I think North America can learn from Tokyo, that cycle lanes make no cycling city. From European eyes American cities lack those quiet backstreets with little shops and businesses. Those places are wonderful to cycle but terrible to drive and even if you want to go further, you can often navigate through those sidestreets. Fact is, regular cyclists don't want to drive with cars and they want short distances - they don't find both of that in American cities. Thats why Tokyo archives such a good modal share without building special cycling infrastructure. So if North American cities want to become cycle friendly they have to close streets entirely for main traffic and relax zoning laws.
As a first-time Tokyo cyclist *yesterday*, I have to say that multi-modal pavement usage - and even cycling considerately through busier places like Ameyoko-cho - are perfectly fine, easy to do and everyone just gets on with it, as you say. People know how to avoid you and give you space for manoeuvring, you respect their space and anticipate how they're going to move, and it's generally all good. I had no issues cycling on a mixture of road, pavement and wide pedestrian areas in parks (about 6km through the day). It felt very safe with no cars coming too close or chopping across and wide range of ages, abilities and bicycles. Some thought had to be given to cycling around vehicles turning then stopping at junctions due to pedestrians on the crossings, but that's basic road sense. Shoulder checks are still essential due to the number of new hybrid cars and taxis on the road. My main frustration is the amount of time it takes for traffic light phases to change, and the lack of an advance warning before the lights go green (how the UK does it) -- or a 2-second head-start for cyclists.
Can't wait to see Tokyo wake up and use the Gaman to implement the best bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the world in the biggest city in the world.
I was in Tokyo in 2006. The part where I was (Chuo Ward, east of Tokyo Station) had the main sidewalks marked. One side was for bikes and the other side was for pedestrians. Everyone stayed on their own side and everyone was happy. In 2017 I went to Osaka, in the Tanimachi area, near the Kintetsu Uehommachi station. The sidewalks were marked; one side was for bikes and the other side was for pedestrians. People mainly ignored the markings and went wherever they wanted, but they made it work and I never saw anyone get hit.
Having lived there for 4 years I can tell you that Tokyo is not exactly a bike friendly city. I admire those cyclists. Imagine if the government spend more money improving the roads more convenient for cyclists. Tokyo has an explosive potential to be the bike capital of the world.
I lived in Tokyo for 6 months and Musashi Kosugi for 6 months. Musashi Kosugi is a densely populated micro-city about 20 mins trainride away from Tokyo. Cycling is definitely more safe and convenient in Musashi Kosugi and other places outside of Tokyo, since no matter where you go in Japan, the towns are very compact and very walkable, with cycling allowed on the footpaths creating a very safe cycling environment. Tokyo itself was sometimes scary to cycle in, however I felt leaps and bounds more safe in Tokyo than anywhere in Australia where I live, and I assume even more so than American cities. What made Tokyo safer to cycle in was 1. basic cycling infrastucture. 2. Japanese drivers respect cyclists and their safety far more than Anglo countries since cycling is a major form of transport in Japan.
From what I understand about cycling on the sidewalk in Tokyo. If the sidewalk is three meters wide or wider, you can cycle. If less than three meters, you are to cycle in the street. However, if the cyclist is over 70(?) or under 10(?), I can't remember the exact ages, they can always ride on the sidewalk. I also believe it's illegal to have both ears using headphones/earbuds while cycling. I got caught once. Later I was cycling with just one earbud, the police officer motioned me to stop and I pointed to the ear without an earbud and she waved me on. Another positive for cycling in Tokyo is that the everyday use bike is inexpensive. A six or seven speed bike with two fenders, a light, a basket, a bell and a built-in lock can usually be had for about USD 125. That price is unheard of in the states for something of similar quality. I probably rode 10k miles on it and maybe had two punctures. At the end it was a bit rusty but 10k miles on a USD 125 bike is outstanding.
That is a pretty good price, though if your bargain hunt on Craigslist and whatnot, you can find a quality bike in most of the US for about $200-300 USD. People paying $1k+ on a bike, that shit is outrageous.
Or you can buy a brand new Schwinn Admiral from Walmart, and as long as you don't let the store assemble it, it is really close to as complete as that. Add the bell and a lock and you are golden, provided you take care of the bike. No basket, but a rack on the rear is plenty. It's a great product. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a practical bicycle on a budget.
cycling is the best way to get around a city .cars dont belong in a city .a car is only good for one thing long distence travel.to go to coast to coast in a country.
It appears that Japanese culture is more accepting of bicycles than in America. In LA there are certainly some areas where they are accepted, but most car drivers have no patience for anything that might get in their way.
There are lots of reasons cycling is popular in Tokyo, but the main reason is economic. Japanese are economical with their time and money, and a bicycle saves both time and money. And cycling in Tokyo, despite the narrow roads and traffic, is remarkably safe. Japan’s drivers licensing standards are high, and the penalties for hitting a pedestrian or cyclist are severe.
yep go from your stack and pack expensive housing, bump shoulder to shoulder with everyone, and enjoy the scenery of all the pretty trees, traffic noise, and all the people talking and dodging each other, ride you bike and hope the stress of dodging people and other bikes and cars, (not that I against bikes but I just hate cities)
@@notthegoatseguy My brother just got braces cycling bib. He fucking love sit and honestly can't believe he went so long without one haha. If i was a road cyclist like him i'd probably wear teh same. But BMX, now jump bike for me though i like to Mountain scooter and honestly i can't decide what the right clothes for that is (you do a lot of hiking then riding fast downhils!)
Cycling in Tokyo is much safer and healthy compared to most US or Canadian cities. Drivers actually give you proper lain clearance. In most Canadian cities you get honked at as the driver clips your handle bars or you are forced off the road. You also get a punishing fine for cycling on a sidewalk or failure to walk your bike through a cross walk.
As a daily Tokyo commuter of 60+ km and monthly 1500-2000 km, I really enjoyed this video. However, I strongly disagree with the premise that Tokyo needs European style cycling infrastructure. The vague rules of sidewalk/road cycling work very much to the cyclist's advantage. The last thing we want is the government waking up and legislating new cycling rules, paths, etc. I like it exactly the way it is now, and can only imagine bureaucrats sinking money into development firms with no knowledge of cycling. A bunch of new superficial cycling paths accompanied by strictly enforced laws are not what we need. At the moment, my main gripe is river access, especially on the Arakawa - which is a great ride - but has too many obstructions and gates on the northwest end of the ride. Otherwise, I'd prefer to keep Tokyo a secret as one of the great cycling cities in the world.
Nothing can provide safety for cyclists as good as well designed infrastructure. Death rate among japanese cyclists is more than double compared to Sweden or Netherlands.
_The vague rules of sidewalk/road cycling work very much to the cyclist's advantage_ ...and very much to the pedestrian's disadvantage. Actually, the rules are pretty clear that cyclists, even when they are permitted to cycle on pavements, must always yield to pedestrians. The ambiguity arises from the fact that this rule is never enforced. It might seem like a perfect situation for cyclists...until an accident happens.
Eltercero The bigger the number of cyclists become the more serious they will be treated as a viable alternative for the car. I agree if I see some of the older American alternatives like these unprotected bike lanes or these dumb bike boxes instead of protected intersections. You certainly do not need that, you could use a connected cycle network which is well designed with protected intersections, cycling priority and bike friendly light phases. Heck even car free city centres. That makes a city so much more enjoyable.
Eltercero says: "However, I strongly disagree with the premise that Tokyo needs European style cycling infrastructure..." == I lived in Tokyo in 1970s. From what I can see in this video, the situation had changed a lot in favor of bicycle riders. In 1970s there was nothing. You like the way it is now because the government worked on it.
Sorry, I disagree with you. I also ride my bike almost daily in central Tokyo and I feel it's dangerous to ride on the road with the rest of the traffic. Often the leftmost lane is occupied by delivery trucks and you have to change lanes, which is always dangerous because of the speed difference. Riding on a sidewalk is even more dangerous because of the pedestrians, and the speed is much slower. Tokyo needs protected bike lanes, like in Netherlands. It will encourage more people to commute to work by bicycle instead of overcrowded trains. The current state of a cycling infrastructure in Tokyo is a shame.
Where do people wash their bikes if they live in an apartment without hoses? I mean, are there public wash areas or, perhaps, those kinds of car washes with the hand-held power hoses?
Wait for it to dry and rub it down. most folk dont' wash their bikes. Hell I bike mountain bike trails and i don't wash my bike, give it a dry brush down and clean individual parts when i service. I suppose you could just do it in the street? with a big basin of water?
Keith Mitchell says: "Can bicycles be rented for tourists?" == It depends on the city but most tourist destinations do. Some of them even with E-bikes.(Part of it for a promotional purpose. Once you ride it, you'll definitely want one.)
My understanding of Japan is that there is a very wide rental-culture, particularly in the big cities. Apartments and homes are much smaller compared to the typical western equivalent. So instead of buying a kayak or a bicycle or a stereo or whatever, you can rent when you need it and then return it.
Make it compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets ( for their own safety especially young children) & have decent lights front & rear ( bright but, not excessively) so they can be seen at night by motorists & pedestrians aswell the lights could be used as daylights. & they can also see where they are going in low light or the dark.
Th3 St1g if you want to wear a helmet, no ones stopping you, don't try and force your opinion on others, the only countries with compulsorily bicycle helmet laws are Australia and New Zealand, and that's just reduced cycling.
you're more likely to hit your head in a car than in a bike accident. helmets don't make cyclists safer they just make the cars drive faster around the cyclist.
@@dalton-at-work thats not strictly true and before you cite THAT study I've read it. The difference in passing is average 8 cm. At 30 mph I have no idea if theres an 8 cm difference between a car passing me with or without a helmet. I just know when its too close! helmets actually protect your head froma variety of impacts. Theres a reason MTB and BMX rider wear them. We KNOW first hand why they are good. And if you get kncoked off a bike by a close passing car your at risk of your head hitting teh floor suddenly. You can fix almost eveyrthing else but yoru head is crazy bad to damage. So helmets DO make cyclist safer overall.
Cycling in Tokyo sucks. What they never tell you is that you arent allowed to park your bike anywhere and also lock it to something solid. If you have a crap bike then sure, you can use the normal bike parking which is just an open area with nothing to lock it to, but if your bike is worth stealing then you are screwed.
Nathan Brown says: "you can use the normal bike parking which is just an open area with nothing to lock it to,..." == I know all about it. Fortunately the bikes are rarely stolen. At least in my case, it was never stolen after 10 hours of being left in nowhere. Around a station of our small town, there were hundreds of them left by the commuter in the morning and being picked up in the evening.
I think North America can learn from Tokyo, that cycle lanes make no cycling city. From European eyes American cities lack those quiet backstreets with little shops and businesses. Those places are wonderful to cycle but terrible to drive and even if you want to go further, you can often navigate through those sidestreets. Fact is, regular cyclists don't want to drive with cars and they want short distances - they don't find both of that in American cities. Thats why Tokyo archives such a good modal share without building special cycling infrastructure. So if North American cities want to become cycle friendly they have to close streets entirely for main traffic and relax zoning laws.
Cycling seems incredibly ideal in Japan due to the small streets.
I can see why it works so well over there 👍🏽.
Yes but they also have a lot of good protected lanes and great paths that a lot of countries lack
As a first-time Tokyo cyclist *yesterday*, I have to say that multi-modal pavement usage - and even cycling considerately through busier places like Ameyoko-cho - are perfectly fine, easy to do and everyone just gets on with it, as you say. People know how to avoid you and give you space for manoeuvring, you respect their space and anticipate how they're going to move, and it's generally all good. I had no issues cycling on a mixture of road, pavement and wide pedestrian areas in parks (about 6km through the day). It felt very safe with no cars coming too close or chopping across and wide range of ages, abilities and bicycles. Some thought had to be given to cycling around vehicles turning then stopping at junctions due to pedestrians on the crossings, but that's basic road sense. Shoulder checks are still essential due to the number of new hybrid cars and taxis on the road. My main frustration is the amount of time it takes for traffic light phases to change, and the lack of an advance warning before the lights go green (how the UK does it) -- or a 2-second head-start for cyclists.
Can't wait to see Tokyo wake up and use the Gaman to implement the best bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the world in the biggest city in the world.
always enjoy your videos, cycling ones especially .. thanks for sharing
I was in Tokyo in 2006. The part where I was (Chuo Ward, east of Tokyo Station) had the main sidewalks marked. One side was for bikes and the other side was for pedestrians. Everyone stayed on their own side and everyone was happy.
In 2017 I went to Osaka, in the Tanimachi area, near the Kintetsu Uehommachi station. The sidewalks were marked; one side was for bikes and the other side was for pedestrians.
People mainly ignored the markings and went wherever they wanted, but they made it work and I never saw anyone get hit.
Audio balance
Amazing video! Really looks like cinema. I sharing that video to my friends:)
Having lived there for 4 years I can tell you that Tokyo is not exactly a bike friendly city.
I admire those cyclists.
Imagine if the government spend more money improving the roads more convenient for cyclists.
Tokyo has an explosive potential to be the bike capital of the world.
Tokyo being the bike capital of the world?, hmmm no unlikely, but they can most certainly have more cycling infrastructure that encourage cycling.
I lived in Tokyo for 6 months and Musashi Kosugi for 6 months. Musashi Kosugi is a densely populated micro-city about 20 mins trainride away from Tokyo. Cycling is definitely more safe and convenient in Musashi Kosugi and other places outside of Tokyo, since no matter where you go in Japan, the towns are very compact and very walkable, with cycling allowed on the footpaths creating a very safe cycling environment. Tokyo itself was sometimes scary to cycle in, however I felt leaps and bounds more safe in Tokyo than anywhere in Australia where I live, and I assume even more so than American cities. What made Tokyo safer to cycle in was 1. basic cycling infrastucture. 2. Japanese drivers respect cyclists and their safety far more than Anglo countries since cycling is a major form of transport in Japan.
From what I understand about cycling on the sidewalk in Tokyo. If the sidewalk is three meters wide or wider, you can cycle. If less than three meters, you are to cycle in the street. However, if the cyclist is over 70(?) or under 10(?), I can't remember the exact ages, they can always ride on the sidewalk.
I also believe it's illegal to have both ears using headphones/earbuds while cycling. I got caught once. Later I was cycling with just one earbud, the police officer motioned me to stop and I pointed to the ear without an earbud and she waved me on.
Another positive for cycling in Tokyo is that the everyday use bike is inexpensive. A six or seven speed bike with two fenders, a light, a basket, a bell and a built-in lock can usually be had for about USD 125. That price is unheard of in the states for something of similar quality. I probably rode 10k miles on it and maybe had two punctures. At the end it was a bit rusty but 10k miles on a USD 125 bike is outstanding.
That is a pretty good price, though if your bargain hunt on Craigslist and whatnot, you can find a quality bike in most of the US for about $200-300 USD. People paying $1k+ on a bike, that shit is outrageous.
@Johnas long as it doesnt have a grip shifter
Or you can buy a brand new Schwinn Admiral from Walmart, and as long as you don't let the store assemble it, it is really close to as complete as that. Add the bell and a lock and you are golden, provided you take care of the bike. No basket, but a rack on the rear is plenty. It's a great product. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a practical bicycle on a budget.
Way to go!
I love this video .
Hello! Thanks for video! I spent some time and added subtitles in Russian. Hope they will appear soon and I could share this video with my friends.
Activated! Thank you!
Wow, thanks!))) Now I can share it!
When I lived in Japan Kawagoe I use to cycle to get fit and for fun.
I would like to see senior ladies cyclist everywhere!
cycling is the best way to get around a city .cars dont belong in a city .a car is only good for one thing long distence travel.to go to coast to coast in a country.
3:44 I get a very good vibe from this person . He sounds genuine
I love biking in Tokyo.
It appears that Japanese culture is more accepting of bicycles than in America. In LA there are certainly some areas where they are accepted, but most car drivers have no patience for anything that might get in their way.
There are lots of reasons cycling is popular in Tokyo, but the main reason is economic. Japanese are economical with their time and money, and a bicycle saves both time and money. And cycling in Tokyo, despite the narrow roads and traffic, is remarkably safe. Japan’s drivers licensing standards are high, and the penalties for hitting a pedestrian or cyclist are severe.
yep go from your stack and pack expensive housing, bump shoulder to shoulder with everyone, and enjoy the scenery of all the pretty trees, traffic noise, and all the people talking and dodging each other, ride you bike and hope the stress of dodging people and other bikes and cars, (not that I against bikes but I just hate cities)
"Everyone is cycling in regular clothing", I never knew there was another way.. :O
Even when I was riding my BMX a lot I just wore sweatpants.:P
I actually do both. I have some of the athletic clothing, but mainly for visibility purposes. But I also cycle in shorts/pants/tshirt.
@@notthegoatseguy My brother just got braces cycling bib. He fucking love sit and honestly can't believe he went so long without one haha. If i was a road cyclist like him i'd probably wear teh same. But BMX, now jump bike for me though i like to Mountain scooter and honestly i can't decide what the right clothes for that is (you do a lot of hiking then riding fast downhils!)
Cycling in Tokyo is much safer and healthy compared to most US or Canadian cities. Drivers actually give you proper lain clearance. In most Canadian cities you get honked at as the driver clips your handle bars or you are forced off the road. You also get a punishing fine for cycling on a sidewalk or failure to walk your bike through a cross walk.
Gaman.. nice la tinggal sana. 😊 Hombo tadon nu gaman?
So is it faster or slower than cars? Some conflicting reports here, indicating a rather unsafe cycling environment.
I LOVE JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!
As a daily Tokyo commuter of 60+ km and monthly 1500-2000 km, I really enjoyed this video. However, I strongly disagree with the premise that Tokyo needs European style cycling infrastructure. The vague rules of sidewalk/road cycling work very much to the cyclist's advantage. The last thing we want is the government waking up and legislating new cycling rules, paths, etc. I like it exactly the way it is now, and can only imagine bureaucrats sinking money into development firms with no knowledge of cycling. A bunch of new superficial cycling paths accompanied by strictly enforced laws are not what we need. At the moment, my main gripe is river access, especially on the Arakawa - which is a great ride - but has too many obstructions and gates on the northwest end of the ride. Otherwise, I'd prefer to keep Tokyo a secret as one of the great cycling cities in the world.
Nothing can provide safety for cyclists as good as well designed infrastructure.
Death rate among japanese cyclists is more than double compared to Sweden or Netherlands.
_The vague rules of sidewalk/road cycling work very much to the cyclist's advantage_
...and very much to the pedestrian's disadvantage.
Actually, the rules are pretty clear that cyclists, even when they are permitted to cycle on pavements, must always yield to pedestrians. The ambiguity arises from the fact that this rule is never enforced.
It might seem like a perfect situation for cyclists...until an accident happens.
Eltercero
The bigger the number of cyclists become the more serious they will be treated as a viable alternative for the car. I agree if I see some of the older American alternatives like these unprotected bike lanes or these dumb bike boxes instead of protected intersections. You certainly do not need that, you could use a connected cycle network which is well designed with protected intersections, cycling priority and bike friendly light phases. Heck even car free city centres. That makes a city so much more enjoyable.
Eltercero says:
"However, I strongly disagree with the premise that Tokyo needs European style cycling infrastructure..."
==
I lived in Tokyo in 1970s.
From what I can see in this video, the situation had changed a lot in favor of bicycle riders.
In 1970s there was nothing.
You like the way it is now because the government worked on it.
Sorry, I disagree with you. I also ride my bike almost daily in central Tokyo and I feel it's dangerous to ride on the road with the rest of the traffic. Often the leftmost lane is occupied by delivery trucks and you have to change lanes, which is always dangerous because of the speed difference. Riding on a sidewalk is even more dangerous because of the pedestrians, and the speed is much slower. Tokyo needs protected bike lanes, like in Netherlands. It will encourage more people to commute to work by bicycle instead of overcrowded trains. The current state of a cycling infrastructure in Tokyo is a shame.
Is there either a dock bike-share system like in the US and Europe or dockless bikes like in China?
Where do people wash their bikes if they live in an apartment without hoses? I mean, are there public wash areas or, perhaps, those kinds of car washes with the hand-held power hoses?
Wait for it to dry and rub it down. most folk dont' wash their bikes. Hell I bike mountain bike trails and i don't wash my bike, give it a dry brush down and clean individual parts when i service. I suppose you could just do it in the street? with a big basin of water?
Can bicycles be rented for tourists?
Keith Mitchell says:
"Can bicycles be rented for tourists?"
==
It depends on the city but most tourist destinations do.
Some of them even with E-bikes.(Part of it for a promotional purpose. Once you ride it, you'll definitely want one.)
My understanding of Japan is that there is a very wide rental-culture, particularly in the big cities. Apartments and homes are much smaller compared to the typical western equivalent. So instead of buying a kayak or a bicycle or a stereo or whatever, you can rent when you need it and then return it.
do i have to register my bicycle in tokyo
No. I think, I don't see any license plates on them.
Make it compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets ( for their own safety especially young children) & have decent lights front & rear ( bright but, not excessively) so they can be seen at night by motorists & pedestrians aswell the lights could be used as daylights. & they can also see where they are going in low light or the dark.
Th3 St1g if you want to wear a helmet, no ones stopping you, don't try and force your opinion on others, the only countries with compulsorily bicycle helmet laws are Australia and New Zealand, and that's just reduced cycling.
you're more likely to hit your head in a car than in a bike accident. helmets don't make cyclists safer they just make the cars drive faster around the cyclist.
@@dalton-at-work thats not strictly true and before you cite THAT study I've read it. The difference in passing is average 8 cm. At 30 mph I have no idea if theres an 8 cm difference between a car passing me with or without a helmet. I just know when its too close!
helmets actually protect your head froma variety of impacts. Theres a reason MTB and BMX rider wear them. We KNOW first hand why they are good. And if you get kncoked off a bike by a close passing car your at risk of your head hitting teh floor suddenly. You can fix almost eveyrthing else but yoru head is crazy bad to damage.
So helmets DO make cyclist safer overall.
Cycling in Tokyo sucks. What they never tell you is that you arent allowed to park your bike anywhere and also lock it to something solid. If you have a crap bike then sure, you can use the normal bike parking which is just an open area with nothing to lock it to, but if your bike is worth stealing then you are screwed.
Nathan Brown says:
"you can use the normal bike parking which is just an open area with nothing to lock it to,..."
==
I know all about it.
Fortunately the bikes are rarely stolen.
At least in my case, it was never stolen after 10 hours of being left in nowhere.
Around a station of our small town, there were hundreds of them left by the commuter in the morning and being picked up in the evening.