Get ready for cycle number plates in Tokyo

[yanpa]

自転車ナンバー制検討を　東京都の懇談会が提言

有識者らでつくる東京都自転車対策懇談会（森地茂座長）は１０日、自転車の安全利用や放置対策として「ナンバープレート制」や「デポジット（預かり金）制」の導入を積極的に検討すべきだとする提言をまとめた。都はこれを受けて制度化の検討に入るが、利用者負担や現行の防犯登録制度との整合など課題も多く、実現には時間がかかりそうだ。

　提言はナンバープレート制について「ナンバーを取り付け周囲から識別できるようにすることで、ルールの順守やマナーの向上を図ることができる」と効果を強調。

...

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/12 ... 012-n1.htm

bicycle-parking-320.jpg

Gist: some teeth-sucking dudes at the Tokyo Bicycle Steering Committee have come up with the jolly idea of forcing cyclists to adorn their steeds with number plates (license plates for some of you I guess) as a way of more easily identifying those who do not vigourously defend the rules, and making cyclists more aware they can be identified and hence less likely to infract. Additionally / alternatively they are looking at a deposit system to prevent the phenomenon of abandoned "throwaway" bikes. Still at the teeth-sucking phase, a number of issues need to be cleared up before such a system can be introduced.

[wuchan]

don't see this working. There are more crappy bikes than people in tokyo.

and the salary men won't fall for it. after all, how will they get home without bikes to "borrow".

[Taro Toporific]

Being that I get hit a couple of times a year by bicycles, I would have something to tell the cops besides,"it was a texting runt with dark hair and glasses."

[GargoyleTS]

Never attribute to goodwill what can be explained by greed.

What? You *know* they aren't gonna give these plates away free. And not having a plate will be a ticket offense too. They just realized they could make bank on Japan's primary mode of local transport.

Doesn't mean it will go through, but show enough Yen signs to those eyes and regardless of public opinion it will go through.

[Coligny]

Being that I get hit a couple of times a year by bicycles, I would have something to tell the cops besides,"it was a texting runt with dark hair and glasses."

+1 I could report more easily all these schoolgurls driving illegally in pack in the morning...

Plus... since bicycles are subject to the road and traffic laws... might as well follow them all...

[yanpa]

I didn't know what "defensive cycling" really was until I came to Tokyo. "Expect the unexpected" is not enough, gotta be able to accurately predict the idiocy (from pedestrians and other "cyclists" mainly) before it happens.

[sublight]

The three rules of cycling survival (may apply anywhere, but certainly in Tokyo)

1. Never assume a motorist is even remotely aware of your existence.
2. Never assume a cyclist is even remotely familiar with traffic safety rules.
3. Never assume a pedestrian is even remotely concerned with their own self-preservation.

#1 is generally the easiest to deal with if you behave exactly like the rest of the traffic flow. It's #2 and 3 that have me slamming brakes and screaming at people after they've nearly gotten both of us killed.

I've lately started getting more belligerent with other cyclists when they don't follow the rules of the road, especially the ones who ride on the wrong side of major streets (at night, no lights and texting for maximum bonus points). When I see one now I pull further to the left so that they have to move toward the oncoming traffic to pass. Either they'll eventually twig to the correct side to ride on, or they'll die horribly, so it's win-win. Sometimes they just come to a complete stop, in which case I stop as well face-to-face with them and start chewing them out for dangerous riding.

In any case, it snaps them out of the "none of this concerns me 'cos I'm on a bike" mentality that so many seem to carry around with them.

[sublight]

And since I didn't say anything about the actual topic: I'm not opposed to number plates, but I'm leery of how the tooth-suckers will implement it. I can just picture them deciding on a plate design so big and unwieldy that it makes anything but a mamachari with two child seats unride-able.

[GomiGirl]

I cycle daily as does my husband. He has been in more than a few accidents mainly due to cars not looking out for cyclists - taxis are the worst offenders.

What pisses me off the most, is that pedestrians don't know how to share the footpath with bikes and cars don't want to share the road with bikes so we are screwed either way. There needs to be a huge amount of these funds for licence plates devoted to a public awareness campaign for bikes, pedestrians and cars.

If they can spend a gazillion yen on manners posters for the subways, they can do the same for the roads surely. Especially as bikes make so much sense for health, the environment and all those other fabulous popular lefty hippie opinions that should make governments wet in the knickers. They have done a half hearted effort by making the demarkations at the traffic lights for the cyclists and pedestrians but it is still not enough.

That said, the provisions along Yamate dori for bikes and pedestrians are fan-fucking-tastic. There is nearly a complete bike lane the whole way along which is clearly signposted and even has different coloured pavers. I just wish they could finish it faster.

[matsuki]

What pisses me off the most, is that pedestrians don't know how to share the footpath with bikes

It is called a footpath...but even that is being generous. Walking in Tokyo is like battling an obstacle course with moving targets. I always watch in awe when I see idiots on bicycles trying to ride through Shinjuku or Shibuya pedestrians. I loved having a bicycle when I lived in Coligny's neck of the woods but I won't dare get one in Tokyo...

That being said, yep, this is definitely for revenue purposes Tokyo is trying to get back to it's most expensive city to live in status? Can't say that I disagree with requiring plates though....considering it would likely mean rounding up all the abandoned bikes around my area. (and yes, there are a shit ton of them blocking pathways and with all those illegally parked tags all over them)

[GomiGirl]

What pisses me off the most, is that pedestrians don't know how to share the footpath with bikes

It is called a footpath...but even that is being generous. Walking in Tokyo is like battling an obstacle course with moving targets. I always watch in awe when I see idiots on bicycles trying to ride through Shinjuku or Shibuya pedestrians. I loved having a bicycle when I lived in Coligny's neck of the woods but I won't dare get one in Tokyo...

I am just trying to take my kid to daycare and not going through Shibuya or Shinjuku.

There are places (high foot-traffic) where it is safer on the road and other places where it is safer on the footpath. Like I said, I am screwed either way. I would prefer to go on the road the entire time but when taxi's and buses just pull out without looking, then this is not safe. In an ideal world then there would be bike lanes as well but I appreciate that this is not possible.

A bit more awareness for everybody is what is needed.

[matsuki]

I am just trying to take my kid to daycare and not going through Shibuya or Shinjuku.

There are places (high foot-traffic) where it is safer on the road and other places where it is safer on the footpath. Like I said, I am screwed either way. I would prefer to go on the road the entire time but when taxi's and buses just pull out without looking, then this is not safe. In an ideal world then there would be bike lanes as well but I appreciate that this is not possible.

That wasn't intended to be a swipe at you I know you have more sense than that and where you're at it's more feasible to use a bicycle than the areas I mentioned. Car pool lanes are what I wanted to suggest but TITS (This is Tokyo sistah!) and like you said, it isn't possible with this spaghetti clusterfuck of winding narrow streets barely fit for single lane traffic.

[Coligny]

Waouuu... super funny... they ask to focus on action from white characters then ask if you notice the guy in a suit colored to match the background...

Really a good test... at proving nothing... I can even miss a full size semi truck if there's a slut in hotpants in front of it...

Same level as the trivia... "Did youz knowed that an ant can lift trouzilliun times her weight ?"

no... but I hardly give a flying fuck aboot ants sooo....

Meanwhile the jaf magazine often have good IRL setup shots of streets where you're supposed to list the potential danger. without moonwalking bear...

[Russell]

Driver observing a bicycle chase in Japan: q police officer is trying to catch a cyclist who is "dangerously speeding and weaving through traffic":

The driver tries to block the cyclist, but fails. The cyclist speeds around a corner, with the cop in close pursuit.



On a serious note, what is the speed limit for bicycles in Japan?

[sublight]

On a serious note, what is the speed limit for bicycles in Japan?

I'm pretty sure the rules are supposed to be the same for cars and bikes, so whatever the posted limit is for cars.

I'm actually hoping to get a ticket someday for regularly speeding in the 40 zone near my place. Plan to hang that from my seat like a trophy.

[Coligny]

On a serious note, what is the speed limit for bicycles in Japan?

I'm pretty sure the rules are supposed to be the same for cars and bikes, so whatever the posted limit is for cars MOPEDS.

I'm actually hoping to get a ticket someday for regularly speeding in the 40 zone near my place. Plan to hang that from my seat like a trophy.

Fixed that for youze... (methink)

[gaijinpunch]

If they can spend a gazillion yen on manners posters for the subways, they can do the same for the roads surely. Especially as bikes make so much sense for health, the environment and all those other fabulous popular lefty hippie opinions that should make governments wet in the knickers. They have done a half hearted effort by making the demarkations at the traffic lights for the cyclists and pedestrians but it is still not enough.

Makes sense, but while the rest of the world is making it easier for it's citizens to ride bicycles, Japan (at least Tokyo) has made it decidedly harder. The strict rules on parking in busy areas (where the bicycles were not a problem in the first place), changing of traffic laws, and after school specials painting the cyclists as a bunch of circus freaks let loose in an otherwise peaceful population.

Yamate Doori

Indeed is a weclome change. Funny how that road has gone from literally the most dangerous in the country to the most welcoming.

I'm pretty sure the rules are supposed to be the same for cars and bikes, so whatever the posted limit is for cars.

Anyone know how the right-turn from the left lane rule works? I make that turn on my bicycle in front of cops all the time, and never get called out. I see mopeds get pulled over for it regularly.

[Coligny]

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The manual state that it applies to motorised bikes only...

The road and traffic law is a bit overdue for a rewrite...

[sublight]

On a serious note, what is the speed limit for bicycles in Japan?

I'm pretty sure the rules are supposed to be the same for cars and bikes, so whatever the posted limit is for cars MOPEDS.

I'm actually hoping to get a ticket someday for regularly speeding in the 40 zone near my place. Plan to hang that from my seat like a trophy.

Fixed that for youze... (methink)

Are there different limits for mopeds?

[Coligny]

Small mopeds have an independant restricted legal top speed, have to check if it's 40 or 50. Unless the posted speed is lower. Then the smallest should apply.

[gaijinpunch]

The road and traffic law The law in Japan in general is a bit overdue for a rewrite...

[Coligny]

Ok, max speed for moped is 30 kph on normal roads...

[sublight]

Ah, ok. In that case I'm routinely breaking the speed limit just about everywhere.

[Coligny]

Like everybody else...

I can't remember the number of times I've been overtaken by mopeds...
kei-Jid00sha, dump trucks... cement mixer trucks... semis... (with that "oh shit" feeling when they merge back in front of me and I realise that my natural safety distance in front is longer than what they need to properly merge)... railcars (they cheat)... bus (but here they are driven by lunatics especially on ekimae-dori it's pedal to the metal).
The only one who seems to be driving at my pace are Yamato delivery trucks, Sakai and police cars...

[Mike Oxlong]

I followed a Pathfinder with Jieitai plates for about 15 minutes today. The driver never once exceeded the speed limit even on long straight stretches of country road with the limit posted as 40 kph.

[Russell]

Ah, ok. In that case I'm routinely breaking the speed limit just about everywhere.

On a bicycle?

You must be doping then.

[Christoff]

Being that I get hit a couple of times a year by bicycles, I would have something to tell the cops besides,"it was a texting runt with dark hair and glasses."

You have actually gone to the koban to report being swiped by a bike?

[Taro Toporific]

Being that I get hit a couple of times a year by bicycles, I would have something to tell the cops besides,"it was a texting runt with dark hair and glasses."

You have actually gone to the koban to report being swiped by a bike?

A few times, Japanese bystanders over-reacted and have called an ambulance for me. The Japanese police wasted a couple hours of my time filing a report and nothing more was done. Talking with the Japanese keystone cops is always a great waste of time.