Does anyone else really dislike the cycling system here in Japan, or to put it better, he lack of any system whatsoever?
In London, cyclists always ride on the left, flowing in the same direction as the traffic, but here it`s a free for all, on both roads and pavement. This means that when i see another cyclist coming towards me on the pavement i`m not sure which side to stick to and we often end up choosing the same side resulting in one of the those apologetic, stoppy starty affairs.
On a rarer but more dangerous note, there`s the times when i`m riding on the road, on the left side, and another rider is coming towards me...that one really gets to me!... isn`t it just common sense to ride along with the traffic as opposed to towards it!
Anyway, i just thought that a country with such a massivce population of cyclists (loads more than in the UK anyway) would have more of a system in place (or maybe here is a system but noone bothers to follow it).
Next time on Vision-I`s posts...why do the traffic lights in Japan take sooooo long to turn green?
(NOTE: i wont actually bother to write this post...please feel free to discuss that point here).
Vision I
In London, cyclists always ride on the left, flowing in the same direction as the traffic, but here it`s a free for all, on both roads and pavement. This means that when i see another cyclist coming towards me on the pavement i`m not sure which side to stick to and we often end up choosing the same side resulting in one of the those apologetic, stoppy starty affairs.
On a rarer but more dangerous note, there`s the times when i`m riding on the road, on the left side, and another rider is coming towards me...that one really gets to me!... isn`t it just common sense to ride along with the traffic as opposed to towards it!
Anyway, i just thought that a country with such a massivce population of cyclists (loads more than in the UK anyway) would have more of a system in place (or maybe here is a system but noone bothers to follow it).
Next time on Vision-I`s posts...why do the traffic lights in Japan take sooooo long to turn green?
(NOTE: i wont actually bother to write this post...please feel free to discuss that point here).
Vision I
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コメント(7)
Not cycling but to do with pedestrians....when I first came out I assumed the Japanese would be the best pedestrians in the world, because there are so many people walking about in such little space.
It was shocking to find the exact opposite. The Japanese, especially the young, have the worst spacial awareness of any country I've ever been to. Bumping into people is not such a bad thing for them I guess.
The ones that just walk about and don't know where the fuck they are going are really trying. The ones that just stop dead in the middle of the street. And the worst of all the fuckers that walk backwards while saying goodbye to someone with absolutely no conception that people might be coming the other way....
Spacial awareness, a little common sense, whatever it is they don't have it, or aren't bothered about using it. I think this is the same thing that you've experienced riding your bike perhaps?
It might have something to do with the difference in perception about 'personal space' or the fact Japanese don't really have to worry about getting mugged etc...
I must say though, I think the only people who get frustrated by this sort of thing are northern europeans - we want a system for everything.
When in Rome.....
It was shocking to find the exact opposite. The Japanese, especially the young, have the worst spacial awareness of any country I've ever been to. Bumping into people is not such a bad thing for them I guess.
The ones that just walk about and don't know where the fuck they are going are really trying. The ones that just stop dead in the middle of the street. And the worst of all the fuckers that walk backwards while saying goodbye to someone with absolutely no conception that people might be coming the other way....
Spacial awareness, a little common sense, whatever it is they don't have it, or aren't bothered about using it. I think this is the same thing that you've experienced riding your bike perhaps?
It might have something to do with the difference in perception about 'personal space' or the fact Japanese don't really have to worry about getting mugged etc...
I must say though, I think the only people who get frustrated by this sort of thing are northern europeans - we want a system for everything.
When in Rome.....
Many decent Japanese cyclists may agree with you.
In a view of the Japanese Road Traffic Law, bicycle belongs to a group of car:
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/kotu/roadplan/bicycle/manner.htm
Bicycle riders must be more gentle to pedestrians, and riders must be more modest to car drivers.
#Of course car drivers should be more gentle to bike riders!
But almost of "Mama-chari" riders don't care about it, and this is the way that continues for a long time in Japan.
I'm envious of Europian strict rules for bikes.
I think the position of bicycles in Japanese road is being a little looked down on..
Sorry for my poor English..
If this post made no sense, I'll delete this post.. :-)
In a view of the Japanese Road Traffic Law, bicycle belongs to a group of car:
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/kotu/roadplan/bicycle/manner.htm
Bicycle riders must be more gentle to pedestrians, and riders must be more modest to car drivers.
#Of course car drivers should be more gentle to bike riders!
But almost of "Mama-chari" riders don't care about it, and this is the way that continues for a long time in Japan.
I'm envious of Europian strict rules for bikes.
I think the position of bicycles in Japanese road is being a little looked down on..
Sorry for my poor English..
If this post made no sense, I'll delete this post.. :-)
>The Japanese, especially the young, have the worst spacial awareness of any country I've ever been to. Bumping into people is not such a bad thing for them I guess.
The ones that just walk about and don't know where the fuck they are going are really trying. The ones that just stop dead in the middle of the street. And the worst of all the fuckers that walk backwards while saying goodbye to someone with absolutely no conception that people might be coming the other way....
I'm Japanese and "young" but I totally agree with you. I hate those kind of people. And they never say sorry...(I guess they dont feel anything.)
About the cycling, when I was kid, I learned that you had to ride the bike on the left side. I guess no one cares about it. Recently the police are trying to be strict to the riders, but I think that is ridiculous because the walkers are totally idiots. Even when the riders are careful, the walkers never pay attention to them.
In some parts of Tokyo, there are two different roads for bikes and walkers. I wish they have those kinds of roads everywhere,but Japan is too small...
The ones that just walk about and don't know where the fuck they are going are really trying. The ones that just stop dead in the middle of the street. And the worst of all the fuckers that walk backwards while saying goodbye to someone with absolutely no conception that people might be coming the other way....
I'm Japanese and "young" but I totally agree with you. I hate those kind of people. And they never say sorry...(I guess they dont feel anything.)
About the cycling, when I was kid, I learned that you had to ride the bike on the left side. I guess no one cares about it. Recently the police are trying to be strict to the riders, but I think that is ridiculous because the walkers are totally idiots. Even when the riders are careful, the walkers never pay attention to them.
In some parts of Tokyo, there are two different roads for bikes and walkers. I wish they have those kinds of roads everywhere,but Japan is too small...
Regarding bikers and pedestrians, the first time I came to Japan I got very stressed whenever I was walking around in the sidewalk and would hear the "ring". I would think that I did not really belong here (I was here for just a few months), and so I should not be a nuissance to the Japanese bikers. It was really stressfull because they would always ring no matter which side of the sidewalk I was in. If I went to the right, they would come through the right, if I went to the left, they would come to the left. It was like the Heisenberg principle: the biker probably came in all directions simultaneously, and as soon as I turned (observed) it would determine a single direction, which was always the one I was in!
This time, I got a "class" regarding cycling traffic in Japan, and one of the great things I heard is that pedestrians have the precendence, and "ringing" to them is not allowed. So, now, when I hear the ring in the sidewalk, I just don't care... If I'm able to move, I do, but if it's difficult I just ignore it. Walking has become a much more pleasant experience.
But I agree completely with the lack of spacial awareness of the Japanese people. They never worry about moving even a few centimeters (even if there is plenty of room at the other side) for you to pass, be it in the sidewalks, in the trains (even when they are empty), or when trying to see a product in a store...
This time, I got a "class" regarding cycling traffic in Japan, and one of the great things I heard is that pedestrians have the precendence, and "ringing" to them is not allowed. So, now, when I hear the ring in the sidewalk, I just don't care... If I'm able to move, I do, but if it's difficult I just ignore it. Walking has become a much more pleasant experience.
But I agree completely with the lack of spacial awareness of the Japanese people. They never worry about moving even a few centimeters (even if there is plenty of room at the other side) for you to pass, be it in the sidewalks, in the trains (even when they are empty), or when trying to see a product in a store...
I for one love it. In my country you're simply not supposed to ride a bike in the city. In the road, you're in danger. Wherever there are pedestrians, even crosswalks, you're simply not allowed to ride your bike. In Japan you just have to pay attention and not care too much about the occasional annoyance.
>...
Yeah, have noticed what you`re saying but have to say it doesn`t bother me coz i have a built in dodging sensor...years of dashing about in London`s West End has made me pretty good at moving past/between people with no recognition of their surroundings...a skill i hope i can maintain to my dying days...can`t stand it when people dither in busy streets.
It`s slightly different to the bike thing...the bike incident is like when ur walking towards someone and the other person chooses to move in the same direction as you, at which point both people go the other way, then apologise before trying to hesd the other way...and so on! Really boring when ur trying to build up momentum on a bike and are cut short by someone who...won`t...just...ride...on...the...left.
>kura
Your english is fine, don`t worry about it. The link u pasted reminded me of another thing...the amnount of people using their mobiles while they ride their bikes, that really pisses me off. But anyway, since i came to japani`ve definitely learnt to give England`s cycling rules more respect...rules are usually there for a reason (although i still refuse to wait at japan`s red lights if there`s no cars around...toooo long to wait!)
>BEBE
I agree with you about "riders being careful"...i`m always very humble when i try to pass people, but they never seem to care, so it makes me feel like i`m better off cycling in the road.
>ドレベス
Yeah, i actually never ring my bell when i`m on my bike, i reckon that if i`m on the pavememnt the pedestrians have the right of way so i should wait till they`re ready for me to pass rather than me forcing my way past them.
Despite this, i still agree with how they "never worry about moving even a few centimeters (even if there is plenty of room at the other side) for you to pass"...it only takes a second to let a cyclist pass by!
>muyuubyou
Enjoy this life of freedom while you still have it (but still, stick to left if u can :P)
Yeah, have noticed what you`re saying but have to say it doesn`t bother me coz i have a built in dodging sensor...years of dashing about in London`s West End has made me pretty good at moving past/between people with no recognition of their surroundings...a skill i hope i can maintain to my dying days...can`t stand it when people dither in busy streets.
It`s slightly different to the bike thing...the bike incident is like when ur walking towards someone and the other person chooses to move in the same direction as you, at which point both people go the other way, then apologise before trying to hesd the other way...and so on! Really boring when ur trying to build up momentum on a bike and are cut short by someone who...won`t...just...ride...on...the...left.
>kura
Your english is fine, don`t worry about it. The link u pasted reminded me of another thing...the amnount of people using their mobiles while they ride their bikes, that really pisses me off. But anyway, since i came to japani`ve definitely learnt to give England`s cycling rules more respect...rules are usually there for a reason (although i still refuse to wait at japan`s red lights if there`s no cars around...toooo long to wait!)
>BEBE
I agree with you about "riders being careful"...i`m always very humble when i try to pass people, but they never seem to care, so it makes me feel like i`m better off cycling in the road.
>ドレベス
Yeah, i actually never ring my bell when i`m on my bike, i reckon that if i`m on the pavememnt the pedestrians have the right of way so i should wait till they`re ready for me to pass rather than me forcing my way past them.
Despite this, i still agree with how they "never worry about moving even a few centimeters (even if there is plenty of room at the other side) for you to pass"...it only takes a second to let a cyclist pass by!
>muyuubyou
Enjoy this life of freedom while you still have it (but still, stick to left if u can :P)
Vision i wrote:
>isn`t it just common sense to ride along with the traffic as opposed to towards it!
Actually, it depends on the country. In most Latin American countries, the standard is for bicycles to ride the opposite direction as traffic (so the rider can see the cars, making it safer for them).
But I agree with your sentiment. When I was biking in Japan, you never knew which way a cyclist would go. And it was so common to have cyclists riding after dark without any lights (except maybe their tire-powered headlight) and wearing dark clothes.
On the plus side, I am glad to see that bicycles are used for transportation as much as they are. I wish America was more like that.
>isn`t it just common sense to ride along with the traffic as opposed to towards it!
Actually, it depends on the country. In most Latin American countries, the standard is for bicycles to ride the opposite direction as traffic (so the rider can see the cars, making it safer for them).
But I agree with your sentiment. When I was biking in Japan, you never knew which way a cyclist would go. And it was so common to have cyclists riding after dark without any lights (except maybe their tire-powered headlight) and wearing dark clothes.
On the plus side, I am glad to see that bicycles are used for transportation as much as they are. I wish America was more like that.
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