a href="http://copenhagenize.eu/index/" target="_blank">自転車に優しい都市インデックス</a>で、2015 年にランク外に押し出されていた東京が今年、9位に返り咲いた。<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s1600/DSCF3772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s320/DSCF3772.jpg" width="320" /></a>2011年に4位、2013年に12位だった東京は、主に自転車政策に対する地元当局の後退的な姿勢が理由で、 2015年にランク圏外に転落した。世界各都市が自転車利用の後押しに意気込み、政策課題として確固とし た位置付けをする中、東京は、脅威的な数の日常的な自転車利用者の為の施策を、文字通り何一つ打ち出せ ていなかったのだ。<br />
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それどころか2013年から2015年に掛けては、地元メディアにおける自転車の扱いが、ある事故が注目を集 めて以後、徐々に悪くなっていった。67歳の女性を死亡させた自転車利用者の母親が神戸地裁から賠償金 9500万円を被害者家族に支払うよう命じられた事故だ。この一件からメディアは自転車を敵視する姿勢を 取るようになり、自転車事故の「急増」や、自転車利用者を取り締まる法律の強化を訴える記事が毎週のよ うに出る状況が続いた。<br />
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皮肉に聞こえるのは承知の上で言うが、私はこの事故が、それまで目を向けられていなかった自転車保険と いう市場を旨味のあるものにし、「危険な自転車」の報道がやまない状況に保険会社が大きな関心を寄せる きっかけになったのではないかと思っている。当時、多くのニュースが弁護士と保険会社を儲けさせる宣伝 番組のような内容だった。<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC0sRzQiFQK9jIuWI8u_ZPQ52C9F_mMductSseTzMO9djGENRhsNNaCkhriLuoYt8AL5x_8CnhIWsVFjW-McAx8fK4a92lWMGIbFkY7o0xT2XfcArCpHfXqk-MiNZBAHAPE9GP-JeHw/s1600/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC0sRzQiFQK9jIuWI8u_ZPQ52C9F_mMductSseTzMO9djGENRhsNNaCkhriLuoYt8AL5x_8CnhIWsVFjW-McAx8fK4a92lWMGIbFkY7o0xT2XfcArCpHfXqk-MiNZBAHAPE9GP-JeHw/s320/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>手を拱いていると見做されるのを嫌った警視庁は自転車利用者に対する集中取り締まりを開始する。2012 年2月から毎月10日、<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/02/cyclists-issued-warnings-in-tokyos.html" target="_blank">通りに立って</a>自転車の行く手を遮り、ヘッドフォン装着やブレーキ不良、二人乗り といった数々の違反行為を取り締まった。<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/01/cyclists-in-japan-two-strikes-and-youre.html" target="_blank">ツー・ストライク</a>条項が施行され、常習違反者は自費での安全講 習会参加を義務付けられた。ヘルメット論争が再燃し、「有識者委員会」は非現実的で悪名高い<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/09/tokyo-serious-about-number-plating.html" target="_blank">自転車ナン バープレート</a>制の検討で紛糾した。<br />
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2013年9月に東京が2020年の五輪開催と自転車ネットワークの整備計画を発表しても、自転車に敵対的な 報道の潮流は覆せなかった。この時期は東京だけでなく日本中で、自転車にとって暗雲の垂れ込める時期だった。<br />
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これらの出来事や当局の行動の欠如にも関わらず、自転車交通分担率が15%(一部地域では最大30%<sup>1</sup>)で あるという事実は、清潔、安全、正確さで世界有数の鉄道ネットワークを誇るこの巨大都市東京にとって 堂々たる統計であることは疑いない。<br />
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また、自転車道を欠いていても優れた都市デザインであれば、自転車レーンすら無くても自転車利用者の数 を大きく伸ばせることを東京ははっきりと証明している。東京の<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2014/12/how-suburban-tokyo-promotes-cycling.html" target="_blank">コンパクトな生活圏には日々の暮らしに必 要な店や施設が集まっており</a>、それらが家から自転車ですぐ行ける範囲に収まっている。遠く離れた郊外の ショッピング・モールではなく、車の流入を遮断した狭い商店街が身近にあることで、自転車は最も合理的 な移動手段になっているのだ。事実、東京では自転車の平均トリップ距離は2.5km未満<sup>2</sup>である。これは、 自転車が短距離移動という理に適った形で使われていることや、鉄道とは競合関係ではなく補完関係である ことを示している。また、過半数が車を所有しない<sup>3</sup>東京の住民の足は、中・長距離移動では自ずと鉄道に 向かう。<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYin4O1Zaw4u1pwQFjylN2fMw_NHNavY1YhSwagRGup6u-ywazp0OeULDqEybEYFCcB3s00FgdBLGqfFqP2Uf4KNABMmMDaSEmIt1A3Qa4LrJyOT-J8zR5LbYhSQgf4BTfUyc4Ngnc8A/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYin4O1Zaw4u1pwQFjylN2fMw_NHNavY1YhSwagRGup6u-ywazp0OeULDqEybEYFCcB3s00FgdBLGqfFqP2Uf4KNABMmMDaSEmIt1A3Qa4LrJyOT-J8zR5LbYhSQgf4BTfUyc4Ngnc8A/s320/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>[当局の]怠慢や、自転車を悪者に仕立てるメディア、自転車インフラの欠如や高圧的な取り締まりにも関 わらず、東京では自転車の盛んな利用が続いている。<a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/01/what-makes-japan-great-cycling-nation.html" target="_blank">東京で自転車利用が盛ん</a>なのは、それが短距離移動で 最も理に適っているからであり、生活圏がコンパクトで必要なものがそこに揃っているからであり、マイ カーを所有する費用が、その体感的な利便性を遥かに上回っているからであり、既存の公共交通網を補完す るからである。しかし何より、東京では自転車が文化の一部で、出かける時に靴を履くような当たり前の、 ほとんど無意識な活動だからだ。<br />
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幾つかの都市は将来を見据えた自転車政策を評価されてランクインしている。様々な自転車インフラを整備 してランクインした都市もある。自転車の利用促進活動の盛り上がりを評価された都市もある。これらに比 べれば東京のランクインは理に合わない。他都市のような努力が何一つ見られないのに、自転車の交通分担率は異様に高い。しかもその数字は女性や子供も含めた全ての利用者層で高いのだ<sup>4</sup>。ここ東京では、自転 車は単に便利で安全なだけの乗り物ではない。地元民と同じように使い始めれば、これほど気楽<sup>5</sup>で楽しい ものかと驚かされる。<br />
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世界各地の都市とその住民は、それぞれが目を見張るような独自性を持っている。ある都市で自転車文化を 大きく発展させるのに必要な手法が、別の都市では不必要ということもあるだろう。東京ではそのまま<sup>6</sup>で も自転車文化が栄えている。それこそが、コペンハーゲナイズ・インデックスで9位に値する理由なのである。<br />
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<sup>1</sup> According to Census 2010 the highest bicycle modal share (commutes by {bicycle only + train and bicycle} / {total – not reported} ) within Tokyo is 29.47% (Mitaka City). When calculated based on destination (workplace / school), bike share easily exceeds 30% in some municipalities.<br />
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平成22年国勢調査に拠れば、東京都内で自転車の交通分担率(通勤通学手段として{自転車のみ+鉄道と自転車}÷{総数−不詳}) が最も高かったのは三鷹市(29.47%)。通勤通学先で集計した場合は自転車の交通分担率が30%を軽々と超える自治体もある。<br />
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<sup>2</sup> The translator cannot find any source, but a relating graph that Bicycle Safety Committee presents shows the most frequent bicycle trips are below 1 km.<br />
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訳者はこの出典を発見できなかったが、自転車の安全利用促進委員会が公開しているグラフに拠れば自転車トリップの最頻値は1 km以 下の範囲に分布している。<br />
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<sup>3</sup> According to the national survey of family income and expenditure 2014, the private car penetration rate for households in Tokyo is 43.1%.<br />
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平成26年全国消費実態調査に拠れば、自家用車を保有している世帯の割合は東京都では43.1%である。<br />
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<sup>4</sup> The problem of biking gender gap e.g. in UK and in US is not well known in Japan.<br />
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日本ではあまり言及されないが、アメリカやイギリスでは女性の自転車利用者が少なく性別が偏っている。<br />
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<sup>5</sup> People get nervous while on bicycle in cities where sidewalk cycling is prohibited and there is little protected cycling facility, so they have no choice but to ride mixing with fast and heavy traffic unlike in Tokyo. So cycling is considered a dangerous activity and marginalized.<br />
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自転車の歩道通行が禁止され、自転車道もないような都市では、自転車は激しい交通に混じって走らざるをえず、東京と違って緊張が 強いられる。この為、自転車は危険な活動と見做され、社会の周縁的な地位に追いやられている。<br />
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<sup>6</sup> Of course local municipalities have been working hard to improve their cycling environment mainly in the aspect of parking. But street design is still very poor, which the translator think far from ideal and should be redesigned to mitigate conflicts between road users.<br />
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もちろん市町村レベルでは主に駐輪場の整備で自転車の利用環境改善が精力的に行なわれてきている。しかし道路空間のデザインは依 然として極めて劣悪で理想には程遠く、利用者間の対立を緩和する為に再構築が必要であると訳者は考えている。<br />
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<center>
This article has been translated from the original <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2017/06/how-can-tokyo-be-ranked-9th-most.html">English</a> version by <a href="https://perfect-comes-from-perfect.blogspot.jp/">ろぜつ</a>.</center>
Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-25463925176679640642017-06-19T11:06:00.001+09:002019-06-12T01:12:54.677+09:00How Can Tokyo Be Ranked the 9th Most Bicycle Friendly City?Tokyo has returned to the biennial <a href="http://copenhagenize.eu/index/" target="_blank">Copenhagenize Bicycle Friendly Cities Index</a> in position 9 after having been ejected from the 2015 ranking of the most thriving cycling cities around the world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYin4O1Zaw4u1pwQFjylN2fMw_NHNavY1YhSwagRGup6u-ywazp0OeULDqEybEYFCcB3s00FgdBLGqfFqP2Uf4KNABMmMDaSEmIt1A3Qa4LrJyOT-J8zR5LbYhSQgf4BTfUyc4Ngnc8A/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYin4O1Zaw4u1pwQFjylN2fMw_NHNavY1YhSwagRGup6u-ywazp0OeULDqEybEYFCcB3s00FgdBLGqfFqP2Uf4KNABMmMDaSEmIt1A3Qa4LrJyOT-J8zR5LbYhSQgf4BTfUyc4Ngnc8A/s320/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>Ranked 4th in 2011 and 12th in 2013 Tokyo slipped from the rankings in 2015 primarily due to local authorities regressive stance regarding cycling policy. While cities around the world had embraced cycling and placed it firmly on the agenda Tokyo literally failed to do anything to support the city's astonishing number of everyday cyclists.<br />
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Conversely during the period from 2013 to 2015 cycling was painted in an increasingly bad light by local media after a high profile accident in which a 67-year-old woman was killed by a cyclist after which the cyclists mother was then by the Kobe District Court to pay a record 95 million yen in compensation to the victims family. This single incident firmly set the media against cycling for an extended period with articles appearing almost weekly claiming an "alarming increase" in cycling accidents and demanding that cyclists be bound by stronger laws. <br />
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Call me cynical but I believe this incident opened up a lucrative market for cycling insurance, hitherto unheard of, and that insurance companies had a vested interest in seeing that this and other "dangerous cyclist" stories never disappear from our newspapers. Many articles appearing at the time read like infomercials for lawyers and insurance companies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC0sRzQiFQK9jIuWI8u_ZPQ52C9F_mMductSseTzMO9djGENRhsNNaCkhriLuoYt8AL5x_8CnhIWsVFjW-McAx8fK4a92lWMGIbFkY7o0xT2XfcArCpHfXqk-MiNZBAHAPE9GP-JeHw/s1600/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC0sRzQiFQK9jIuWI8u_ZPQ52C9F_mMductSseTzMO9djGENRhsNNaCkhriLuoYt8AL5x_8CnhIWsVFjW-McAx8fK4a92lWMGIbFkY7o0xT2XfcArCpHfXqk-MiNZBAHAPE9GP-JeHw/s320/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>Not wanting to be seen as sitting on their hands the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department began a shocking series of crackdowns on cyclists. Beginning in February 2012 police <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/02/cyclists-issued-warnings-in-tokyos.html" target="_blank">took to the streets</a> on the 10th of each month, setting up effective roadblocks targeting cyclists for numerous offences including cycling with headphones, without brakes, and carrying passengers. A <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/01/cyclists-in-japan-two-strikes-and-youre.html" target="_blank">two-strike</a> policy was implemented which would see repeat offenders sent to cycling safety courses at their own expense. The helmet debate was reignited and an "expert panel" was charged with investigating the notoriously impractical idea of <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/09/tokyo-serious-about-number-plating.html" target="_blank">bicycle number plates</a>.<br />
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Even the announcement in September 2013 that Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympics and that a network of cycling paths was being planned for the city could not turn the negative tide of publicity against cycling. It was indeed a bleak time for cycling not only in Tokyo but all around Japan.<br />
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Despite the events of those years and the lack of action by Japanese authorities it is undeniable that Tokyo's 15% modal share for cycling (Up to 30% in some neighbourhoods) is a monumental statistic for a modern mega city which already boasts one of the worlds greatest networks of clean, safe and punctual trains and subways.<br />
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Also despite the lack of dedicated cycle paths, Tokyo proves once and for all that good urban design, even without cycling lanes, can greatly increase the number of cyclists. Tokyo's <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2014/12/how-suburban-tokyo-promotes-cycling.html" target="_blank">compact neighbourhoods contain all the shopping and amenities for daily life</a> all within a short ride from home. Narrow shopping streets closed to traffic rather than sprawling distantly located shopping malls make cycling the most logical form of transport for short journeys around the neighbourhood. In fact the average trip distance by bicycle in Tokyo is under 2.5km which demonstrates how the bicycle is used for shorter journey's where it makes sense and that cycling complements rather than competes with the rail network to which Tokyo's residents, the majority of whom do not own cars, naturally turn to for longer journeys.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s1600/DSCF3772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKA3pNB2d-o0bqZX0zYvidUxXyikmXwiUgp80QQdHDJkH5NGY3SKxlIgP5LVDr2CJSq-4jCOatiPdAIG9r1e7jN3Slflq8TOLtsQOZ-VgiUEwG7y1FIQbND-3h_xGwlRMePDHn8lY4Q/s320/DSCF3772.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Despite inaction, demonizing of cycling in the media, a lack of cycling infrastructure and authorities heavy-handed treatment cycling in Tokyo continues to thrive. <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2012/01/what-makes-japan-great-cycling-nation.html" target="_blank">Cycling thrives in Tokyo</a> because it makes sense as the best form of transport for short journeys, it thrives because neighbourhoods are compact and self-contained, it thrives because the cost of private car ownership far outweighs the perceived usefulness, it thrives because it complements existing transport networks, but above all it thrives because it is part of the culture, an almost subconscious activity as normal as putting on your shoes.<br />
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Some cities have been ranked in the survey because of their forward-thinking cycling policies, some because they implementing wide-ranging cycling infrastructure, others because of a rising wave of cycling activism. Tokyo, on the other hand, is a paradox, without any of these things cycling numbers are insanely high among all sectors of the population including women and children. Cycling is not only practical and safe but also surprisingly easy and enjoyable when you start riding like a local.<br />
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All cities and their residents are wonderfully unique, and what is required to cultivate a great cycling culture in one may not be necessary for another. In Tokyo, cycling just works which is why it's 9th place in the Copenhagenize Bicycle Friendly Cities Index is well deserved. <br />
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<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-54808996875352326552016-11-17T14:34:00.000+09:002019-06-10T15:12:10.887+09:00Bicycle Shows For The 1%, Not Me.At the beginning of November Japan's largest bicycle show, Cyclemode has held at Makuhari Messe just outside Tokyo attracting tens of thousands of visitors over 3 days.<br />
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You'd think as someone with a tad of notoriety in Japanese cycling circles and with exhibitors offering free tickets left and right for a favourable product review that I'd jump a the chance to attend, but I did not. After all what's the point?<br />
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Cyclemode is for the 1%, not me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoWdYa35URH5hdyoNhas2zflgk2dz0J_twcN3UlyvoMTKy0UtUi9G9yjbbrcGpF30zef6LqZ6WNauibTaaCL_91VheVqtkt_VcKq9f72AawWO2mO047qrSnFR0PwbdX1XEmhdqEBSag/s1600/DSCF2776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoWdYa35URH5hdyoNhas2zflgk2dz0J_twcN3UlyvoMTKy0UtUi9G9yjbbrcGpF30zef6LqZ6WNauibTaaCL_91VheVqtkt_VcKq9f72AawWO2mO047qrSnFR0PwbdX1XEmhdqEBSag/s400/DSCF2776.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Who are the 1% you may ask? They're the sports cyclists, the recreational cyclists, the MAMILs on their expensive lightweight racing bicycles decked out in colourful figure-hugging clothing (for better or worse!), sporting bicycle helmets, gloves and special shoes that make them walk like weary cowboys after a hard day rustling of cattle. They're the ones up before 5am on weekend mornings so they can cycle inhuman distances on empty roads while the rest of us slumber. That's great, I used to be one of those guys and I enjoyed that time immensely. It's awesome that they're involved in such a social and healthy hobby but at the end of the day its a hobby, a game enjoyed on the weekends by a small percentage of Japan's total cycling population. Unfortunately, it is this small percentage of vocal people that ultimately control the image of cycling everywhere, and that is worse for cycling than you may imagine.<br />
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I'm no longer one of the 1%.<br />
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I love cycling, not bicycles. I encourage everyday, utilitarian cycling as a convenient form of transport on whatever bicycle you happen to have at your disposal. For trips to the supermarket, there is little difference between a $100 bicycle and a $10,000 one, except that the $100 one is most certainly more practical.<br />
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I believe that everyday cycling shapes our communities, not just the urban landscape, but the personal interactions that happen within that landscape. I believe that the economic, health, environmental and societal benefits which cycling promotes are of immense importance to people and communities yet are sadly underappreciated by politicians and decision-makers who determine the shape of our cites. Why would I spend a day I could otherwise spend cycling to the park with family wandering a vast convention centre filled with bicycles from manufacturers who refuse to acknowledge that 99% of the cyclists in Japan don't give a damn about expensive, super light, carbon fibre racing bicycles, in fact not only that but few even give their bicycle a second thought?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpNPc9XRn1DSb-a-MA7LdsSIn1PSMNHlFPquMt-jHoqyjbVXQwIrZbtRpmslGZWF-M6QvrlGrrEfp3oCDiHR_vzITZ8_LY3MyWFRkjIdgNx7dYp8oKzYnURTPdCsxJ_Vei884thLX6Q/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpNPc9XRn1DSb-a-MA7LdsSIn1PSMNHlFPquMt-jHoqyjbVXQwIrZbtRpmslGZWF-M6QvrlGrrEfp3oCDiHR_vzITZ8_LY3MyWFRkjIdgNx7dYp8oKzYnURTPdCsxJ_Vei884thLX6Q/s640/IMG_1008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tens of millions of Tokyo's residents can be considered "cyclists" in that they use bicycles regularly as a form of transport. The neighbourhoods of Tokyo are teeming with people on cheap, heavy, Mamachai or city bicycles going shopping, taking themselves off to the station, or delivering children to school, and running 100's of other errands around the local community. They give their bicycles less thought and consideration than the shoes they'll wear out that day, yet they rely on them more heavily than they'll ever know until they find themselves without one. For the vast majority of people a bicycle is is a tool and unless you're a professional carpenter a hammer works just as well as a nail-gun.<br />
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Cycling isn't about cyclists and bicycles its about people and communities.<br />
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Unfortunately, as I mentioned, the image of cycling is formed by the 1%. When policymakers want an opinion from cyclists they'll head towards these people for an opinion, but the opinions of the 1% are not those of the 99%. Most sports cyclists are comfortable cycling on the roads, most everyday cyclists aren't. Many sports cyclists don't want bicycle lanes because the thought of sharing space with the 99% on their slow shopping bicycle is abhorrent. The vast majority of sports cyclists consider bicycle helmets a must for cycling, while bicycle helmets for the 99% are a completely unnecessary expense. The 1% will spend $400 to shave 80g of weight from their bicycle rather than forgo a caramel latte and shave kilograms weight off the rider. These are the people who control the image of cycling. Its like supermodels controlling the perception of body image, its extreme and not at all a reflection of reality.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWz1NbgQd-o60wLU6t_csEotYLIqnw79W7W-MZpznpNyW8wgOp2yzR9fpQjdeg9FyKeK0-aded9tvTJnJEja-X1jTsqEtlicL1vDCFPl-waVYIASqZHJoEFDo9ZsXHeK2pmx5EbQQ-w/s1600/DSCF4177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWz1NbgQd-o60wLU6t_csEotYLIqnw79W7W-MZpznpNyW8wgOp2yzR9fpQjdeg9FyKeK0-aded9tvTJnJEja-X1jTsqEtlicL1vDCFPl-waVYIASqZHJoEFDo9ZsXHeK2pmx5EbQQ-w/s400/DSCF4177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cycling to the shops is not an extreme sport, it does not require special protective clothing or equipment beyond a kickstand, basket, lock and light, all of which come standard on an inexpensive Japanese city bicycle. A bicycle from 60 years ago has all the technology most everyday cyclists require, but the cycling industry can't survive selling 60 year old technology year after year. So the industry continues to focus on the 1% making them believe that their product or innovation is essential for better performance and faster times when the majority of us simply want a comfortable saddle, and less flats.<br />
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At the end of the day the cycling industry is driven by money and the most lucrative corner of the cycling market is the 1% which in turn forms the public perception of cycling. Because of this the general public are being constantly bombarded with information and imagery that portrays cycling as an extreme and physically demanding sport that requires a great investment of time and money to enjoy to the fullest and thus many people don't consider it relevant to them.<br />
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I'd like to argue that cycling is a convenient and healthy form of everyday transport that can improve your life and your community that requires no more than a small investment to get started, and that physical fitness is irrelevant.<br />
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If you value a happy, health lifestyle, friendly communities, and strong local economies then everyday cycling makes us all rich, not just those catering for the 1%.<br />
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Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-48108651736725905292016-09-08T13:14:00.000+09:002019-06-29T11:33:55.152+09:00Preparing Your Bicycle for a Night Ride.Social night rides are taking off around the world. Inspired by the San Jose Bike party Tokyo's monthly Night Pedal Cruising and Melbourne's Ride the Night are gathering increasingly large numbers of cyclists and the concept is taking off all over the world.<br />
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Night rides are a social occasion where bicycle lovers come together for a party, not a grueling 50km time trial that leaves your legs feeling like jelly. They attract people from all walks of life who ride a whole range of bicycles from your conventional road and mountain bikes, to city bikes, cargo bikes, recumbent and tall bikes. At these rides its not the price or brand of your bicycle that earns you respect, its how much your bicycle is loved and how much you love bicycles. If your bicycle came from a dumpster but you've treasure it more than any other bicycle that will show at a night ride.<br />
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Night rides aren't just for cyclists, they're for people who love bicycles.<br />
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If you're going to be on a night ride with a few hundred other people its important that you stand out and attract attention, for that is one of the aims of a night ride, namely to draw attention to the fact that cyclists have right to be on the road. In addition to this you also have a responsibility to show passers by just how much fun a bicycle can be as well!<br />
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What better way to draw attention to yourself and the ride than with sound and lights!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28iBF6lEyH0Bq2cU7dUoAPw48xXBzL-VZDzC0qMFZ4mHZJvZ2gqeH1LfKR0N7rH_1B2YM0dj0zfu7cYtfXxOTZTqa0ai4rL4_ZO7cIJC1EnJ03a2lxFKDvpZ6fgbmwSP498krn2zdjw/s1600/FireflyRide_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28iBF6lEyH0Bq2cU7dUoAPw48xXBzL-VZDzC0qMFZ4mHZJvZ2gqeH1LfKR0N7rH_1B2YM0dj0zfu7cYtfXxOTZTqa0ai4rL4_ZO7cIJC1EnJ03a2lxFKDvpZ6fgbmwSP498krn2zdjw/s320/FireflyRide_24.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&keywords=spoke%20lights&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=10ea9130abdcba897f4a293440da94d3" target="_blank">Spokelights</a> are always a favorite. They're cheap, attractive and still raise an eyebrow as they're not exactly common among cyclists other than you and your night cycling friends. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081UDLDY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0081UDLDY&linkId=1ffad4b853604d4615370a2231731978" target="_blank">Monkeyletric</a> spoke lights are easy to install and generate an unlimited number of psychedelic patterns as you ride the night. But if you want to go even more insane the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K4Q9UCI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01K4Q9UCI&linkId=779e90ba40397d11c94c38c238f39850" target="_blank">FTL FH801 Programmable Bicycle Wheel Light</a> gives you the ability to reproduce almost any picture or video on your wheel which will certainly turn more than a few heads. Just imagine the possibilities such a wheel brings to themed rides such as Halloween and Christmas .. I'm tempted to get one myself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxwtXjk1tPPINF3TEIQ6oxlVNjKcrKTIOtzE2sbsLJaiwv9jt-uxj2j46PxqeQ2Im0yl8pHhWn7_3HGLvZJucnhPVK4o9WSJ8gv4FXDPNZNohO-N7pUklr9RfioSJJQKUDaFLFh1awg/s1600/2015-10-31+18.10.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxwtXjk1tPPINF3TEIQ6oxlVNjKcrKTIOtzE2sbsLJaiwv9jt-uxj2j46PxqeQ2Im0yl8pHhWn7_3HGLvZJucnhPVK4o9WSJ8gv4FXDPNZNohO-N7pUklr9RfioSJJQKUDaFLFh1awg/s320/2015-10-31+18.10.27.jpg" width="320" /></a>Of course everyone's budget does not extend that far, nor are we all prepared to draw THAT much attention to ourselves which makes simple strings of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&keywords=led%20wheel%20lights&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=71649b2df754c0583bb177c23e789bd7" target="_blank">LED lights</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZU7D7ZI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00ZU7D7ZI&linkId=86c764900482612d54418f6ac54e9732" target="_blank">clip on spoke lights</a> a perfect option for someone just starting out. They're cheap, easy to install and certainly do draw attention.<br />
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Now you're kitted out with some eye burning psychedelic lights its time to concentrate on music and for that you'll be pleased to know there is a whole range of convenient <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&keywords=bluetooth%20speakers%20cycling&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=c2d41bd70f1a2666a7049e28a468d324" target="_blank">portable Bluetooth speakers</a> which are suitable for cyclists. Quite some time ago I <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2014/06/bicycle-speakers-which-one-to-choose.html" target="_blank">reviewed</a> two very popular speakers at the time the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHKRLQC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CHKRLQC&linkCode=as2&tag=tobybi-20&linkId=36LPR7TDDTG5SEKY" target="_blank">Scosche Boom Bottle</a> and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007PZYBTY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007PZYBTY&linkCode=as2&tag=tobybi-20&linkId=CMMKAJKMSORVZIWZ" target="_blank">Philips ShoqBox Bluetooth speaker</a> but in the end chose to go with the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I9AIJR4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tobybi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00I9AIJR4&linkId=8ecffa5e5dd28c76d110eae7293c3afe" target="_blank">Philips SoundShooter</a> which has the perfect balance of portability, volume and sound quality for all my night riding needs.<br />
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So why don't you gear up and join your local night ride and if you're in Tokyo on the third Saturday of the month come join us on the Night Pedal Cruising ride!Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-9558442119480436792016-08-12T09:59:00.000+09:002019-06-10T12:30:41.097+09:00The Cyclist's Guide to Tokyo, a video by CNN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In June myself, and members of the <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/" target="_blank">Cycling Embassy of Japan</a>, <a href="http://freewheeling.jp/" target="_blank">Freewheeling Japan</a> and the team from <a href="http://bluelug.com/" target="_blank">Blue Lug Hatagaya</a> had the pleasure of guiding a crew from CNN around the backstreets of our local neighbourhood by bicycle for their CNN Asia travel series.<br />
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We're all are very proud of our local neighbourhoods, and believe that some of the best cycling to be had and discoveries to be made are right within a few kilometres of your home. Despite living in the same neighbourhood for over 10 years I'm still discovering hidden gems such as temples, parks, shops and restaurants hiding in the backstreets just a short cycling distance from home.<br />
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So when CNN visited we could have taken them on a tour of downtown Tokyo to help them get the iconic shots of Tokyo Tower, Sensoji Temple, the Imperial Palace and Rainbow Bridge with the Tokyo Bay and Odaiba in the background but most of the cycling in Tokyo isn't taking palace in those areas its taking place in suburbia. Therefore we chose to share some of the spots in our local neighbourhood of which we're so proud, many of which unfortunately did not make the final edit but despite this, I hope you can enjoy a quick look around my local neighbourhood by bicycle.Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-18088260321187390542016-08-04T17:20:00.001+09:002016-08-04T17:20:13.826+09:00Firefly Ride in Tokyo 2016On August 27, 2016 the <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/" target="_blank">Cycling Embassy of Japan</a> will once again be hosting Tokyo's one and only annual illuminated group ride, the Firefly Ride and you're all invited!<br />
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A fun, family friendly event the Firefly ride invites participants of all ages on bicycles of all style to decorate their rides with lights and sound then in the evening cycle the summer streets of Tokyo in a celebration of cycling.<br />
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Cyclists will gather at the Harajuku gates of Yoyogi park at 6pm to put the finishing touches on their bicycles then set off on a short easygoing ride through the center of Tokyo with the occasional stop for food beverages and a chat before ending back at Yoyogi where prizes will be awarded for the best illuminated bicycles (and riders!) and the celebrations can continue well into the night.<br />
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A grand spectacle of colour, light and sound, featuring bicycles of every type imaginable, the Firefly Ride aims to promote the fun, friendly and social side of cycling.<br />
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Check out photos from last years event <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/09/tokyo-firefly-ride-report-and-photos.html" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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For more information including a <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/firefly/en/diy/index.html" target="_blank">guide to decorating your bicycle</a> visit the <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/firefly/en/index.html" target="_blank">Firefly Ride homepage</a> and let us know you're coming via the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/155346928204850/?notif_t=plan_user_associated&notif_id=1470297241881807" target="_blank">Facebook Event Page</a>.<br />
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I hope to see you there!Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-86952922252863928012016-03-05T14:25:00.002+09:002019-06-10T12:33:54.028+09:00The Gaman Spirit: Why Cycling Works in Tokyo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Late last year I had the pleasure of working with producer Joe Baur and the Cycling Embassy of Japan on this wonderful Streetfilm entitled "The Gaman Spirit: Why Cycling Works in Tokyo".<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/157120644?color=9086c0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/157120644">The Gaman Spirit: Why Cycling Works in Tokyo</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/streetfilms">STREETFILMS</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Over the course of three chilly winter days we guided Joe around the city introducing him to its cycling charms, and cycling infrastructure disasters of which he writes:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Still, it was easy to see some of the same problems in Tokyo that I've seen in my own cycling in Cleveland and throughout the United States. That is, motorists will take that space back when it pleases them.<br />
For instance, while cycling on a beautiful blue lane into downtown Tokyo, my hosts and I stopped at an intersection to get some shots of cyclists passing by. Across the street a delivery truck had pulled over into the bike lane. Ahead of us, a car in the bike lane forced cyclists to either hop onto the sidewalk or move further into the vehicle lane. Unsurprisingly, drivers did not seem keen to make space for the merging cyclists or to slow down.<br />
The other peculiarity was the fact that the responsibility of designing cycling infrastructure falls to the individual districts within Tokyo. Byron Kidd of Tokyo By Bike equated it with New York City boroughs coming up with their own cycling infrastructure, irrespective of one another. The result is, indeed, confusing -- comically so at times.<br />
However, cycling continues to work beautifully in Tokyo. I was surprised by just how young the kids were cycling around the city. I was told that kids start in the back of their parent's bike, then they move up to a handlebars seat when the second child comes along before hopping onto their own bike when they're too heavy. This all makes sense when you consider that it's very common for Japanese children to be sent off on their own at an age many North Americans would consider too young.</blockquote>
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It is amazing that in the space of just three days he could understand and capture on film the essence of cycling in Japan and that even without official support for cycling infrastructure cycling thrives simply because it is the most convenient way to get around.<br />
Please enjoy this film and share it with others.Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-61500899329767050212016-01-06T11:29:00.000+09:002017-06-21T17:39:14.677+09:00New Years Ride with the Cycling Embassy of Japan in TokyoOn January 4th the <a href="http://cycling-embassy.jp/" target="_blank">Cycling Embassy of Japan</a> rang in the new year with a social ride on a relatively car free route to Lake Tama on the border of Tokyo and Saitama.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/150752977">Lake Tama Ride</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user41289781">Cycling Embassy Japan</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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The ride came about quite by accident as I asked Chad to join me for a ride as I want to get in as much cycling as I can before I start a new job on January 15th. But before I knew it Chad had designed posters and set up a Facebook event so we could invite even more people. In the space of a few hours the ride grew from two guys to a fully fledged Cycling Embassy of Japan event!<br />
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Our plan was originally to meet at Meidaemae Station around 9:30, make a stop at Inokashira Park in Kichijoji at 10:30 to pick up more riders if that meeting point was more convenient for them, then to the beginning of the Tamako Cycling Road by 11:00 to pick up even more people. But with a low response rate via the Facebook group we started the day with just 5 riders not expecting any more.<br />
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The twin lakes of Tama and Sayama act as reservoirs supplying Tokyo with much needed drinking water and the <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/12/cycling-tokyos-tamako-cycling-road.html" target="_blank">Tamako Cycling Road</a> sits above a pipe which take the water from the lakes into the city. Along the way out to the lakes you pass many water treatment facilities which set the theme for our ride. So rather than keeping to a schedule we set off in the opposite direction to visit a water storage and treatment facility close to Medaimae station before cruising down to the Kanda River which we followed all the way to Kichijoji.<br />
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Interestingly even though the ride was organised by the Cycling Embassy of Japan, at one stage one of the ride participants Kosuke took the lead guiding us an alternate route from Kugayama to Inokashira Park which avoided some nasty intersections and obstacles around Mitakadai Station. If there is one thing we all love it is alternate routes and local knowledge of backstreets we can add to our mental maps so we can avoid difficult spots in the future.<br />
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At Inokashira Park, Kosuke was keen to go off road, closely followed by myself Brad and Chad and as a result we lost Aya for a moment and completely bypassed the spot where we were to meet any additional riders. We were already 30 minutes behind schedule due to our educational waterworks detour and didn't expect anyone to be waiting anyway, but to our surprise Matthew and Masahiko had been patiently waiting. Matthew apologised for not knowing the correct procedure to RSVP for the ride but I assured him that if he was willing to stand around for 30 minutes in the park on a cold winters morning not getting upset then he would be the perfect fit for our cycling group.<br />
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From Inokashira park Kosuke led us again, this time along the Tamagawa Josui, through a tunnel under the Chuo Line and past the sprawling Tamagawa Josui water treatment facility this continuing our theme for the day. We arrived at the beginning of the Tamako Cycling Road behind schedule as predicted and sadly found no new riders waiting for us.<br />
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We cycled the Tamako cycling road, which was much more crowded with cyclists and pedestrians than our last visit just a <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/12/cycling-tokyos-tamako-cycling-road.html" target="_blank">few weeks earlier</a>, right up to the Tamako dam where we enjoyed convenience store bought lunches on a grassy bank overlooking the expansive park lands and river. Along the way we had lost Brad who had to return to Tokyo for an afternoon appointment making us realise that all the times we have cycled with Brad we have rarely if ever completed a return journey with him present!<br />
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Surprisingly warm for January 4th I could have lay down on the bank in the sun for a long nap, but that had to wait until I got home where after a shower I fell asleep in the kotatsu.<br />
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Hastily arranged with a schedule we mostly ignored this ride turned out the be the best of the year so far (OK so it has been the only ride, but we set the bar high!) A small group of just seven people, some close friends, some casual acquaintances and others joining the ride for the first time, but despite the mix everyone was easy going, nobody paid much attention to the clock, and everyone seemed happy to take detours and learn new routes thanks to people who had more experience cycling in the area. In all it was a great day of cycling and I hope we can have many more such rides in 2016!<br />
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<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-73181490137686074992015-12-17T12:07:00.001+09:002019-06-12T01:08:46.491+09:00Cycling to the Boro-ichi Market in Setagaya, Tokyo.On a cold day under crisp blue Tokyo winter skies, myself and four others set out on a ride from Studio C in Sasazuka to visit Setagaya-ku's famous Boro-ichi Market.<br />
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Setagaya Boro-ichi has been officially recognised as one of Tokyo's intangible cultural assets dating back over 430 years. Beginning in the 1570s as a "free market" where taxes were removed to boost the ailing economy Boro-ichi flourished as a place to buy and sell old fabric scraps. Later Boro-ichi became a year-end market adding farming equipment and New Years goods to the list if items on sale and were held on December 15th each year. Today Boro-ichi is a two-day annual event held on the 15th and 16th of both December and January which boasts over 700 vendors selling food, fabric, clothing, antiques, toys and plants to name a few.<br />
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Now I have to admit that when Brad from Freewheeling Bike Adventures invited me out on a ride to Boro-ichi I had no idea what the event was despite having lived just a 20 minute ride away for the last 10 years, but I love a festival and I love a ride so of course no further persuasion was required for me to get involved.<br />
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After dropping my daughter off at school I cycled along the Kandagawa to Inokashira Dori before making my way to Studio C where Brad and Jack-san were waiting with a very welcome hot cup of coffee. Once Chad arrived we took the back streets to Blue Lug where we met Naoto-san. Now Brad prides himself on his knowledge of local back streets and promised to take us all the way to from Sasazuka to Umegaoka, picking up Ken on the way, meeting just three traffic lights along the way. We were sceptical, but he's not disappointed us in the past with his amazing mental map of the city.<br />
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Brads chosen route took us past numerous parks, temples, and beautiful homes featuring amazing architecture on quiet car-free backstreets. After picking up Ken at a nearby 7/11 we did indeed reach Umegaoka Station having avoided all main roads and by passing through just three traffic lights the whole way.<br />
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After some more rat running through the back streets, we turned on to a large road which would take us directly to Boro-ichi near Setagaya Station on the charmingly local Setagaya line. To our joy, this road displayed some of Tokyo worst ever cycling infrastructure, a blue "bicycle lane" no more than 50cm in width, complete with parked delivery vehicles! A classic example of clueless cycling infrastructure this "bicycle lane" stretched all the way to Boro-ichi making it an impressive length, but why so narrow? I've <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/2015/12/seriously-tokyo-what-is-this-shit.html" target="_blank">ranted about this elsewhere</a>.<br />
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Upon arrival, we parked our bicycles legally in a bike rack that offered free parking for the first two hours and set off on foot to explore Boro-ichi. The street leading up to the market was lined with food vendors serving everything imaginable yaki-tori, yaki-soba, oden, jacket potatoes, age-pan, dango, and mochi, but I was more in the mood for a spicy kebab.<br />
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Being early the crowds weren't insane, but considering it was just 10am on a Wednesday morning there really were many more people here than I expected. Venturing into the market down a narrow street lined with antiques, clothing, farm tools, toys and more I munched on a spring roll and perused the wide array of strange goods on sale including German Steins, Japanese Swords, and California Highway Patrol badges. I was really enjoying the atmosphere, chatting with vendors and browsing the incredibly varied items that were for sale and looking up the street I saw the stalls continue on for a few hundred meters more. It wasn't until I reached what I thought was the end of the line of stalls that I looked down a street to my right and realised the section of the market I was enjoying so much was merely a side street feeding into the main strip of the market which extended further than I could possibly see. It appeared to continue on forever!<br />
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From there things just got more and more interesting, the sheer number of stalls, people and range if crazy items for sale was mind-boggling. Amusing at one stall an elderly man was selling remote controls, he had hundreds and I'd hate to even try and calculate the odds that he just happens to have one from our 1980's Betamax video recorder. Not so amusing were the ivory carvings and stuffed sea turtles. Another stall sold an incredible number of tatami mat trimmings in various designs and colours .. here I was thinking they're all green and that nobody pays any particular attention to them. Stamps, sword guards, military surplus, ancient woodworking equipment, metalwork, kimonos, shoes, fans, food, hood ornaments, antique posters, minerals and crystals, I could list the weird an wonderful curiosities forever you really have to see it to believe it.<br />
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We enjoyed free samples of food, beer and sake as we slowly made our way to the end of the market and back before I purchased my spicy kebab to fuel me for the ride home.<br />
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Visiting Boro-ichi was a really amazing experience, one I can't believe I'd never had in all my years of living in Tokyo and I'd highly recommend you visit if you can. <br />
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Brad from Freewheeling Bike Adventures is going to lead another ride from Studio C in Sazuka along the same quiet streets free back streets we rode to Boro-ichi on Friday, January 15th, 2016. The ride will start at 10am. Visit the <a href="http://freewheeling.jp/" target="_blank">Freewheeling homepage</a> for all the details.<br />
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I hope to see you there!<br />
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Below are even more beautiful pictures of the incredible array of items that were for sale at the Boro-ichi markets taken by Chad Feyen.<br />
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<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-73429069847228226732015-12-16T15:08:00.000+09:002017-06-21T10:22:57.991+09:00Seriously Tokyo what is this shit?So five of us were cycling to Setagaya-ku's famous Boro-ichi Market this morning when we came upon some of the most obscene graffiti insulting cyclists that I've ever seen :<br />
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Seriously Tokyo what is this shit? Were you holding a precision painting competition and this was the winner? Were supplies of blue paint so low you could not afford to paint a full width bicycle lane?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5BS9kqMFvAl89Ibg_Rr8Oqfl6OqDFGUGOqaV0WHmDV8Wwpa8Nxn5MiCvIHsdt6Xdz31x16hTFGKr_N55cOhDqoAVLLLxE9Xbw4PI98Ui9js1BqVQHTdlnaznVZoCaMR7lIQJAuxUCA/s1600/2015-12-16+10.47.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5BS9kqMFvAl89Ibg_Rr8Oqfl6OqDFGUGOqaV0WHmDV8Wwpa8Nxn5MiCvIHsdt6Xdz31x16hTFGKr_N55cOhDqoAVLLLxE9Xbw4PI98Ui9js1BqVQHTdlnaznVZoCaMR7lIQJAuxUCA/s640/2015-12-16+10.47.30.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Seriously Tokyo, do you think paint keeps us safe? Do you think this crap will get cyclists off the sidewalks and on to the roads?<br />
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Why not simply use the paint to write "Fuck you cyclists!" in big blue letters down the middle of the road?<br />
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Seriously Tokyo, you know Denmark and the Netherlands have already worked the kinks out of cycling infrastructure so you don't have to right?<br />
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Stop wasting our taxes on this worthless crap and <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/p/about.html" target="_blank">hire a consultant</a> to teach you how to get it right. Its cycling infrastructure not rocket science.<br />
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Seriously Tokyo, get your shit together.<br />
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<br />Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-77334416826208904602015-12-15T14:04:00.003+09:002022-08-02T16:38:00.892+09:00Cycling Tokyo's Tamako Cycling RoadIt was a spur of the moment decision at 7:10am to message partners in crime Chad and Brad to let them know that I planned to cycle out to Lake Tama on the border between Tokyo and Saitama after walking my daughter to school. Brad had much cleaning up and recovery to do after the previous days incredibly enjoyable bonenkai party at Studio C, but by 8:20am Chad and I were underway along the banks of the Kanda rive heading towards Kichijoji.<br />
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The ride out to the twin lakes of Tama and Sayama holds a special meaning for me as it was my first "long ride" in Tokyo just weeks after I began cycling. Having exhausted all the sights in my Lonely Planet guide book, and feeling the need to escape the city, I was browsing a map when I noticed two large lakes surrounded by parks northwest of where I was living at the time. After some serious consideration, I decided I could easily cycle there and back, and more importantly that I wouldn't get lost en route.<br />
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I cycled all the way from my apartment in Nakano to the lakes on Shin Ome Kaido, a major artery cutting Tokyo from East to West. On the map, this was the simplest, most direct route, but in hindsight, it was a poor choice being so busy and stressful. After an hour or two of cycling in hideous traffic I turned right onto what appeared to be a dedicated cycling path which took me to the very top of the Tamako Dam where I enjoyed beautiful views that stretched all the way across the lake to Mt Fuji.<br />
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After a break for coffee and a snack, while enjoying the sun and taking in the scenery, I examined a nearby map which indicated that there was a network of cycling paths around the two lakes so I set off to circumnavigate Tamako itself. The route took me through the trees past the Seibu Amusement Park, Seibu Dome, home of the Seibu Lions baseball team and gave me tantalising glimpses of the second lake Sayama-ko before I returned to my starting point and headed down the path back towards Ome Kaido.<br />
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Before turning back on to Ome Kaido for the stressful ride home I noticed the cycling path continued on into the distance for as far as I could see. It was very tempting to simply continue along the path and see where it took me, but I was still new to the city and had no map with me. As for smartphones with GPS maps, they hadn't been invented yet! With regret, I turned on to Shin Ome Kaido for the harrowing ride home.<br />
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After that ride, some research revealed the path I had been on was the Tamako Cycling Road which runs from the end of Inokashira Dori just North West of Mitaka Station right up to the Tamako Dam. Had I taken that path home on my very first ride I would have ended up in an unfamiliar location but would have been able to navigate my way home.<br />
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Over the years following my first ride to Tamako I started cycling insane distances in the mountains surrounding Tokyo and the Tamako route served as my short weekend ride, or a course I'd take others who were interested in venturing further afield by bicycle. My hardcore cycling buddies weren't interested in the course as they had to share a narrow bicycle path with slower cyclists and pedestrians, but the route has always been one that I enjoyed.<br />
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Until yesterday it had been over 15 years since I had visited the Tamako Cycling Road and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. From home, Chad and I rode along the Kanda river to Inokashira Park in Kichijoji, a peaceful car-free ride that I do often with my children. From Kichijoji we cycled to the start of the cycling road along quiet back streets which can often be difficult to navigate but in this case, we took almost a straight line along a road which ran behind the Inokashira Zoo and along with another of Tokyo's many hidden waterways.<br />
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Arriving at the Tamako cycling road I was amazed at the improvements that had been made since my last ride there. The entrance to the cycleway was wider and much better marked than it had been in the past when it could quite easily have been missed if you weren't searching for it (I'd overshot it many times on subsequent rides). Not only was it wider was but pedestrian and cycling spaces were properly marked, although of curse cyclists and pedestrians mixed because that's the Japanese way!<br />
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As we cycled on I noticed many of the smaller farms that existed previously had disappeared to be replaced with large mansions, warehouses and even a large new University complex, but here and there small stands attended by elderly ladies stood out selling locally grown vegetables. The path narrowed the further from the city we travelled, and when passing by a station the foot traffic increased which would have slowed us down if we weren't too slow already. Where the cycleway intersected with roads there were well-marked crossings and sometimes traffic lights and at one large intersection, a bicycle overpass had been constructed that was certainly a new addition since my last ride.<br />
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Cycling the Tamako cycling road was a much better experience than it had been in the past when it was narrower and more dangerous given that often you had to leave the path to avoid other cyclists and pedestrians. Chad an I could only guess why they hadn't chosen to continue the path all the way into Shibuya or Shinjuku which would have made traversing the whole width of the city a safe, easy and stress-free journey. The answer actually lies not on the cycling road itself but what is under it. Running in a straight line from Lake Tama down to a water treatment facility is a large diameter water pipe over which the Tamako cycling road has been built which explains why it runs as straight as an arrow. In order to make maintenance of this pipe easier, the land above has been kept free of buildings and the above ground space has been given over to cyclists and pedestrians.<br />
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The route was a pleasure to cycle, calm, relaxing and stress-free. Even the stretch from the cycling we covered by road was not nearly as bad as other routes we could have chosen. The Tamako Cycling Road is a rare example of a cycling path done right in Tokyo and we can only hope that more such path can be constructed and linked together around the city.<br />
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If you're interested in cycling this route please contact me, I'd love to guide you there sometime.Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-85602134217567204772015-12-15T13:00:00.001+09:002015-12-15T19:52:57.272+09:00Night Pedal Cruising Christmas Ride Deluxe 2015 in TokyoHo Ho Ho! festive cyclists! Its time to dust off your Santa outfit (or obtain one if you don't own one already, shame on you!) and decorate you bike with lights, tinsel, mistletoe and whatever else you can think of because the annual Night Pedal Cruising Christmas Ride Deluxe is taking place in Tokyo on December 23rd and naughty or nice you're all invited to come along and join in the fun!<br />
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Jolly cyclists will gather on December 23rd at the <a href="http://farmersmarkets.jp/" target="_blank">Aoyama United Nations University Farmers Market</a> from 17:00 and the ride scheduled to start at 17:30. The distance won't be that great, and cycling is at a low pace so you can drift up and down the pack and enjoy a leisurely chat. Its a social ride with emphasis firmly on "social". Cyclists if all creeds, and bicycle of all style most very welcome.<br />
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There is no obligation to get dressed up to attend the ride, but hey, its only Christmas once a year so why not?! Santa Clause costumes can be had at your local Daiso or other ¥100 shop for ¥400, but feel free to come as a reindeer, elf, snowman or whatever! Got an Easter Bunny costume instead? We don't care! Hell, in the summer we rode (almost) NUDE! Just get it on and join the fun!<br />
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Suggested Ride Items:<br />
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<ul>
<li>A costume. Santa Clause preferred but its up to you.</li>
<li>Lights, lots of lights, the more flashy and annoyingly Christmasy the better!</li>
<li>Decorated bike. Tinsel, mistletoe, Christmas decorations, lights, inflatable reindeer, anything goes. The more outrageous the better. </li>
<li>A beverage or two, remember you have to ride home, but we ARE celebrating.</li>
<li>A sound system. This will not be a "Silent Night".</li>
<li>A means of making it snow, failing that, a means to blow bubbles!</li>
<li>Christmas cheer, and lots of it!</li>
</ul>
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I will be attending and would like to invite all Tokyo By Bike readers to come along and join in the fun. I've not met nearly enough of you!<br />
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If you do plan to participate <a href="http://www.tokyobybike.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">let me know</a>, or shoot me a message on <a href="https://twitter.com/tokyobybike" target="_blank">Twitter</a> so I can look out for you. You may think it easy to spot a man in a Santa suit, but its not when EVERYONE is dressed as Santa!<br />
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<b>What :</b> Night Pedal Cruising Christmas Ride Deluxe 2015<br />
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<b>When :</b> December 23rd, 17:00 for a 17:30 start.<br />
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<b>Where :</b> <a href="http://farmersmarkets.jp/" target="_blank">Aoyama United Nations University Farmers Market</a><br />
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<b>Details :</b> Night Pedal Cruising Christmas Ride Deluxe Event PageByron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-40191578104166164292015-12-05T16:05:00.000+09:002015-12-05T16:05:21.494+09:00INVINCIBLE: End Bike Theft. Once and For All.I love a product that solves a real problem which is why many years ago I was incredibly impressed by the range of Defender theft proof lights from Fortified Bicycles. If you've ever had an expensive bicycle light stolen then you know that being able to leave your bicycle parked anywhere in full confidence that when you return your lights would still be attached is a big deal. The team at Fortified identified a real problem and developed an effective solution and now they've done it again with the release of the <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotham/invincible-end-bike-theft-once-and-for-all?ref=tag" target="_blank">Fortified Invincible</a> bicycle which I am very excited about.<br />
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Major bicycle manufacturers have completely ignored the urban bicycle market. They may say they have bicycles suitable for the city, but in reality they've never taken the time to really understand the needs of city cyclists and bicycle commuters.<br />
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As city cyclists we need a bicycle that is tough, one that can take a few knocks, yet still be fast and light. We need to be able to cycle in confidence that we're not going to get a flat tire every time the road surface turns rough. We need to be able to park our bicycles out in the elements without fear of rust or the saddle absorbing water. But above all we seek security, we're tired of having to strip our bicycles pf parts when we park lest a bicycle thief strip them for us. We're tired of the extreme measures we have to take to ensure our rides are safe.<br />
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Fortified Bicycles is made up of a team of city cyclists, they know what is important to city cyclists, and they surveyed hundreds of cyclists listening to what they really want in a bicycle. Taking this information on board Fortified developed the "Invincible" to meet the needs of city cyclists and to end bicycle theft forever.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotham/invincible-end-bike-theft-once-and-for-all?ref=tag" target="_blank">Invincible</a> comes in two models, the Invincible 1 Speed for flat cities, and the Invincible 8 Speed for hilly cities (Because lets face it who really needs 27 gears for cycling in the city?) Both models are constructed with a 6061 Aluminium rust-proof frame and zinc-coated, corrosion-resistant chain, ensuring that the Invincible is built to endure the harshest winter conditions. In addition to this the Invincible is equipped with light tread 700x32c puncture-resistant tires, allowing riders to float over potholes and to climb curbs without fear of flatting out. On close inspection its a beautifully built bicycle but from a distance its inconspicuous, not drawing any unwarranted attention from possible bicycle thieves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl7KYB27gbyfmVJstZBbnVYxuClbnxSaTzAHo-3XfgOI-g3f6xMpfWTj_vQzaNPtzKOMc3mHWS4X3NUWOWJsymtMsCgAnInGItMiiYYWJLX6n3SokD3BoSbtmttTepsnjAAmbR5oCDw/s1600/Ur2ngZ22K56otW0eyAf_lE_DUo8xJg_-IV0o7Po7GoQ.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl7KYB27gbyfmVJstZBbnVYxuClbnxSaTzAHo-3XfgOI-g3f6xMpfWTj_vQzaNPtzKOMc3mHWS4X3NUWOWJsymtMsCgAnInGItMiiYYWJLX6n3SokD3BoSbtmttTepsnjAAmbR5oCDw/s640/Ur2ngZ22K56otW0eyAf_lE_DUo8xJg_-IV0o7Po7GoQ.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But by far the biggest feature of the Invincible is that it is theft proof. Each bicycle is shipped with a Best In Class Fortified Ulock and is outfitted with Fortified’s proprietary anti-theft hardware, meaning that each of the bike’s components - handlebars, seat, wheels and front and rear lights - are guaranteed against theft. So confident is Fortified in the security of their product if the bike or any of its components, is ever stolen, Fortified’s Protection Policy will ship replacements within 24-hours. That's right, all components, in fact the entire bicycle are covered by a replacement guarantee in the case of theft.<br />
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In addition Fortified take the security of your Invincible bicycle one step further. Each Invincible bike is registered to a single owner at the time of purchase and the FortifiedProtect team manage ownership records to ensure that no Invincible bicycles are resold without permission. The team also monitors sites and forums across the Internet ensuring that if an Invincible bicycle is ever put up for unauthorised sale local authorities will be notified immediately. Fortified are taking both a proactive and reactive approach to cycling that has all bases covered.<br />
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The Invincible 1 Speed has a starting price of $399 for Kickstarter backers while the 8 Speed starts at $649. Backers can choose to customise their ride by adding Fortified's theft proof front and rear lights the Aviator and Afterburner, fenders or an always convenient rear rack.<br />
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For all the details of this amazing urban bicycle please visit the <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotham/invincible-end-bike-theft-once-and-for-all?ref=tag" target="_blank">Fortified Invincible Kickstarter Page</a>.<br />
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So that was my review, here is my personal opinion.<br />
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Recently I've been experiencing "Kickstarter Fatigue". With so many products competing for my attention and backing I've put a filter on my mailbox that forwards these emails to my almost never read "read later" folder. Its physically impossible for me to review every cycling related Kickstarter that comes my way which is why I choose to write about just those that I believe solve a real problem or add significant value to cycling and the Invincible is one of those, its a product I believe in, developed and supported by an inspiring team who I am most happy to support in whatever capacity I can.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJeN_3cXD-G49d48gGYupat7yvcF1e9hy7W7n3gUfbb8-xbDA-jbYOJ1r8a37hZggCG3yEoIHt8y9_JsQLRnTMsafniIMc3ryZJMKydiwmizeWYOELltiQIxp2YGlwzCCgi5n6LKlfQ/s1600/iMT-kZT6-4IO2vSyFmdFrjzAjzPIoTA8AycbiefGcXs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJeN_3cXD-G49d48gGYupat7yvcF1e9hy7W7n3gUfbb8-xbDA-jbYOJ1r8a37hZggCG3yEoIHt8y9_JsQLRnTMsafniIMc3ryZJMKydiwmizeWYOELltiQIxp2YGlwzCCgi5n6LKlfQ/s640/iMT-kZT6-4IO2vSyFmdFrjzAjzPIoTA8AycbiefGcXs.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For cycling around Tokyo I use a modified mountain bike because on the surface it shares many values of the Invincible. Its light enough but still tough and with narrow, almost slick, puncture proof tires I can cycle in confidence. I even ditched the padded seat for a plastic one so I don't get a wet ass after parking out in the rain. But it still has a whole slew of unnecessary gears, any of its parts can be easily stolen by anyone with a few tools, and beyond that its taken me considerable time, money and experience to configure it just the way I like. <br />
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The <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotham/invincible-end-bike-theft-once-and-for-all?ref=tag" target="_blank">Invincible</a> has everything I want and more in a commuter bicycle right out of the box.<br />
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If I were in the market for a new bike for the city this would be it, actually even though I'm not in the market it's still a very tempting purchase. I'd love to get a single speed Invincible on the ground in Tokyo and put it through its paces in the worlds biggest metropolis where I believe it would just eat up the streets!Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949781078882383341.post-78095482049477327472015-11-27T15:17:00.001+09:002015-11-27T15:18:48.377+09:00The Blaze Laserlight Grants Biblical PowersA light that projects the image of a bicycle onto the road ahead of you sounded like a bit of a gimmick to me. Really? Whats the point? Is it necessary? Isn't the beauty of cycling its simplicity? Why more gadgets? Please no more gadgets ...<br />
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OK, so I was sceptical as I like to keep my cycling simple. Call me a Luddite if you will but I have no GPS recording my route, no cycle computer measuring the kilometres I ride, because every ride that gets me to my destination is just long enough. It wasn't until I was able to try the Laserlight for myself that my opinion changed dramatically as it granted me biblical powers I could nt have dreamt of possessing. (But more on that later)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRdUN6hrKSv7tAQAAnpeyWEbnSQxulSsTHYlU6ROQqlTtvoA9TMXABOlVwqSxGHluAqscQfLZMZgZe8HDUvI-dic3j07fawtxr_FN0YOPWY5sBAYPi-mrXGmKZaVhWLcmF1NGnNT8yg/s1600/blaze05-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRdUN6hrKSv7tAQAAnpeyWEbnSQxulSsTHYlU6ROQqlTtvoA9TMXABOlVwqSxGHluAqscQfLZMZgZe8HDUvI-dic3j07fawtxr_FN0YOPWY5sBAYPi-mrXGmKZaVhWLcmF1NGnNT8yg/s400/blaze05-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Whenever I receive a new gadget I like to ride with it for a quite some time before I write a review. I like to test it over weeks or months to gauge its durability and performance in different conditions, but most of all I like to wait until the "wow factor" has worn off so I can give a purely subjective review. I've been riding with the Blaze Laserlight for almost a year now and the wow factor still hasn't worn off.<br />
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The first things you notice as you unpack the Laserlight are its weight and build quality. The Laserlight has an aluminium casing and feels heavy in your hand immediately giving confidence in its durability and quality, no rattles and not a hint of flimsiness. The light mounts quickly to your handlebars requiring only a hex wrench and possibly one of the various width rubber spacer rings included.<br />
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The light itself has three modes flashing 100 lumens, solid 100 or solid 300 and, in a stroke of design genius, when not mounted to the bicycle cycling through modes skips flashing mode because really when have you ever wanted a flashing mode when using your bicycle light as a torch? The unit is 100% waterproof something made possible by an ingenious magnetic charger much like Apples MagSafe connector rather than a standard USB port.<br />
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But that's all great, what about the laser, you want to know about the laser right? Once mounted at the correct angle the Blaze Laserlight projects a bright green image of a bicycle onto the road ahead of you. The image is crisp and clear in dry conditions, but under bright city lights the image fades and in wet conditions the image all but disappears as the laser light is reflected off the road surface.<br />
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The Blaze Laserlight signals your presence ahead of time. The image of the bicycle enters any intersection or jumps out from a blind corner meters ahead of you, letting everyone around know that you're not far behind, but surprisingly in all but a few cases motorists rarely reacted to the laser image which is rather disappointing.<br />
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Where the Laserlight excelled beyond compare was when cycling amongst pedestrians, which in Tokyo is almost unavoidable. Unlike the ring of a bell, pedestrians react to the Laserlight immediately although their reactions can sometimes be unpredictable. Some stop dead trying to locate the source of the image which for some reason they believe must be above them as they peer into the sky. Others have almost been tripped by the beam of light as they skip, jump or hop out of range of the laser. Pets may be startled at the sight of the green bicycle mark, others will want to try and chase it as do small children so it pays to be well aware of the reactions you're likely to receive and cycle accordingly.<br />
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Wait, didn't you mention Biblical Powers? What are these Biblical Powers?<br />
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Somewhere in the Bible, closer to the front than the back, Noah led the Romans to safety from the pursuing Jewish tribes by parting the waves of the Red Sea using powers granted to him by the Tooth Fairy (or something like that). If you've ever cycled on he pavement in Japan you must know how difficult it can be to proceed any faster than walking pace, but when cycling amongst pedestrians with the Laserlight a path magically opens before you creating a safe corridor through which to cycle. It really is magic, you won't believe your eyes and I believe this is the greatest appeal of the product for me.<br />
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Also the "wow factor". I cycle with the Blaze Laserlight every single day, and not a day goes by where without someone commenting on the light. "Wow!", "Sugoi", "Kakkoii", "Cool", "What the f*ck" are all reactions I've had when cycling with the Laserlight. By its very unusual nature the light draws a LOT of attention and you'll be answering peoples questions whenever you're stopped at a traffic light. IN addition to this just seeing the light surprises people, makes them smile and laugh, and its great to be able to inject a little excitement and happiness into the lives of people as you pass.<br />
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In summary the Blaze Laserlight is a quality product, and one which I'd recommend to anyone that finds themselves cycling amongst pedestrians or on roads crowded with other cyclists. As a light it performs exceptionally well with 100 lumens being more than adequate for city cycling, and 300 lumens for when you find yourself on a dark country road or cycling through a poorly lit park will see you through. The laser has mixed results in traffic, where largely ignored my motorists at intersections. But when cycling among pedestrians or other cyclists the Laserlight signals your presence ahead of time and practically demands attention and action and this is where I find the most value in the product to the point where I now feel more unsafe cycling around pedestrians without the Blaze Laserlight.<br />
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For cycling in Tokyo and other Japanese cities the Blaze Laserlight is perfect!Byron Kiddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11827875619267980053noreply@blogger.com0