The cycle bell

[craftsman]

In November, a National Police Agency panel recommended officially allowing cyclists to use sidewalks in Japan. Of course people already do - but this recommendation, if followed, would make it legal and probably lead to plenty more pedestrian/bicycle accidents - as many cyclists do strange things with umbrellas and mobile phones.

There is an in depth story here:Allowing cyclists on sidewalks defies logic

The key to this potential pavement traffic jam lies in the 100 yen bicycle bell - not for the bikes but for the pedestrians. You don't need a bicycle - just the bell.

Take a look at this video. It's in Japanese but no translation is needed.

It works every time. I'm off to the 100 yen shop to buy one.

 

[Kara_Nari]

I really enjoyed the escalator and supermarket scenes! Hahah so great!
In Korea the bicycle bell falls on deaf ears no matter where you are... then again so do car horns...
I enjoyed cycling around Fukuoka, and using the little bell... at first I felt a bit rude, but got used to it when I realised the convenience!

 

[Davey]

Haha, that was a funny video, thanks for sharing.

I need one for the High school girls in my area, they are crazy.

 

[Mike Cash]

In November, a National Police Agency panel recommended officially allowing cyclists to use sidewalks in Japan. Of course people already do - but this recommendation, if followed, would make it legal

It is already legal in more places than most diehard cyclists realize. They just choose to ignore the signs, the same way they choose to ignore any and all other traffic regulations they damned well please.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

It is already legal in more places than most diehard cyclists realize. They just choose to ignore the signs, the same way they choose to ignore any and all other traffic regulations they damned well please.

My wife bagged one last year, right up&over the hood of her car and out onto a 4 lane highway. Lucky son-of-a-gun did not even get any road rash or scratchs, but left a big dent in her fender. Bet he pays more attention now days, LOL.

Uncle Frank

 

[MajideSaiaku]

I used my girlfriends bike on the sidewalk in Japan.

Rarely saw any if at all, cyclists who used the road.

 

[nice gaijin]

I had this same thought (using a bike bell as a pedestrian), as I noticed my own automatic reaction to hearing the sound. It's heartening to see the proof-of-concept!

 

[JimmySeal]

There's a sidewalk next to the road leading out of my town, and if cyclists didn't use it regularly (instead of the road), it would mean a lot of high school students splattered on the road.