Job Discussion Forums

matko · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 43

About the bicycle paths at crosswalks, why even have them when NOBODY uses them. Maybe they are there for legal reasons ie. If I hit someone in the bike path they are at fault and vice versa. Who knows Rolling Eyes

Also, the way they turn a blind corner is baffling! They don't slow down, don't look and take the sharpest angle possible! I wonder how many people have been seriously hurt or killed by this manouver. Shocked

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Here's the latest in my bicycle tale...

I've parked on the lot for the past week without paying. I showed the parking attendant the form, explained that I couldn't read the instructions, and that I would happily pay. He was all apologetic and laughed.

This morning, I couldn't believe it. I pulled up to the parking lot at 620 to find the lights blazing in the attendant's booth, 5 old guys smoking nervously, and I paid them 100 yen to park for the day.

Dude, they never opened the parking booth before...Is this special treatment for the scary gaijin lady?!?

So my mountain bike is sitting there with an official-looking daily parking tag. I'm finally legit.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

TokyoLiz,

Maybe it is special treatment for you but you will have to repay them with free lessons in Japanglish now.

Wink

I am still reeling from that post in which you introduced me to Japanglish. I am familiar with Chinglish and was hoping to get out of the Asian+English hybrid language business. Fat_chance for fat_chris!

Have a good one.

vash3000 · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 56

Uhh...

Bicycles are communal property in Japan...aren`t they?

This is actually a serious question. In my previous rice village, my fellow worker had three bikes stolen before he figured it out.

No one actually buys a bicycle...you just sort of pass them around.

Am I wrong here?

Cheers!
V3K

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

I think you're right vash but this applies to lots of places in the world. Certainly the UK where I lost my bike twice both times chained up. At least in Japan, a lock seems to guarantee something most of the time. In the UK, I reckon you can sleep soundly as long as you've encased your bike in concrete first.

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

personally, I think Bicycle Ettiquette in Japan is a HUGE oxymoron. Yeah, theft and what not seems to be a way to keep everyone biking and making it dangerous for the walkers.

I was hit by a car and almost lost a mouth full of teeth when some ijit rode straight into me.

Each to his own I say when biking in Japan.

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

hey guys... 2 q's!

bike parking...: what's the situation like with parking in general, say, if you're stopping at a restaurant or a swimming pool or something.. (inotherwords, a place where you'll be away for an hour or so). Is it a simple affair? Do you pay...

bike stealing...: I'm not really worried about this, but is it common?

thanks Wink

oh yeah.. and license? do you need one (like in China for what it's worth). and where's the best place to get em? thank you!

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

osakajojo · Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 229

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Anyone have any experiences with the cops riding your bike while (severely) intoxicated? I had one drunken night that ended up with me going ass over tea kettle onto the sidewalk just as a patrol car was going by. The officers came back, asked if I was ok, then sent me on my way without checking my gajin card or anything! It was mystifying...I must get ID checked at least once a month.
Anyway, I'd heard it was technically illegal to ride while drunk...

On another note, if anyone knows a really great way to shout "Watch where you're fvck@@g going" at the kids riding blindly into you while checking their ketai I'd love to hear it. I ride a solid mountain bike though, with metal handgrips up over the handles so I can side swipe someone and not hurt my hands!

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

Anyone with J language skills that can tell us that one? Right now I usually resort to an audible "Kyotsukete", which I think means "watch out" in this context. Another one I'd really like to know is how to say, "Turn on your light". I drive at night and it always freaks me out when someone looms up out of nowhere and we barely avoid disaster. One thing about driving in Japan, it's great for adrenaline junkies.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

cevanne · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Osaka, Japan

Hmmm yes bike theft does seem to be quite rampant and defy the usually honest Japanese demeanor. I know many people who have lost their bike, and not necessarily nice ones either. It doesn't seem to matter if it's new or old, bikes get 'borrowed' frequently. In Osaka, someone told me that if your bike gets stolen, you just take another one.

I am also guilty of doubling. We only had one bike when we arrived in Japan and doubled everywhere until we bought another bike. I also tried riding with my umbrella the other day. Turned out mostly allright except I nearly collided with an obasan while rounding the corner. They really do seem to have no rules whatsoever for bike riding. And they travel in possies straight at you. 3 or 4 of them will be coming towards you riding right next to each other and magically expect you to fly over them? I'm not sure what they're thinking, but they won't move over! Evil or Very Mad

I tried the keitai thing and decided it wasn't worth the effort. Far too abunai for me! Shocked

Once, I saw a guy doubling with his wife in the back, his baby in the front, on his cellphone. I'm really not sure how they do it!!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan