My New Wheels

Yesterday I brought home my new set of wheels... a silver beauty of a bicycle with a big basket, a built-in lock on the rear wheel, and a generator-operated light (as in, when you turn it on and pedal, the light comes on!) in front. This is the most common bike style in Japan, known as a "mama chari" (short for "mother's chariot"), This is actually the third "mama chari" I've owned here- the first I bought used for about $40, but it was stolen this past summer (most likely by a drunk salaryman needing a ride home- and as I forgot to lock it, I assume full responsibility for the loss.) After that, my friend Esther generously gave me her second bike before leaving Japan- an old yellow bike which I still have, but because of its age was not a "silent rider" and its "night light" went out and was unable to be replaced. I just decided I'd splurge on this new one and ride in style, and still keep the other in reserve.

Biking is huge in Japan... and not for recreation, but for transportation. It's the way I get to school every day (just 5 minutes if the traffic is light!) Some of my students ride up to an hour EACH WAY, though. I'll admit it... sometimes I miss the freedom of having a car- and in fact, many of my friends, especially those who live more in the country- DO have one, but living in the city, I really don't need one. I can bike or bus or train just about anywhere I want to go. Besides, the whole driving-on-the-left thing kind of scares me (although I suppose I am used to being on that side now more than the right) and it is definitely not cheap to own and maintain a car (gas prices are 3x as high here as they are in the U.S., and parking will cost you a small fortune.)

People here bike on the sidewalk, right along with the pedestrians. And if there isn't room on the sidewalk, you just skip over to the road, right alongside the cars. That's a bit scary sometimes, especially on these narrow streets, to just have a few inches between you and the car next to you. I've had more than a few near-death experiences that way. Not only that, but there doesn't seem to be any "set" rules about which side of the road to bike on. Typically, it seems that you should stay to the left like the cars, but there are bikers that come the opposite way right at you on the same sidewalk space. Then it becomes like a game of "chicken" to see which person is going to yield to the other first. At least my new bike has a good set of brakes!

People of all ages bike here.. not just young people... but I think that girls wearing (mini) skirts and high heels have to be the most amusing to watch bike (they still remain completely lady-like with their knees glued together... One theory as to why so many Japanese women are pigeon-toed... traces back to their school days, biking to and fro in their school uniform skirts.) The most dangerous biking (at least to me) seems to be people riding with open umbrellas in the rain or those who are reading messages or talking on their "keitais" (cell phones) or even smoking while riding. (Drunk biking, by the way, is also technically illegal here, although I've never seen any cops bringing out the breathalizer for any wavering bikers.)

Biking places gives you a whole new perception... particularly when you have to consider the weather. Biking during a heavy rainstorm, for example, is not fun. People gear up in their ponchos and plow through the puddles. Bike parking is usually not a problem, though... it is plentiful and free! The only problem sometimes is finding your bike in the mess of the others without knocking them down domino-style....

Tomorrow is another national holiday here so no school again... woo-hoo! The English name of this holiday is "Labor Thanksgiving Day," which coincidentally falls on the same day as Thanksgiving Day in America (but is nothing like Turkey Day as I know it.) I guess it is more like Labor Day... so I suppose I should just be thankful that I have a job. Anyway, I will not be partaking in any turkey unfortunately... I'm actually going to watch a SUMO wrestling tournament, but hope all of you State-side enjoy your gobble gobble!

By the way, I have recovered from my nasty cold without having to wear one of those sexy surgical masks around as many people in Asia do (and many more should, actually, seeing as how they all come to work sick and get everyone else sick as a result, but I digress...)