Spokes

Look at all these spokes on this bicycle wheel!

The bicycle was locked to a sign on a corner next to a building. Note the plastic bag over the seat. It's been raining every other day here. (Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

That round thing in the street is a light. It flashes red in the evening. The big white kanji on the street is the beginning of the word tomari. It means "stop".

The New Bicycle Parking Lot

This is the new bicycle parking lot in our neighborhood. The train station is around the corner and down the street. As you can see motorcycles can be parked here, too. They have their own place along the fence. See the post "Bicycle Racks" (below) for a close-up of how bicycles are parked.

This is the entrance.
You can either pay daily or use a pre-paid monthly pass.

This is the exit (when you leave without your bicycle.)

Click here to see the old parking lot. Click on the labels below to see more parking areas.

Bicycle Racks

The new parking lot has racks for the bicycles. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

There are instructions posted.

Another Field Lost?

This field is around the corner from our train station. I was shocked to see it like this. It was covered with plywood.

I walked further and saw bicycles parked on it. Another field lost to bicycle parking, I thought. I walked even further and saw that they were remodeling the old bicycle parking lot closer to the station. So this is temporary. I'll post pictures of the new parking lot.

Bicycle Dog Carrier

 

These were outside a pet shop. Click to enlarge.

Don't Try This at Home!

These junior high guys were riding along the train tracks. They were heading toward the station area. How do I know they were in junior high? They were wearing uniforms. (Not all students wear uniforms here.) Note that they are not wearing helmets. People don't wear them here. Click to enlarge.

I wonder what happened when they passed the police box. There is one near this station. Mothers can carry their children in child seats on their bicycles, but riding two to a bicycle like this isn't permitted. It's dangerous.

Bicycle Child Seat

Most mothers use bicycles to shop. Small children ride on the front of the bicycle. Older children ride on the back. This bicycle has a child seat on the front and a basket for purchases on the back.

This bicycle seat had cushions and blankets. There was a wind shield in the front and on the child's leg area. There were also toys to keep the child amused. See the Thomas mobile? Bicycle bells are required on bicycles to alert people on the sidewalk. This was a Thomas bell. This child likes Thomas! Click on the pictures to see the details. Click on the label below to see other posts about bicycles.

Bicycle Parking Lots

This is a parking lot for bicycles near a small train station.

This parking lot is several blocks from a bigger station and a big shopping area. You just lock your bicycle and remember where you parked it.

Handwarmers for Bicycles

Click on the "bicycles" label to see an example of lightweight handlebar covers for summer. Note, too, the cover for the basket.

This bike was parked outside a dress shop. The owner left her packages in the baskets. I have to admit that I took this picture early last summer. See the plant there? I was surprised to see these hand warmers out of season. She must've kept them on the bike for protection from the sun. It must've been miserable, though. It is so hot and humid in Tokyo during the summer.

Recycling Bicycles

The blue bike is Little Brother's new bike. His old bike needs to be given away.

This is the old bike on our front porch. (Note we have two entrances. One for Baba's section of the house and the other for ours.)

When you want to get rid of a bike, you can give it away, sell it to a recycle shop or call the city to come get it. They recycle them, too.

We called the city and made a reservation for them to come get it. To pay for it, we bought a special sticker at a convenience store. It cost 600 yen. We will have to put the bicycle outside our gate for them to get it.

Family on a Bike

Distances are great here. It takes 20 minutes on foot to get to our station. Some people have a longer walk. This mother chooses to ride a bike with her two children.

Parking Tickets

This picture was taken in a shopping area near the station. It is prohibited to park bicycles along this sidewalk next to the street. There is a parking lot for bicycles along the sides of the buildings on the left.


All of the bicycles on the right in the picture were illegally parked. All of them had tickets stapled on the handlebars. Until recently, a plastic and metal device was fastened onto bicycles and cars that were parked in the wrong place. The owner had to go to the police station to have it removed. This probably kept Tokyo policemen very busy. The system has changed. Now the tickets are paper. People can go to the post office to pay the fines.

Summer Leftover

These handlebar covers block the sun. These are lightweight and lacey so they are cool. There are heavier ones for the winter to keep hands warm. Even though the humidity is lower and the air feels a little cooler now, the sun is still very hot. Actually, we need sun protection any season. Even in typhoon season.

The white painted diamond in the street alerts drivers that there is an intersection ahead. There are warnings to slow down painted on the street, too.

Policeman on Bike

I saw this policeman when I was going into the train station. A man on a bicycle almost ran into him as he turned the corner. The policeman stopped and hesitated a minute probably comtemplating whether or not to warn the man about his driving. He did zoom around the corner without looking. He could have wiped a lot of us out before he sped away. In the end, the policeman moved on in another direction.

Notice he's riding a bicycle without a helmet which is typical here. He does have a bullet proof vest on, though. In the past few years, policeman have started carrying guns. Note, too, the yellow raised lines for the blind.

Mothers on Bikes

I took this picture the other day. This is a very common sight. Mothers ride with their children in seats on the back of their bicycles. They sometimes carry another child in the front, too. The woman on the left has a child in front as well. With all her seats filled, she is carrying a bag on her handlebars and on her back. Younger children are usually put in a seat in the front of the bicycle. I have even seen mothers ride bicycles with their young children strapped on their backs in baby carriers.

I couldn't juggle children and groceries on a bike. Big Sister and Little Brother rode in a stroller until they were old enough to walk to the store with me. It was hard, too. We had to go to the store every day because the stroller couldn't carry many bags of groceries.

Note that these mothers are riding on the sidewalk. I was walking along behind them on my way to the grocery store. My children were still at school. I had my shopping cart.

Bicycles: No Parking Sign

This is a sign telling people not to park their bicycles here. It is located in front of the library. What is more interesting is the yellow plastic water tank on it. There is a white cap on top where the water can be added or drained. Do you know why it's there? The additional weight of the water keeps the sign from blowing in the wind. In the past, I have seen signs blow down the street.

Bicycles: Parking at Home

This is parking for bicycles outside an apartment building. This apparatus saves space and it is convenient. Not every apartment building has one, though. The handle is pulled and the bicycle is lowered. I think I would prefer to park on the lower level.

Bicycles: Parking in Public

These bicycle parking spaces are outside a department store. Money is not needed. A key is not provided. Perhaps the main advantage is that the bicycles are not all packed together. In addition, they will not fall down and start a domino effect. That happens a lot, especially when it is windy.