Kyoto's Bicycle System Doesn't Make Sense
In Toronto, I never divided my garbage. TV's, bottles, cans, burnable, non-burnable were all thrown in the same bag. I never worried about how much water or electricity I was using. These days, I live in Kyoto, the home of the famous Kyoto Protocol and the: "Do you Kyoto?" campaign. Kyoto is synonymous with environmental protection. I divide my garbage and try to conserve water and electricity. Living in Kyoto has made me much more conscious and active about protecting the environment. However, there is one way in which Kyoto can learn from Toronto: the bicycle management system. Kyoto's bicycle system is not environmentally friendly, it is not practical, and it is not economical.
Bicycles and Kyoto are a natural match. Kyoto is a beautiful, traditional city. Cars have gases that pollute the natural environment. Bicycles don't. Large train stations destroy the beautiful skyline of the city. Bicycles don't need stations or tracks. Kyoto has many interesting places throughout the city. Most people agree that the cheapest and healthiest way to see them all is by bicycle. Finally, there are a lot of people in Japan! Cars take up a lot of space. Bicycles don't.
Unfortunately, the bicycle management system here is not environmentally friendly. Unclaimed bikes are destroyed after 4 weeks! This is a serious waste. The trucks that roam around the city picking up bicycles that are not parked create pollution. The warning stickers that are printed, stuck on bikes, and thrown away also create waste. Further, the energy used every day by teams of people to pick up bicycles is a waste of manpower. And, of course, using the subway to go and get your bike back uses gas and so creates pollution. So, even though the citizens ride bicycles the city government still creates pollution (gas, paper) and waste (energy, time, money). Does this system make sense?
Also, the system is not practical. There are simply not enough bicycle parking places. The first time I met these bicycle police, they told me, "you can't park here". I asked them (in Japanese) where the nearest parking lot was, but they didn't know. After my bicycle was taken for the second time, I was determined to use only bicycle lots. However, they are often full. What are we supposed to do in this situation? I often work at many places around the city, but there is absolutely no place for employees to park. Finally, many elderly people ride bicycles and often shop slowly. Must they always worry about their bicycle being taken? Does this system make sense?
Finally, the system is not economical., Bicycles should be cheaper than cars. However, if we have to pay (at least) 200-400 yen daily just to park our bikes, sometimes using the subway is cheaper! Also, if your bike is taken, the subway fare to get to the bicycle pound is about 200-300 yen. Then the fine is 2300 yen. Actually, because the fine is so high, many people simply buy a new bike every time theirs is taken, increasing the waste! What is the 2300 yen being used for? Simply to maintain this system, an endless cycle of bicycles being taken and retrieved (or destroyed)? Does this system make sense?
In Toronto, using bicycles is encouraged. Toronto is also crowded, so it is reasonable to park anywhere for a short period of time (if a bike is left in the same place for weeks it will be removed). Torontonians never have to worry about their bicycle being taken for no reason. If Kyoto truly wants to be taken seriously as an environmentally conscious city, the current bicycle management system must be changed. It is not environmentally friendly, it is not practical, and it is not economical.
投稿者：管理者 日時：05月19日 16：06 ｜パーマリンク
