Bicycle in Japan

Bicycle has become an integral part of Japan society. Almost everybody rides in every weather, from dressed businessman to grandmother, picking up the children from preschool, doing the daily groceries , communiting to work or university, all can be seen through the city street and side walk. Foreigners who arriving in Japan are often surprised.

Bicycles are known as jitensha or charinko (slang). The most common bicycles for every day use are typically equipped with a basket for carrying groceries and other items and/or a child seat (or two), a simple lock, a kickstand and just one gear. If we buy a new bicycle, the registration process will likely be handled by the store, but if we take over a used bicycle from somebody else, you are supposed to re-register the bicycle under your name at the local police station in order to avoid misunderstandings. In Japan we have to pay for throwing the used thing. That’s why somehow as my friend who lived there said, if the used bicycle park completely with the registration letter means you can have it..woww.

There are dedicated bicycle parking areas near most railwaystations and shopping centers due to the high popularity of bicycles. the bicycle is as ordinary as the dawn. Large housing blocks and metro stops have bicycle parking structures, and busy shopping districts may even have pay parking lots for bikes. Day and night, everywhere you go, the bicycle is there.

In Indonesia, the funny thing is if there is someone rides a bicyle may other people will think that those is poor man..or..now bicycling such a kind of trend since there's a bicycle community - really hard work- champaigning GO GREEN but most people misunderstand make those bicycle as a life style due its price..:(