The bikes here are a trip. They are all the same. One speed crusiers. They are so low
to the ground that your legs never get straighter than 90 degrees. At least mine don't.
They all have a low cross bar so they are extremely easy to get on and off of and
because they are so low you can easily put you foot down flat when you stop. They also
all have a roomy basket in front which I love - it's so convenient - and bell.
They also have this great locking system. You put your key into a slot near the rear
wheel and the bike rolls, take the key out and the rear wheel won't turn. All in all
they are great for a leisurely outing around town. But if you want to go above
about 2 miles per hour they are kind of a pain in the ass. literally. the roads and
sidewalks can be very bumpy. One of the great things though is just how many people
ride bikes. Perhaps the majority are students because they are not old enough to drive,
but there's also a fair share of older men and women riding around. Many women wear
big hats or visors and long Cinderella style gloves to protect their skin from the sun.
I think lighter skin is associated with higher class. I find myself among throngs of
other bikers and can hardly contain my excitement. In the states you would never cross
an intersection with a pack of other bikers around you, or find yourself in a line up
in the bike lane. (unless you were unfortunate enough to run into a pack of the spandex/
advertisement covered racing kind). But no, these are everyday people. I recently saw
two young women with short dresses, high heels and extremely fancy hairdos putting
their little purses into their bike baskets. I was giddy! It's like a bike revolution.
except no one here thinks it's revolutionary except me. so for any bikers who feel a
little lonely on the gas guzzling streets of America - picture yourself in Japan
surrounded by school children in uniforms riding their bikes next to you.
Or better yet come visit.
2 comments:
Great picture! Makes Fukui look like a big city though. Is that a deception? Yeah, I loved my bike in Japan. It would be cool to have one like it here but I'm pretty sure it'd be stolen in a heartbeat.
Glad to hear you're doing so well!
I was near downtown, which feels like a big city because the buildings are huge. It's the capital city of a rural prefecture, so it seems pretty big to me. It just sprawls and there is countryside all around. It has the charm of both big city and country.
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