Police alert!!!!

EricinIkebukuro · Oct 28, 2011, 09:25

Hey all,

Giving everyone a heads up. I'm on my way to work in shibuya and the police are lining the streets stopping all cyclists doing any type of infraction. All infractions listed in the "more on the law" thread is being enforced. I have seen fixed gears confiscated for no brakes an people put in a police wagon. People riding with earbuds are only being warned. People not following traffic lights or riding through crosswalks are being stopped and fined. Everyone becareful. This time they are out for blood and the "I don't speak Japanese" line probably won't work.

Half-Fast Mike · Oct 28, 2011, 09:47

Originally Posted by EricinIkebukuro

Giving everyone a heads up. I'm on my way to work in shibuya and the police are lining the streets stopping all cyclists doing any type of infraction. All infractions listed in the "more on the law" thread is being enforced. I have seen fixed gears confiscated for no brakes and people put in a police wagon. People riding with earbuds are only being warned. People not following traffic lights or riding through crosswalks are being stopped and fined. Everyone becareful. This time they are out for blood and the "I don't speak Japanese" line probably won't work.

Great! Keeping the streets safe for the rest of us.

I went through Shibuya on R246 at around 07.45 and didn't see a single cop - not even on the corner by Y's where they are often to be found trawling motorists who drive straight on from the left-turn-only lane.

So I guess it's the 8 o'clock shift that's on naughty-cyclist-catching duty. I'm surprised that there's anyone still out on the street on a kotei with no brakes. Social pariah!

Wouldn't it be nice if, inbetween times, the police could also clean up the illegal parking and illegal driving in bus/cycle lane problems!? That would make it much safer for cyclists to ride in the road.

Ludwig · Oct 28, 2011, 09:57

I'm looking forward to the day the police starts a campaign to root out dangerous and illegal driving by taxis. May be a long while off, as it would require importing police from all over Japan just to patrol a small area of Tokyo...

velo_commuter · Oct 28, 2011, 10:36

Originally Posted by Half-Fast Mike

Wouldn't it be nice if, inbetween times, the police could also clean up the illegal parking and illegal driving in bus/cycle lane problems!? That would make it much safer for cyclists to ride in the road.

I agree that cleaning up the illigal parking. Because if the bicycles are supposed to be excluded from the sidewalk, and then there are the illigal pariking on the street.... Will the bicycles be able to run anywhere?

Tamir · Oct 28, 2011, 11:42

I went through the same intersection as HF Mike just before 8AM. I didn't see any police, so I took one of the middle lanes towards Roppongi (technically illegal I think?).

BTW, can a bicycle be pulled over for speeding.

Esqua · Oct 28, 2011, 11:49

Originally Posted by Ludwig

I'm looking forward to the day the police starts a campaign to root out dangerous and illegal driving by taxis. May be a long while off, as it would require importing police from all over Japan just to patrol a small area of Tokyo...

+1 to this

Half-Fast Mike · Oct 28, 2011, 11:56

Originally Posted by Tamir

so I took one of the middle lanes towards Roppongi (technically illegal I think?).

Yes it is. But on that intersection they turn a grudging blind eye because there is no sensible alternative; the nearest crossing that could be used is at the top of Konno-zaka/Miyamasu-zaka, and to cross using the cycle lanes would leave the cyclist in the road facing the wrong way.

Here's one miscreant on Google Streetview doing just what you describe.

Originally Posted by Tamir

BTW, can a bicycle be pulled over for speeding?

Definitely. The bicycle is a (light) vehicle, and according to article 22 of the Road Traffic Law a vehicle must not travel faster than the posted speed limit. The speed limit on R246, supposedly an urban clearway, is 60 kph except where otherwise indicated.

I think it very unlikely that a cyclist in the road would actually be ticketed for speeding. But, again, if excessive speed were deemed to be a contributory factor in an accident - as it very frequently is - then the penalties can be harsh.

GSAstuto · Oct 28, 2011, 13:58

With all that man [sic] power out there - I sincerely hope they crack the SEA gangfuc*ers that have been stealing nice bikes and sending them to Malaysia, Singapore and VietNam. And the finoccio idiot taxi drivers that Ludwig alludes to! FIXED GEAR - ON! BRAKES - OFF! Catch me if you can!

OwenJames · Oct 28, 2011, 15:43

This seems to be getting up a fair bit of media interest of late.

I had a couple of 'muggles' talking to me about this today at work; apparently it has been all over the TV for days now.

All good, I suppose.

theBlob · Oct 28, 2011, 18:58

I had a shirobai slip out of the stopped traffic and follow me in the bus lane, stopping about 40m back as I stopped at a red light. One of those people only crossing ones with no people crossing. He was definitely waiting for me to head right on through.

I guess I have that look to me!!