Japan to make cycle helmets compulsory for all cyclists from next April

I think Japanese cycling is one of the few examples where it might be "it is the culture, it won't work here".

As opposed to other countries on the European mainland with cultures much more akin to ours where they have just decided to tame the car.  And where "normal people" have embraced cycling for journeys where it has become the most convenient way to travel and where it feels safe.

For a moment though I was thinking "You don't like rinko?"

chrisonatrike wrote:

I think Japanese cycling is one of the few examples where it might be "it is the culture, it won't work here".

As opposed to other countries on the European mainland with cultures much more akin to ours where they have just decided to tame the car.  And where "normal people" have embraced cycling for journeys where it has become the most convenient way to travel and where it feels safe.

For a moment though I was thinking "You don't like rinko?"

I was under the impression that Japan had lots of (utility) cyclists and that it very much is part of their culture.

https://www.icebike.org/guide-japanese-bike-culture/

Yes - I was just assuming that the OP was likening this to "go full Dutch" but suggesting that - despite the Japanese (as I understand it) having lots of cycling in places and a "cycling culture" - this wouldn't be a good idea if it involved taking on their helmet ideas also.

I'm glad it works for them.  I've never been (South Korea was the closest I got).  However the Dutch (and 2nd rate Danish) approach looks more convenient to me.  And doesn't rely so much on everyone being polite.  Cyclists on the cycle path, pedestrians on the pavement; the two are separate (almost always) and it's really clear to all who goes where.

Now, like explaining a joke, I feel a bit foolish though.

Japan's only real secret is that you can't park on the street.
So not so much a case of actually building cycle infra so much as a shining example of not devoting 100% of the road to the whims of motorists.

When I was there, a walk back from the waterfront to the city yielded a fascinating collection of bike photographs...https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwb13RZ

No familiar brands in evidence

belugabob wrote:

When I was there, a walk back from the waterfront to the city yielded a fascinating collection of bike photographs...https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwb13RZ No familiar brands in evidence

I thought this one looks cool for cruising around town

belugabob wrote:

When I was there, a walk back from the waterfront to the city yielded a fascinating collection of bike photographs...https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwb13RZ

No familiar brands in evidence

Those are great, a few have well-known names but something doesn't quite match...

A Colnago hybrid? Louis Garneau, a clothing brand? Chevrolet?

eburtthebike wrote:

I've seen the reports about Japan bringing in this new law, and I haven't seen anything that says they have consulted widely or investigated the actual effects of a helmet law.  They appear to have bought into the factoid that helmets save lives, therefore they are good, without looking at the unintended side effects, exactly the same as the other countries which have such a law.  Strange behaviour for a country renowned for its thoroughness and logic.  I haven't seen any reports of the national cycle organisation opposing this measure, but presumably they do.

My admiration for the Japanese has taken a serious blow.

One positive aspect is that there's no apparent penalty for getting caught without a helmet, so the police are less likely to abuse the law to penalise minorities. I've heard that the Japanese tend to be very law abiding, so I guess they think that just having the law will be enough without needing penalties.

Interesting to see how their numbers for cycling and injuries progresses in the future.

One unintended consequence of the helmet law in Australia is that law-abiding people always wear one, whereas the 'bogan' element that habitually break laws, such as stealing the bike they are riding, never wear one; a tendency noted by police who use the lack of helmet wearing to stop the offender and check them out for other offences.

grOg wrote:

One unintended consequence of the helmet law in Australia is that law-abiding people always wear one, whereas the 'bogan' element that habitually break laws, such as stealing the bike they are riding, never wear one; a tendency noted by police who use the lack of helmet wearing to stop the offender and check them out for other offences.

So, they choose to target the poor and disadvantaged to stop and search just because they're on a bike and haven't got or choose not to wear a helmet? Sounds like a tool of racist oppression to me.

https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2019/over-the-top-policing-of-bike-helmet-laws-targets-vulnerable-riders.php

https://road.cc/content/news/268038-australias-mandatory-helmet-laws-have-become-tool-disproportionate-penalties-and

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/nov/13/helmets-australia

grOg wrote:

whereas the 'bogan' element that habitually break laws, such as stealing the bike they are riding, never wear one; a tendency noted by police who use the lack of helmet wearing to stop the offender and check them out for other offences.

Too bad the UK police don't adopt a similar logic towards motorist running illegal/absent number plates, missing MOT, insurance, VED, etc - all of which are trivially easy to detect.

The anpr equipped cars of the Police Interceptors appear to use it as a sign of wrong'unness.