Hamarikyu gardens
Tsukiji Fish Market
Hakihabara
Asakusa
Shibuya
1st time with the bicyle with Shin
Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi park
Meeting for Le Pari Velo - Bike Messenger Community place - Asakusabashi
Bicycle storage - Yanaka
Sukiyaki dinner with the GREAT Enomoto family, thank you!
Chaine de cadeau (Le Pari Velo) / 1st present to Shin my friend from London / baseball fan / authentic Yankees sweatshirt / tasting hot Sake
bookstores near Hakihabara
Smoking areas in Tokyo
1) Le Pari Velo
Thanks to Harumi from BFF Tokyo (who I met in NYC in February), I set a meeting with Junichi at Khuns in Asakusabashi. He told me about his experience, the cycling culture in Japan and especially the Tokyo bicycle messengers community. He is a bicycle fan since he became friend with bike messengers and studied for two years in San Francisco where the cycling culture is very developped. He collects rare bike parts, which he sometimes finds in auctions. He cycles daily from Asakusa to Asakusabashi, where he was born and raised. According to him, Tokyo is an easy city to explore on a bike. The bike messengers appeared in the city about 20 years ago and today 5 companies share the market. Being a bike messenger is somewhat Kakkoii, which means `cool, flash, awesome`. Some of these cyclists are probably influenced by the US culture, as well as the `ko-hi- culture` (coffee shop culture). Jun tells me that Tokyo messengers respect the red lights, I am now going to check that ;). He opened Khuns for the cycling community to have a place to meet.
Jun also organises rides called `Bridge` since 2010, for free, about 5 times a year. It`s a good way to meet people, explore the city and all its bridges. Apparently there isn`t any critical mass events here, probably because the overall conditions are already great to ride! Jun thinks that the cycling community increases by word of mouth, therefore promoting cycling in the city. He thinks that cyclists are not really aware of the government policies regarding cycling infrastructures. However he mentioned that some projects will be undertaken soon to prepare for the 2020 Olympics.
2) La chaine de cadeau
The first present of the gift chain is a Yankees sweatshirt brought to Shin directly from NYC. Shin is my friend from London who recently moved back to Tokyo. Him and his family hosted me. Thank you so much Shin and please thank your generous and very kind family for me!
I also received a piece of 'Mount Fuji' fabric. It may become the next gift on the chain.
3) Experience + cycling in Tokyo
Cycling is easy, smooth. People of different ages cycle, often sharing the walkways with the pedestrians, but I didn`t see any type of conflict. That`s just the way it is. Bikes are usually locked to themselves, on the street, with a Dutch type lock on the back wheel, as it seems to be very safe everywhere. As soon as you step out of the vibrant neighborhoods,Tokyo is very nice, quiet, made of a multitude of small towns. Everything is super clean and well organised, the bicycle parking are very well equipped, and for 100Y (1 euro) you can park your bike near your Metro Station. It worth it when you see the quality of the infrastructure and service. Shin explained to me what the `Mamachari` bikes were : they are bicycles with 2 baby seats, front and back (or paniers for groceries).
My bicycle survived its trip in the aircraft. Great first stage in Tokyo. Now let`s hit the road, leave Tokyo and go towards lake Yamanaka and mount Fuji tomorrow!
Nicolas
Thanks to Harumi from BFF Tokyo (who I met in NYC in February), I set a meeting with Junichi at Khuns in Asakusabashi. He told me about his experience, the cycling culture in Japan and especially the Tokyo bicycle messengers community. He is a bicycle fan since he became friend with bike messengers and studied for two years in San Francisco where the cycling culture is very developped. He collects rare bike parts, which he sometimes finds in auctions. He cycles daily from Asakusa to Asakusabashi, where he was born and raised. According to him, Tokyo is an easy city to explore on a bike. The bike messengers appeared in the city about 20 years ago and today 5 companies share the market. Being a bike messenger is somewhat Kakkoii, which means `cool, flash, awesome`. Some of these cyclists are probably influenced by the US culture, as well as the `ko-hi- culture` (coffee shop culture). Jun tells me that Tokyo messengers respect the red lights, I am now going to check that ;). He opened Khuns for the cycling community to have a place to meet.
Jun also organises rides called `Bridge` since 2010, for free, about 5 times a year. It`s a good way to meet people, explore the city and all its bridges. Apparently there isn`t any critical mass events here, probably because the overall conditions are already great to ride! Jun thinks that the cycling community increases by word of mouth, therefore promoting cycling in the city. He thinks that cyclists are not really aware of the government policies regarding cycling infrastructures. However he mentioned that some projects will be undertaken soon to prepare for the 2020 Olympics.
2) La chaine de cadeau
The first present of the gift chain is a Yankees sweatshirt brought to Shin directly from NYC. Shin is my friend from London who recently moved back to Tokyo. Him and his family hosted me. Thank you so much Shin and please thank your generous and very kind family for me!
I also received a piece of 'Mount Fuji' fabric. It may become the next gift on the chain.
3) Experience + cycling in Tokyo
Cycling is easy, smooth. People of different ages cycle, often sharing the walkways with the pedestrians, but I didn`t see any type of conflict. That`s just the way it is. Bikes are usually locked to themselves, on the street, with a Dutch type lock on the back wheel, as it seems to be very safe everywhere. As soon as you step out of the vibrant neighborhoods,Tokyo is very nice, quiet, made of a multitude of small towns. Everything is super clean and well organised, the bicycle parking are very well equipped, and for 100Y (1 euro) you can park your bike near your Metro Station. It worth it when you see the quality of the infrastructure and service. Shin explained to me what the `Mamachari` bikes were : they are bicycles with 2 baby seats, front and back (or paniers for groceries).
My bicycle survived its trip in the aircraft. Great first stage in Tokyo. Now let`s hit the road, leave Tokyo and go towards lake Yamanaka and mount Fuji tomorrow!
Nicolas
Hakihabara, c'est le Times Square de New York ?
RépondreSupprimerEst-il possible de sortir de Tokyo en vélo ? (sans emprunter d'autoroute ... mais des petites voies sympas)
Bonne route
Gérard
Oui c'est time square très prisé des jeunes tokyoïtes. Pas de souci pour sortir de Tokyo. Bonne signalisation et sans autoroute! Bonjour chez vous depuis Shimizu!
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