Bicycles

Tokyo is a city on the move that doesn`t depend on cars.

People walk, take transit and bike.

Main streets have sidewalks…. which are for walking and bikes.  I have been warned to watch out for bikes when leaving the entrance way to the house… they really ride fast.

On side streets the space is shared by walkers, bikers and drivers.  Everyone is courteous.

Bike parking is at a premium.  They have parking police just for bikes.  My understanding is that they tag you if you park in the wrong place, and there is a truck that drives around and picks up the tagged bikes.

This truck may not appear for days… or it could be in a couple of hours.  I have also been told there are parts of the city you can not ride your bike to unless, a) it is a folding bike you can take to your desk, or b) you have a personal parking place for it.  Otherwise you have to leave it at a station or outside the area.

The only bikes I saw which were multi speed, or larger wheels, were ridden by westerners.