Comments on: Video Series “Only in Japan”: Part 4 - Where’s Your Helmet?

By: Keiji

Keiji — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:02:41 +0000

Speed kills, and I think the same goes for cyclists. However, when you think about the fact that most cyclists in Japan ride on the footpaths, and most of those cheap ‘girly’ bikes are single-geared, those factors combined together make it quite impossible for bikes to be travelling at more than 20 kph. Therefore, less chance for you to be involved in a serious prang, and youre likely to stop in time to avoid danger. (unless of course, you’re texting your mate while riding! That is more dangerous than not wearing a helmet, if you ask me)

Those on faster road bikes ride on the road, and they generally wear helmets.

By: Blogosphere Highlights #3 « I, Shingen

Blogosphere Highlights #3 « I, Shingen — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:04:44 +0000

[...] I came across the following video a couple of days ago. It is from Stippy, a blog I’ve now added to my blogroll. You can check out their original post here. [...]

By: SoHeyThere

SoHeyThere — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:32:41 +0000

Of all the 8 years living in Japan, I have never thought of taking my helmet off during a bike ride. That might be due to the fact that I stayed in the States too long when I was a kid.. or.. who knows?

I even wear one when I ride those girly bikes (mama-chari). Hey, safety doesn’t change when you switch bikes! Duh.

Most of my friends think it’s funny for me to wear a helmet. They always ask me “Why do you wear a helmet? Bicycles are safe!” Niet niet, Bicycles are D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S. Not Safe! What kind of education did they receive in grade school anyway? This is off topic, but they don’t teach you the dangers of drug abuse either. (Not that schools don’t teach you, but only for a few pages and one lesson at maximum)

After all these years, not one of my friends are convinced to wear a helmet. They still say things like “Mendokusai” “Hazukashiii”.

I am Japanese by the way, but I don’t understand how people prioritize their appearance over safety.

By: Behan

Behan — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:18:14 +0000

I think I was the only parent who bicycled his kid to the hoikuen wearing a helmet - him, not me. I should have been wearing one, too.
The reaction from everyone was funny. They thought it was just play or fashion.
I can’t believe parents don’t put helmets on little kids. If the bike goes over the parents can reach out and break their fall. Little kids are strapped in and the fall is relatively higher, compared to the child’s body size.
Just my thoughts.

By: steve88

steve88 — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:49:47 +0000

You reckon its similar to most of the umbrellas in Japan being those cheap plastic jobs? If you lose it, you can just flog another and no-one would even know…

Has anyone seen those small fold-up titanium pushbikes? I used to know a Russian dude, who used to ride it into the bar in the evenings, then would through it in the back of the taxi he took home. Kind of defeated the point of biking I thought. Pretty cool bikes though.

By: John B

John B — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:44:22 +0000

What made this video so funny is the very last scene, after the “credits” have finished.

“Do you have any bikes, other than girl’s bikes…?” What a classic comment!!

Japan is full of bikes, but yes, they are all “girls bikes”. Anyone know why this is? They have the hottest and sexiest motorbikes in the world, but ride around on girl’s push-bikes. Just doesn’t make sense.

By: Mr. Mori

Mr. Mori — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 02:31:13 +0000

It’s not quite the same, but the other day one of my friends started teasing the driver of our car when I put my seat belt on (I was sitting in the back seat). Apparently it was a sign that I didn’t trust his driving and he should feel ashamed that I was wearing a seat belt. Which bit don’t they get about the phrases “head injury” and “easily prevented”? My friend was saying that even seat belts in the front seat weren’t compulsory until a little while ago in Japan.

By: Kiwi Dave

Kiwi Dave — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 03:18:57 +0000

Relative to distance travelled pedestrians are more likely to be invovled in an accident with a car than cyclists are. In addition, while helmets for cyclists are “85 to 88 percent effective in mitigating head and brain injuries,” they are even more effective for pedestrians due to their nasty habbit of being pulled under the bumper in a collision.

There is no logical reason for someone to wear a helmet when they’re on a bike but not when they go out for a stroll. Except, you know, for not wanting to look like a complete tool. I guess people are “so concerned with how they appear to others, that they are willing to risk the safety of themselves.” Maybe we should have a helmet law for pedestrians as well. Yay for the nanny state.