Friends in Japan tell me that it’s really rude to use my bicycle bell. I always ask them what else I’m supposed to do make people - especially groups of people - move to the side when I’m cycling… I mean, I could very slowly cycle around them but then I’d still be risking hitting one of them. Or I could keep hitting the brakes and make that really loud annoying sound that would probably make them realize I want to pass. Or I could just ring my bell, which is part of my bicycle anyway and then just say Sumimasen (Excuse me.) and bow while passing.
Bike courtesy is something people always bring up when talking about manners and how there is a serious lack of them recently. Others, of course, include behavior in the train, loud chatting or smoking in non-smoking areas. Since I have to rely on my bicycle to get me places, I try to be as responsible as I can when cycling through town. So when I caught wind of the new bicycle laws that have been passed recently, I started to panic. Most of the stuff on the poster I saw were stuff I already knew: prohibition against riding with an umbrella, no parking in areas not designated as parking areas, no cycling on pedestrian lanes, etc. But what got to me was the extremely unreasonable fines. For leaving your bicycle in a no parking area, you have to pay a maximum fine of ￥50,000! I’d just leave my bicycle there then… I thought.
Then things like overtaking senior citizens would cost up to ￥300,000. I had to ask one of my friends to translate this properly for me. I had to ask her several times if she was sure it was overtaking and not bumping the elderly pedestrian while overtaking. She just kept repeating that it was overtaking, just overtaking. To be fair, a lot if not all of the rules were reasonable. I was just concerned about the penalties. So I had to ask, “How about ringing your bell, what’s the penalty for that?”, just to receive a “No, that’s not on here…”
Irony. (After reading the above article, however, it seems bell ringing has been added to the list! I think I’ll just walk.)
wow~ there’s even a bicycle law?! That is so weird and it seems that there are too much law to follow! haha~
Recently, I heard from my boyfriend’s colleague about his driving experience in Japan. He said that no matter how slow one drives, nobody will horn. The Japanese will just quietly drive behind.
Japanese does have very good patience and courtesy~
Thanks, H.T!
Come to think of it, you’re right… people hardly overtake and blow their horns… it’s nice but kinda weird…
It’s the same with bike bells. I don’t know how else to go about crowds but cycle on the shoulder of the street or occasionally ring my bell.
The only way I know to overtake people in bicycle is the good ol’ “MOVE IT!!!!” … but I do live in Italy. Italy is a country where you never, whatever the law say, have the priority, you have to fight to TAKE IT!
It’s really tiring … so sometimes I take my care to Switzerland to have a relaxing, danger free, ride.
Thanks again, simaldeff!
I know what you mean, but everyone is just so polite here, and also so patient, no one wants to really ruin the harmony by shouting a “Get out of my way!”
I do call out “Sumimasen” but even if there is only a slight tone of annoyance in your voice, it turns them hostile, making you the rude Gaijin…
Thanks for your honest descriptions of your experiences in Japan. I hope to go there one day as I have always had an interest in Japanese culture. I also have several friends who have lived in Japan teaching ESL and they all had a great time. I am currently learning Japan online http://learnbasic-japanese.blogspot.com so that I’ll be able to communicate and get ‘by’ while I’m there.
Thank you for commenting, malinka18!
I really love living in Japan, even if sometimes it gets trying. I try to always be open-minded though and accept things as they are. Good luck with your Japanese studies!
People always use their bell to signal they are behind you etc. Everyone does it. It is not rude. Whoever told you that is an idiot or they are exaggerating hugely or you are having a major communication breakdown.
I live in Tokyo and almost everyone will use their bike bell if you are blocking the sidewalk.
I second that. I live in Fukuoka City, and people always use the bell to let you know they’re behind you. How else are you, the pedestrian without eyes on the back of your head, to know?
Also, people do walk as if they are in a drunken stupor here as well.
Hi Jim! Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment!
I still use my bell, there’s really no other way, sometimes. But I often follow it up with a “Sumimasen”.
I often ask Japanese friends why they think it’s rude to ring their bike bell, but they don’t really know why, either. It’s just something their parents and grandparents have told them when they were little.
Hi Moon! Thanks for commenting!
It’s more just a thing in the countryside, I guess. Many of my Japanese friends just say “Better to be inconspicuous and not draw attention to yourself”. They seem to dislike making their presence known.
Thanks for sharing!
I live in Matsumoto, but I’ve lived other places as well. I try to avoid the bell, especially when I’m up close to someone who doesn’t know I’m there. I look for a way to get around if possible, or say sumimasen in my sweetest voice. If all else fails, I just pop off into the street. If I see someone up ahead and know I’m going to have to go around him, I use the bell from a distance back, and kind of softly, so it doesn’t sound to harsh or startling. That works pretty good.
Now, I’d like to know where I can get hold of all the bike laws. I figure I break a lot of them regularly. Do you know where I can get them, especially in English?
Thanks for the tip, Martin!
I try to do that, too. Once you get used to not ringing the bell, using it gets a little awkward.
All I have in English is the link above. I’ve seen the Japanese one, but it seems to differ per prefecture. They might have a list at your city office.
Thanks for dropping by!