Keep Your Laws Off My Bike Frame
November 10, 2007
What struck me about this list was the lack of Asian representation on this list. Straight up cracker towns, US and Euro across the board, no mention of how overwhelmingly 2-wheeled transportation is in large swaths of Japan, China, Viet, etc.
Then I looked at the criteria and it sorta made sense. They were looking for some kind of official nob towards the phenomenon: committees, bike lanes, traffic laws… all the things that Osaka thinks are for pansies. Pssht, bike lanes. Just aim that mama-cheri down the hill, jump the curb out into the road when there’s a hobo cart blocking the sidewalk and cut across six lanes of traffic wherever and whenever the mood strikes you. With your shopping in the front basket. And your girlfriend on the pegs. And it all works, somehow.
I don’t think I saw a single serious bike accident my entire time in Osaka. And not one helmet on anyone older than six or on a fucking Segway. Somehow it just all makes sense without lanes, regulations or advocacy groups.
