Bicycle safety laws ignored
A report from NTV’s “Real Time News” about bicyclists who ignore the law and pose a danger to themselves and others:
The beginning of the clip shows a road that has been closed off to automobile and bicycle traffic. However, bicyclists ignore the big “no riding bicycles” signs and speed through the area, almost colliding with pedestrians on numerous occasions. There are even loudspeakers playing announcements reminding people not to ride bicycles in the area.
Reporters try to chase down bicyclists who are using mobile phones or carrying adult passengers – illegal activities that carry fines. None of those interviewed seem to particularly care, and poll results shown later in the video clip reveal that most violators were aware of the fact that they were breaking the law.
The obvious solution to this problem is shift the focus of this kind of news report onto police officers. If these people are engaging in an illegal activity that threatens the safety of others, why are police not taking to the streets and strictly enforcing the law?
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In other news, NTV discovers that water is wet and sparrows can fly. Expect a special report on that soon.
Jokes aside though, just today, coming to work I saw a high school student riding a bicycle wearing headphones, and playing with her cellphone while having an umbrella propped up on the handlebar and her arm. The only way she could break even more laws and endanger herself more is if she had a hand grenade or perhaps a large sword in her mouth. She rode right next to a policeman standing in front of a Koban. Guess what happened. If your answer was “nothing”, you get 10 points and a pickled squid.
I have no idea how, in a country that seems to be taking safety really seriously, too seriously at times (how many of you saw 6 guys, all wearing helmets, safety shoes and high visibility vests changing a single lightbulb at a train station?), things like that happen and most people just don’t seem to care…
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While most of the cyclists shown in the clip seem to be prize a-holes, it’s pretty hypocritical of the TV company to highlight them when most everyone here rides that way, including, surely, the whiny female reporter.
Ironically, IMHO, the one thing the cops actually do bust – futari nori, or two-on-a-bike – is the least problematic of all these biking activities. Given that it slows bikes down hugely, it seems almost safer than single riders zooming down narrow sidewalks.
And don’t get me started about riding at night on the wrong side of the road with no lights!
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And don’t get me started about riding at night on the wrong side of the road with no lights!
Haha, so typical. I was only mumbling at first, now I yell at them.
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Riding home from work at night (in Tokyo), I do see the police stopping cyclists on occasion, usually for not having any lights, but also for riding double or blatantly ignoring red lights. Still, even riding every night I only see this maybe once a month (compared to seeing unsafe riding at five times a night) During the daytime, however, I’ve yet to see them do anything. Which is too bad, because as a cyclist, the most frequent hazards I encounter are clueless cyclists riding on the wrong side of the street (at night with no lights, just to add to the quick-reflex challenge) and not paying attention where they’re going.
Most of the time when they do stop people, it’s pretty obvious they’ve decided to set aside the evening for cyclist hunting, like when I’ve seen three of them hiding behind a corner on a pedestrian/cyclist bridge, or waiting at the end of one of the ramps from the Arakawa bike path (always in good weather). It seems like they hardly ever stop people on the spur of the moment. If this TV report was recent, I expect to see another round of police doing the ‘be seen doing something’ dance this week.
Still, despite the stereotype of gaijin on bikes always getting stopped by the police, I’ve never been pulled over, even once. The closest was when two police on bikes stopped to help me out while I was fixing a flat, and once when I was caught in a downpour and a cop shouted from inside his koban to ask if I was ok. I guess soemtimes pays to be one of those road racer freaks dressed head-to-toe in spandex.
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I ride every day and can’t believe what I see. The police need to be out there in the morning, stopping people when it counts. Anyone riding on the wrong side of the road should be hit with an immediate hefty fine; it’s just plain dangerous.
Also, enforce the bicycle lane at crosswalks. It’s useless when dipshit pedestrians walk in the bicycle lane.
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People ignore the laws because they’re ridiculous, reactionary regs passed by lame politicians in a vain effort to be seen doing something and justifying their existence while trying to nerf all the harsh corners of the world, instead of teaching folks to toughen up a bit.
The only things these rules and policies engender is further disrespect and discounting of the law.
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That’s right, here they make the laws and think Japanese are so good that they will follow it…not. I hardly ever see police enforcing any type of law, and most people do cos no one stops them or complains about it to them. The Goverment should wake up and take adavantage this cash cow.
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As I commented on “Bicycle helmets for children in Japan” (http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=10870), I just saw a schoolgirl get thumped by a scooter at slow speed after she ignored a stop sign coming around a blind corner into oncoming traffic tonight! Stupid thing to do! She was OK, apparently.
I’m very surprised to find out smoking and/or eating while cycling is illegal in Japan, and carries a 50,000yen fine (is that right?).
We’ve all seen people smoking, writing emails, eating, and drinking while cycling. But have you ever seen someone walking their dog, smoking a cigarette, while holding an umbrella and riding their bicycle at the same time!? Not to mention the old guy was doing it in the pouring rain. It should be physically impossible!
If you ever see the gaijin riding his bicycle around Mitaka/Kichijoji ringing his bell every time he comes to an intersection or blind corner because he knows some idiot is about to come screaming around the corner and bash into him, it’s probably me.
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If the police want to start enforcing the law, might I suggest something with real positive impact… like eliminating the pachinko TUC shops or enjokosai.
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Is this one reason why the cops won’t do anything about rogue cyclists? – like where junior high school girls are involved:
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4299
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I once fell down with my bike into some bushes because I used the cell phone while riding the bike AND trying to switch gears at the same time – ouch. Luckily I didn’t really hurt myself. It must have looked hilarious, like a stunt performance. ^^
Usually I often ride my bike without holding the handles(?), which is also quite dangerous in some situations. This was not shown here – is it not forbidden by the law in Japan or do Japanese people simply not do this at all?
I think I never saw someone riding a bike like that while I was living in Japan.
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