Cycling On The Sidewalk

[Mulboyne]

[floatl][/floatl]Asahi: Allowing cyclists on sidewalks defies logic
In late November, a National Police Agency panel formed to discuss bicycle measures made a surprising recommendation: to officially allow cyclists to use sidewalks...I wonder how many people are aware of the fact that no country in the world stipulates that bicycles should use sidewalks...[A]s motorization rapidly advanced in the late 1970s, the government partially revised the Road Traffic Law and introduced Article 63, Paragraph 4 to allow bicycles to use designated sidewalks to reduce accidents between cars and cyclists. The addition, however, was meant as an emergency measure only and was labeled provisional. As soon as road infrastructure is improved, it was envisaged that cyclists would once again be obliged to stick to roadways. That was 30 years ago. During the past three decades, nothing has been done to improve road infrastructure and bicycles inundate sidewalks. And now, the government is trying to change the law to allow cyclists to use sidewalks as a matter of course...Japan, the only country in the world that turns a blind eye to cyclists on sidewalks, has by far the highest rate of cycle-related accidents among industrialized countries. I have no choice but to conclude this is a blatant failure of bicycle administration...more...

[GuyJean]

..We have to protect the elderly and children. Sidewalks should be the exclusive sanctuary of pedestrians. While this is a common awareness shared by the world, Japan is trying to thoughtlessly break it by opening sidewalks to bicycles. It is regrettable that Japan alone seems to lack this common sense.

:D.. TIJ, baabeey!

It's not 'common' sense. It's 'unique J-sense'.

GJ

[maraboutslim]

Sounds like perfectly good common sense to me. I nearly always rode my bicycle on the sidewalks instead of the streets. The streets are narrow and full of delivery trucks, crazy scooter drivers, and buses and taxis. Bicycles are in great peril when riding in the street. Pedestrians are at peril when bikes ride on the sidewalk. But which is worse: a biker getting hit by a bus or a pedestrian getting hit by a bicycle?

[dimwit]

I've never found the need to have any particular road apply to my bicycle riding. Ride whereever gets you where you want to go fastest -if you are struck at a pedestrian only stop light, your a pedestrian, otherwise you are a car except if the sidewalk is more clear. Shopping arcades why not? Hey, I am not using gas, so I can be smug.

To be honest I don't think the police generally know where bicycles are supposed to be riding.

[kurohinge1]

. . . But which is worse: a biker getting hit by a bus or a pedestrian getting hit by a bicycle?

I was going to say the same thing.

The Japanese mindset appears to be that when you're juggling on your mamachari an infant and shopping on the front, another kid on the back (no one with helmets), a keitai denwa in one hand (and possibly an umbrella in the other hand, if it's raining), it's much safer to be hurtling along the footpath than on the road.

[dimwit]

...But which is worse: a biker getting hit by a bus or a pedestrian getting hit by a bicycle?

It depends. If the bike rider is carrying 50 pounds of hockey gear on his back and the pedestrian is 80-something little man with non-intitutionized case of dementia the result won't be too much different.

[Takechanpoo]

recently often seen
exclusive use for mamachari
very disgusting for me!

[sublight]

The only ones that piss me off more than the sidewalk riders are the ones riding on the wrong side of street. I bike to work about half the time, and I swear the biggest hazards on the street are other cyclists. Empty back roads I could understand, but what kind of moron rides down Showa-dori straight into oncoming traffic?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I used to ride my bike up the Koshukaido to school. One day I actually had the cops stop me and tell me to get off the road and onto the sidewalk. My friend had to same thing happen to him another day.

I used to live in Washington state and cyclists are allowed on sidewalks there too. (No helmet law for cyclists either, though there was talk about changing that, so there might be now.). It's not as much of an issue though because faw fewer people ride their bikes for anything other than pleasure. However, in downtown Seattle the fucking messengers can be dangerous. They fly up and down the sidewalks on mountain bikes and ten speeds. I'd love to clothesline one of those douche bags and watch his neck snap as he hit the ground. It'd probably be even more satisfying if he wasn't wearing a helmet.

[gomichild]

People who ride at night without their lights on absolutely shit me to tears! The light is so others can see you, not to help you see!

*is a bit notorious for yelling at cyclists in her neighbourhood*

[IkemenTommy]

People who ride at night without their lights on absolutely shit me to tears! The light is so others can see you, not to help you see!

*is a bit notorious for yelling at cyclists in her neighbourhood*

That's the best reason for cops to pull you over and start harassing for the "license and registration" along with your gaijin card.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi has seeveral cycling pieces today. Here are two:

Asahi: Move to revise right-of-way law on cycles stirs online ire

You might not be aware of this, but bicycles are not legally allowed on most urban sidewalks. That's because, by law, bicycles are classified as vehicles. As such, they should be ridden only on roads, except in a few designated areas. In reality, bicyclists seem to ride their two-wheelers wherever they please. Earlier this month, the National Police Agency (NPA) submitted a bill to the Diet to revise the Road Traffic Law to redefine the rules of the road and put bicycles where they belong. The big question is, where exactly is that? Do bicycles belong on the roads, battling trucks and cars, or on the sidewalks, dodging pedestrians? Or do they need commuter lanes of their own?

Last year, the NPA set up an advisory panel to examine this ire-inspiring issue. In November, the panel presented a report that has sparked lively online debate among cyclists who perceive a hidden agenda to keep pedal power off the main roads. The discussions have also looked at the future directions of urban transportation. In this country today, two in three people own a bicycle. However, among industrialized countries, Japan also has a very high rate of bicycle accidents--in 2002 at 13.6 percent among all traffic-related deaths, versus 1.6 percent in the United States and 3.7 percent in Britain. Broadcast producer Satoshi Hikita commutes to work on his bike. Since hearing of the panel's "anti-bicycle" report in late November, Hikita has been kindling debate via his e-mail newsletter. "The (panel's) proposal just paves the way for the authorities to eventually ban bicycles from the roadways," Hikita says.

The current Road Traffic Law stipulates cyclists must ride on the road, keeping mainly to the far left lane. Bicycles are permitted on only designated sidewalks. The NPA panel was formed with the aim of finding ways to improve road safety. The panel's draft includes a revision to add conditions where cyclists can use sidewalks--for instance, children riding bicycles, or when the roadway is considered too dangerous. At root is concern over sidewalk accidents involving bicycles and pedestrians. Which has precedence on a sidewalk, a pedestrian or a bicycle? The revisions aim to spell out clear conditions where cyclists have the right to use the sidewalk. The revision is also to include an addendum requiring full compliance of the rules. What upset Hikita is the section that states: "If bicycle riding is deemed especially dangerous on a road, steps will be taken to ban bicycles from that road."

Hikita sent a furious response to that idea in his e-mail newsletter. His comments were quoted on at least 50 Web sites, spurring further discussions among avid cyclists. One rider said: "The way traffic rules are taught at elementary schools may be part of the problem. Most people probably believe bicycles are only supposed to be ridden on sidewalks." Another posted: "In Germany, there are separate bicycle lanes on many public streets." The NPA invited public comment on the proposal until the end of January, during which time it received about 1,600 replies; 1,400 expressed opposition to banning bicycles from the roadways. Agency officials seem taken aback by the controversy. "The main aim of the bill is to restore law and order on the streets by delineating types of use. Some cyclists are more like motorists, riding their bicycles as transportation; others such as homemakers use their bikes to do grocery shopping; and then there are children on bicycles who behave more like pedestrians," an NPA official said.

"Over the long term, we intend to install wider bicycle lanes alongside major roadways," the official added. The agency plans to put a full explanation up on their Web site, hoping to dispel worries about a hidden move to ban bikes from roadways. On Jan. 20, the Daini Tokyo Bar Association hosted a symposium on the topic, "Who do the roadways serve?" in the capital's Kasumigaseki district. About 100 people gathered to share views. Panelist Shunichi Teranishi, professor of environmental economics at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University, said: "The global trend is away from automobiles. We need to discuss the future giving consideration to how best to share roadways with bicycles." Teranishi also described solutions other countries are using. Bicycles are the next big eco-friendly mode of transportation, Teranishi says. In addition to helping to prevent global warming, the emissions-free conveyances are a healthy alternative to gas-guzzlers. They also cause far fewer traffic deaths.

Asahi: Tokyo to test-ride one-way bike lanes

The handy bicycle is gaining popularity as a convenient, eco-friendly way of getting around. But it can also be a risky way to ride. As more cyclists hit the trail, there has been a steep climb in reported collisions with pedestrians. In 2005, there were about 2,500 bicycle-related accidents nationwide involving pedestrians--a more than 300 percent increase in 10 years. To stem the tide, government bodies are now looking for ways to provide a safe environment where both cyclists and pedestrians can share the roads without causing each other harm. In fiscal 2007, Tokyo's Setagaya Ward will conduct an experiment to test the effectiveness of one-way lanes for bicycles only. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, no local government has instituted such a system.

The Setagaya plan involves installing movable guardrails, which will partition off part of the roadway to create a bicycle-only lane on one side. On the other side of the road, part of the pedestrian pavement will be partitioned off to create another bicycle-only lane. Each will be a one-way thoroughfare, abiding by the "keep to the left" traffic rule. The object is to stop bicycles from veering off their designated roadway by setting aside for them a specific space on the road--thus preventing collisions with pedestrians and automobiles. In Tokyo, some areas, such as Chuo Ward, already have bike lanes on many pedestrian sidewalks. However, the greater part of Setagaya Ward has traditionally been residential. Its roads are much narrower than those in the central Tokyo district, making it difficult to carve out bike-specific lanes on the already narrow sidewalks. To get around that problem, the local government decided to try using the roadway.

Oita conducted a bike-lane experiment in January 2006, using a 10-meter wide road in central Oita. During rush hours on five weekdays--between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--the roadway was turned into a one-way street. Using the remaining space two one-way bicycle lanes were set up flanking the automobile strip. According to a survey conducted by the city, some were of the opinion that the designated lanes "caused them inconvenience, requiring detours." But 80 percent of the responses were favorable. One automobile driver said: "(The lanes) raised safety on the roads." A pedestrian remarked: "It was safe because (bikes) were removed from the pedestrian sidewalk." An official in charge of public works at Setagaya Ward explained: "We want to see if segregating lanes will bring about a bicycle-friendly environment; we will also see if cyclists can double-check the rules and regulations of bicycle travel. After all, bicycles, by law, are classified as light vehicles." After screening various strips to find a suitable location, the ward has announced that it will launch the experiment around October. It plans to conduct user surveys, as well as studies into the traffic flow on roadways and sidewalks. The ward hopes to come up with specific proposals by the end of fiscal 2008.

According to a National Police Agency survey, there were about 18,500 bicycle-related accidents nationwide that resulted in injury or death during 2005. The figure represented a 30 percent increase over the preceding decade.

[Greji]

Asahi: Tokyo to test-ride one-way bike lanes"....According to a National Police Agency survey, there were about 18,500 bicycle-related accidents nationwide that resulted in injury or death during 2005. The figure represented a 30 percent increase over the preceding decade...."

Did they by chance, note how many were prevented by their dedicated and continous checks of any gaijin seen riding a bike anywere?

[Captain Japan]

Before going to all this trouble why don't the municipalities start by actually enforcing parking laws? Not only would the flow of traffic improve and reduce the need to build more roads, tunnels - dreaming, I know - but it would also reduce doors swinging open, cars darting for/exiting "parking" spaces, and drivers drifting out into lanes of traffic just before/after entering/exiting their cars.

[dimwit]

The only ones that piss me off more than the sidewalk riders are the ones riding on the wrong side of street. I bike to work about half the time, and I swear the biggest hazards on the street are other cyclists. Empty back roads I could understand, but what kind of moron rides down Showa-dori straight into oncoming traffic?

Hey we're virtuous. We don't pollute. So we can do as we like. Environmentalists love us.

[Captain Japan]

Japan to create bicycle lanes on roads to prevent accidents
Mainichi

The Japanese government has announced that it will create bicycle lanes along roads in 98 districts across Japan in a bid to prevent accidents.

The National Police Agency (NPA) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday unveiled 98 districts designated as model zones for developing exclusive lanes for cyclists.

The bike lanes, each extending about 132 kilometers in length, will be completed by the end of fiscal 2009. In two of the model districts, in Tokyo's Kameido and Hatagaya, bike lanes will be completed as early as late March.

According to the NPA, there were 174,262 accidents caused by cyclists in 2006, about 1.25 times the figure reported a decade ago.

Most of the accidents involved automobiles, numbering 144,503, while 2,767 other bike accidents involved pedestrians -- 4.8 times the 582 reported in 1996.

The agency and the ministry plan to examine the effectiveness of the bike lanes in terms of accident prevention once they are completed.

Under the plan, cycle roads measuring about 87 kilometers in length that are separated from sidewalks and roads, as well as an additional 45 kilometers of bike lanes that are divided from roads by white lines, will be developed in each of the 98 districts.

[Big Booger]

Fantastic idea. I have been in three accidents in the past year one with a car, one with another bike and another drunk off my ass in the middle of the road.

[GomiGirl]

Japan to create bicycle lanes on roads to prevent accidents
Mainichi

YAY!!! Maybe I will ride my bike more!!

[kurohinge1]

. . . Under the plan, cycle roads measuring about 87 kilometers in length that are separated from sidewalks and roads, as well as an additional 45 kilometers of bike lanes that are divided from roads by white lines, will be developed in each of the 98 districts.

. . .

Yes - those white lines will protect you from 1.5 tonnes of car (with a semi-conscious sarariman inside) hurtling along at 80 km/h! [/sarcasm]



Maybe white lions would offer better protection?

[Captain Japan]

YAY!!! Maybe I will ride my bike more!!

I think it is a great idea. But I am very curious as to how it will be implemented given that parking enforcement is still not as strict as it ought to be. Simply painting white lines in the street will not be enough. Most drivers ignore dashed yellow lines painted on the curbs, which are supposed to be only for temporary use but in reality are seen as prime parking locations. So why would a driver acknowledge a bike lane?

[GuyJean]

.. Maybe white lions would offer better protection?..

Doubt it. They look like real pussies..



I'm with Captain; if they can't do anything about parking, why would they able to pull this off? Maybe if they made the bike lanes cute..

GJ

[Mulboyne]

To counter the increasing number of accidents involving bicycles, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Infrastructure has opened a cycle path alongside the Keiyo Doro (National Highway 14) near Kameido station in Edo-ku. The path runs for around 400m and is 2m wide. A longer blue-surfaced path of 1.2km, narrower at 1.5m, will open in Shibuya. The two Tokyo projects are part of a Ministry plan to introduce more cycle pathways in 98 model districts nationwide.

[Captain Japan]

Here's another photo.

This doesn't make any sense. For one, having two bikes pass so closely is dangerous as hell. And two, since this is only 400 meters, a rider entering this thing and riding against traffic will be on the other side of the street and will not bother crossing over for such a short distance. There should be two of these fence things, each one meter wide and on both sides of the street.

[Captain Japan]

In looking at that photo it just occurred to me that the setup is quite funny. I mean, who ever heard of a bike lane enclosed by a fence? Well, if it weren't that area would be a prime parking spot.

[Mulboyne]

...that area would be a prime parking spot.

It was and that was one reason cited for the accidents. The barrier is to keep those cars away. The Shibuya one will be marked out by blue tarmac and may not have a barrier.

[Captain Japan]

It was and that was one reason cited for the accidents. The barrier is to keep those cars away. The Shibuya one will be marked out by blue tarmac and may not have a barrier.

I think encouraging people to ride against traffic is ridiculous. Central medians made of raised concrete generally don't exist in Tokyo so restriping the traffic lanes so that there is one bike lane on either side wouldn't have been any more challenging or expensive than constructing that fence. With one meter on both sides the parking issue goes away as well, or at least it should.

[ttjereth]

I think encouraging people to ride against traffic is ridiculous. Central medians made of raised concrete generally don't exist in Tokyo so restriping the traffic lanes so that there is one bike lane on either side wouldn't have been any more challenging or expensive than constructing that fence. With one meter on both sides the parking issue goes away as well, or at least it should.

It's been awhile since I actually read through any of the traffic law crap, but I thought in Japan you are always supposed to ride against traffic. If I recall correctly the reasoning was that allows you to see the cars coming towards you rather than having them come up from behind you or some such.

Also, for Mulboyne, isn't Kameido in Koto-ku, not Edogawa?

[sublight]

Also, for Mulboyne, isn't Kameido in Koto-ku, not Edogawa?

I thought it was in Sumida-ku.

[ttjereth]

I thought it was in Sumida-ku.

http://search.map.yahoo.co.jp/search?fr=top_ga1&ei=UTF-8&p=%E4%BA%80%E6%88%B8%E9%A7%85

Koto-ku. Ryogoku is in Sumida-ku.

[Mulboyne]

Also, for Mulboyne, isn't Kameido in Koto-ku, not Edogawa?

You are being overly generous to me. Not sure why I decided to create the new Tokyo district of Edo-ku when Koto-ku has served as the correct name for generations.