In Kochi, a ton of people commute by bicycle. Students, businessmen, everyone rides a bike. The sidewalks are a bit of a danger zone given that they're used by pedestrians and cyclists at the same time. Of course, it's still much safer than riding in the streets with the cars. Some of the drivers here are insane.
However, the etiquette of riding a bike is a lot different than in the U.S. For one thing, no one signals their intentions. If you're turning, you don't use an arm signal; you just go. As Elizabeth said, you have to be linked into the Japanese subconscious in order to ride a bike without getting into collisions. Another difference is that no one warns you if they're about to pass you. If you're going around another cyclist, or even a pedestrian, you just whiz by and hope they don't move into your path. Just about every bike has a bell on it, but those are mostly used if someone is in the way.
The most glaring difference, though, is the lack of helmets. I can only think of one or two Japanese people I've seen wearing a helmet. They just don't wear them. A lot of bike shops don't even sell helmets, except maybe a few child-sized ones. When I first got here, I just sort of accepted it as normal and rode around without a helmet like everyone else. I figured I'd look like a freak if I wore one, and assumed I wouldn't be able to find one, anyways. I knew it was a stupid choice, and I really should know better after studying traumatic brain injuries in my Speech & Hearing Sciences classes, but I went four months without even looking for a helmet.
Two things happened to shake me out of my complacency. First, Ashley (another ALT) got into an accident and had to have her forehead stitched shut. I don't think she cracked her skull, but it sounded like it wasn't pretty. Secondly, I noticed that Philip did wear a helmet. I'm not sure when he got one, but I eventually noticed him carrying it with him when we all met up at Hirome Ichiba. Oddly enough, I think seeing someone else wearing a helmet was more persuasive than hearing about Ashley's accident. Once I saw that Philip wore a helmet consistently, I had to actually think about why I wasn't using one.
You'd think it would've been an easy choice, but I actually had to convince myself to find a helmet. I didn't want to stand out any more than I already do, and I figured a helmet might result in more Japanese people staring at me. What's more, it would seem strange to the other ALTs as well. But once I knew that it was possible to get a helmet, I couldn't really justify not wearing one. After a week or two of stalling, I finally went to Jusco and bought one. There wasn't a particularly large selection, but I found one that fit well enough. It cost me about $60.
Since then, I've worn my helmet every time I've ridden my bike. Realistically, it probably wasn't possible for me to stand out much more than I already did for being a foreigner, so I don't think I've been stared at more than usual. I still feel a little odd being the only person in sight with a helmet on, and I almost feel like I have to justify wearing one when I run into people I know. Still, I've decided that I'm going to wear my helmet, and I do feel better about the fact that I'm less likely to crack my head open on the pavement if I get in an accident. So, to my family: I apologize for not buying a helmet right away. You taught me better than that. And to Philip (though he doesn't read this blog): Thank you for setting a good example, and for telling me where I could find a helmet.
No comments:
Post a Comment