A Bicycle Made For Three

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: 3-seater bikes offer safety at a price
About 70 women participated in a public test-ride event showcasing the latest three-seater bicycles at Niijuku Kotsu Koen in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, on March 4 and 5. The two-day event was staged by Nihon Jitensha Fukyu Kyokai, an organization whose aim is to promote the use of bicycles. The event aimed to allay some of the concerns consumers have regarding three-seater bicycles such as their high price and the legality of carrying two children on the same bicycle. Despite positive evaluations of the bicycles themselves due to special features such as their low centers of gravity, which enhance their stability, their price tags were a sticking point. The newfangled bicycles are expected to be more than 20,000 yen more expensive than conventional bicycles...more...

[GuyJean]

Saw this on the news. Looks pretty lame, but practical. Those electric powered bikes are the wave of the future, though..

GJ

[FG Lurker]

Perhaps the funniest thing is the pic with the two women wearing helmets. I've been here quite a few years and I've never seen a woman on a mama-cheri wearing a helmet.

Besides that, the woman on the far side of the photo doesn't have her helmet on properly and is going to crack her skull open if she falls off the bike.

[Coligny]

Humm not to poop on the party... But where do you find those uber cool 3 wheelers with a cargo aera on the back. It's easy to find them for obaachans big enough... to be RC toys... But for 1m80cm people it's harder... I saw Yamato using them in Nagoya, but the delivery guys don't know where they are bought...

(yeah I will certainly fail again my honmen driving test next thursday so being tired to have to pass 2000 times an anal-retentive exam that is not necessary when you go to the regular driving schools is kinda taking a hit on my patience...)

[Gilligan]

The event aimed to allay some of the concerns consumers have regarding three-seater bicycles such as their high price and the legality of carrying two children on the same bicycle.

Maybe times have changed and I just haven't been paying attention, but about 8 years ago when both my kids were in youchien and hoikuen I don't remember ANYONE worrying about whether carrying 2 kids on your bike was legal or not.

[wuchan]

Maybe times have changed and I just haven't been paying attention, but about 8 years ago when both my kids were in youchien and hoikuen I don't remember ANYONE worrying about whether carrying 2 kids on your bike was legal or not.

I always wondered why japan has not adopted the child trailer. It is soo much easier compared to the mama-charli. I would NEVER place my son in the common momma bikes that are normal here in j-land. In the front you have to adopt a very unnatural spin, and on the back you have to balance more. The trailer fixes this problem.

[FG Lurker]

I always wondered why japan has not adopted the child trailer. It is soo much easier compared to the mama-charli. I would NEVER place my son in the common momma bikes that are normal here in j-land. In the front you have to adopt a very unnatural spin, and on the back you have to balance more. The trailer fixes this problem.

Most women in this country have problems just walking straight so riding a bike is about the limit. You're suggesting adding a trailer to the mix?

[IkemenTommy]

I always wondered why japan has not adopted the child trailer.

Simple. Women aren't popping enough babies to make it a viable option.

My first observation with that mama-chari above was... adult training wheels!

[kurohinge1]

Perhaps the funniest thing is the pic with the two women wearing helmets. I've been here quite a few years and I've never seen a woman on a mama-cheri wearing a helmet.

Besides that, the woman on the far side of the photo doesn't have her helmet on properly and is going to crack her skull open if she falls off the bike.

Yep - my first reaction to that photo was that it can't be Japan - they've got helmets on! Which reminds me (good timing) - I need to take one with me when I visit the outlaws in less than 2 weeks, as I often borrow one of their bikes and simply "do as the Romans do".

BTW see if you can work out what this is an ad. for:

[FG Lurker]

BTW see if you can work out what this is an ad. for:

Looks like a car ad to me!

[Taro Toporific]

Perhaps the funniest thing is the pic with the two women wearing helmets. I've been here quite a few years and I've never seen a woman on a mama-cheri wearing a helmet.

[INDENT]Half of parents make children wear bike helmets [color="DimGray"] (the other half don't care enough to bother to lie[/color])
The Daily Yomiuri, 2009 Apr 23 ---Eighty percent of parents have bought bicycle helmets for their children, but only half of all parents actually make their children wear them when riding bikes, a survey by the Tokyo metropolitan government has found.
It has been nearly a year since it became obligatory for children to wear helmets while riding bicycles, and municipalities have stepped up awareness of helmet use as a way to avoid injuries...more...[/INDENT]