Japanese taxis and bicycles

cloa513

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My bicycle broke a spoke and I was quite near Buychari and they couldn't fix and gave me no useful advice except for the nearest bicycle shop. Then my tube ruptured with a bang on the way there. I got it to the bicycle shop inside Viva Mall Saitama Shintoshin where it had been originally bought and they fixed it. If I had had good advice then I would have considered taking a taxi but do Japanese taxis carry bicycles? I have never seen one carry one and online is silent on the issue.
 
I doubt it unless it's a folding bike and you have a rinko-bukuro. Though most mamacharri owners keep their bikes devoid of lubricants, who'd want to deal with greasy bicycle parts on a car?
 
They could just use a plastic sheet or old blanket. There would need for it anyway for drunken people or people with car sickness or dirty suitcases.
 
They could just use a plastic sheet or old blanket.
Well, @thomas suggested a rinko-bukuro (dedicated bike bag, usually for taking a bike on trains). Did you have one with you? (Expecting a taxi to have something on hand is like expecting the trains to supply cyclists with bike bags.)

Also, bike bags come in two designs--one type you take the front wheel off, the other type you take both wheels off, in order to make the overall package smaller (besides being fully covered).

For the second type of bag (both wheels off), I think most road bikes could fit in the back seat of a taxi, but I doubt the one-wheel-off type would. Also, the trunk/boot is not an option for LP gas taxis--the tank is there (big) and there's very little room.

A guerilla bike bag option is to stop at a home center or 100 yen shop and buy the largest available trash bags and a roll of wide tape. With a few bags and the tape you can cover everything (again with the front wheel off).

If your bike has fenders and/or a front basket or back rack (most 'mama-chari'), none of this would work.
 
Well, @thomas suggested a rinko-bukuro (dedicated bike bag, usually for taking a bike on trains). Did you have one with you? (Expecting a taxi to have something on hand is like expecting the trains to supply cyclists with bike bags.)

Also, bike bags come in two designs--one type you take the front wheel off, the other type you take both wheels off, in order to make the overall package smaller (besides being fully covered).

For the second type of bag (both wheels off), I think most road bikes could fit in the back seat of a taxi, but I doubt the one-wheel-off type would. Also, the trunk/boot is not an option for LP gas taxis--the tank is there (big) and there's very little room.

A guerilla bike bag option is to stop at a home center or 100 yen shop and buy the largest available trash bags and a roll of wide tape. With a few bags and the tape you can cover everything (again with the front wheel off).

If your bike has fenders and/or a front basket or back rack (most 'mama-chari'), none of this would work.
Except it is not the same thing, rather something generic that they are sure to have for other purposes. Plastic sheets are common but too big for a cyclist to lug around.
 
I imagine you could call and ask for a wagon taxi. Some of them are quite large. But maybe pricy.

 
There is also a bicycle transportation service.
Would this accept from the street or from a bicycle shop? Of course as a non-member I would have had to pay. Hopefully only a small price to avoid hassle and additional bicycle damage.
 
How far were you from the bike store?

I have broken my chain several times. If it happens in the sticks, most local folks will be glad to help. I remember a kind farmer in rural Chichibu driving us to the nearest station in his kei truck. The other time it happened in Tokyo on a commute home. Too late for any 自転車屋さん to be open, I had to push my bike for some ten kilometres.

What I mean to say: if it's not too far, just push it. :)

As @johnnyG pointed out, get one of these. 👇 Very useful in case of emergencies.


Oh, and you can join our sister site in case you need more bike-specific info:

 
Would this accept from the street or from a bicycle shop? Of course as a non-member I would have had to pay. Hopefully only a small price to avoid hassle and additional bicycle damage.
For non-members, picking up the bicycle is 1,980 yen
In addition, delivery to home is 1,980 yen.
It is this shop that can receive this service near Saitama Shintoshin.
Cycle-based Asahi Saitama Shintoshin store
 
How far were you from the bike store?

I have broken my chain several times. If it happens in the sticks, most local folks will be glad to help. I remember a kind farmer in rural Chichibu driving us to the nearest station in his kei truck. The other time it happened in Tokyo on a commute home. Too late for any 自転車屋さん to be open, I had to push my bike for some ten kilometres.

What I mean to say: if it's not too far, just push it. :)

As @johnnyG pointed out, get one of these. 👇 Very useful in case of emergencies.


Oh, and you can join our sister site in case you need more bike-specific info:

I was right next to the bicycle shop Buychari and they wouldn't fix it or help and when wheeling it to the next shop the tire ruptured.
 
"出張自転車修理 埼玉" Business trip bicycle repair Saitama
Please search with this Japanese word.
You can find it near Saitama Shintoshin.
りんりん舎(RinRin Sha )
The travel expenses are 500 yen.
Punk repair cost is 1,000 yen
 
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