CARFREE TOKYO

- a collection of notes and reflections on urban living from the perspective of a family of five in Tokyo. My epiphany was many years ago, but being hit by a motorbike and seeing my life flash before my eyes caused a sudden change that slowly made me reflect on whether American style auto-centric urban transportation of the Roosevelt era really is a capital G "Good Idea" for civilized modern cities in the 21st Century. This blog explores the good and the bad in urban planning and design, here and elsewhere. The goal is simple - not "death to all cars," just more walkable communities, quiet tree-lined streets, good public transport, traffic calming, Velib style bicycle sharing and a bit of common sense. The bolg is mostly theraputic, so I don't go wanting to throttle every dangerous driver I come across, but partly also out of a real desire to see positive change. This blog explores how it can be done, the people who do it, and how, in many small ways, this very old idea may at last have found its zeitgeist. Comments and suggestions welcome.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Nasty Bike Law Proposal

Every now and again, the car people find the ear of someone in government, usually in the roads department or police department, and come up with some really nasty anti-bicycle law proposal for the government, hoping to sneak it through. But it is pretty ironic that the latest effort by these seedy types would be made in Japan, such a bicycle nation, in a time when most governments around the world are trying to PROMOTE cycling as much as possible, as a solution to our oil dependence, environmental problems and obesity and health issues. You would think that the police at least would know better - as they are the ones who have to deal with the aftermath of so many car accidents.

http://www.japancycling.org/v2/opinionaire/enquete.html

1 comment:

-Straight Edge Photography- said...

Hi

Critical Mass Tokyo Oct 8, 3pm Shinjuku @ The Ghetto.

www.theghettotokyo.com
www.mwcpjapan.blogspot.com
www.bike-films.com

Join, tell all your friend, lets take over the streets just for one day as a small eye opener. It's time to wake up.

m