Tokyo just dropped a whole slew of new fines for bike infractions, and while I heartily wish platoons of patrolmen would be standing by to levy massive fines on all the mamachari ebikes bombing down the sidewalk from behind…
while ringing their bells to make pedestrians jump out of the way (why yes, this is a pet peeve, how did you guess?)…
some of them are next-level only-in-Japan.
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had




Thanks for the bike fines update. Is it worth riding a bike with the risk of being fined?! Graphics even show some of the cyclists not wearing a helmet?!! Surely another fine!
You’d think it would be, but it’s so rare to see anyone wearing bike helmets here, even kids! Japan is overly cautious about some safety things and utterly blind to others. It’s a mystery!
Hi Jonelle I messaged you privately but maybe gmail has put me in spam again…or worse!?
Jane, I am so sorry! I looked for it everywhere, but can’t find it! I hope it was suggesting some time we might meet in Tokyo while you’re here. I’m going to send you an email from my end, but if you don’t hear back from me within twelve hours, come back here and let’s make plans. I can erase these comments for privacy’s sake after we connect! I do so hope to meet you!
replied to your email!