Use a Utility Bicycle in Japan

 Utility bicycles are the best bicycles for commuting in Japan. They are sturdy, safe, and secure. 

Utility bicycles are sturdy to a fault. This also makes them quite heavy unless you get an aluminum frame. I have a steel frame, and it is heavy. If I want to load it into my truck, I have to either use a ramp and push it, or lift it up over the side. I can lift it, but it is hefty. On the other hand, I never have to worry about the integrity of the frame.

Every thing about these bikes is meant to last. Many high school students park them out in the elements in front of train stations, because they use them as part of their commute to school. They either ride from home to the station or from the station to school. Bikes are left exposed to the elements. They are often blown over in windy weather, and aside from a mix-up with a car, I have never seen any part of a utility bicycle dented or bent. 

In the past it was common to hear a bicycle making a clunk-clunk sound  as it rolled by. The chain requires regular lubrication, but if neglected the chain would rust. This was especially true of the type in the photo below where the chain is completely encased in a metal covering. The chain would rust into a bent position, and make a noise every time it made a revolution, striking against the inside of the cover. 

Current models have replaced chains with a belt drive. Belt drives are cleaner, lighter, cheaper, smoother, quieter and require less maintenance or adjustment than chains. My bicycle is an older model with a chain. I don't mind that, because I enjoy tinkering with mine, but for people who would otherwise neglect their chains or who do not enjoy getting their hands dirty, belt drive is the answer.

Utility bicycles come equipped with a light in front and reflectors on the spokes, on the frame at the rear of the bicycle, and on each of the pedals. Modern lights turn themselves on when it becomes dark enough, and they are charged by a generator in the front hub. That eliminates the need to reach down to the front tire and flip the switch that puts the generator in contact with the rim or tire. If it is dark, the light comes on. 

Japan has a reputation for being a crime-free country, and that is true, except for bicycles and umbrellas. If it is unlocked and unattended, someone is going to snatch it, take it where they want to go, and ditch it. Any utility bicycle you might buy these days comes with a locking system where, when you lock the rear wheel, the front wheel is also locked. This effectively gives you two locks for the effort of one. You can also register and insure your bicycle when you buy it, which puts it into a system that records bikes that are stolen. This makes it easier for the authorities to return stolen property, or for the owner to use insurance to replace one. 

Bicycles are great transportation, and for the daily commute they cannot be bested. Most of them come with a rear rack and a handlebar basket. They are built with the busy rider in mind, who does not have the time or will to maintain a bicycle that is coated in road grime. My stur
dy, safe and secure ride has never let me down.