Tokyo Two Wheeling

by Paul Oertel

Setagaya Ward is raising the bar for bicycle friendly infrastructure. The Nikkei BP site Tech-On among others reported that Setagaya Ward in Tokyo has unveiled its second solar-powered charging station for electric-assist bicycles. Their foresightedness doesn’t end with just a charging station. The station has a capacity for 100 bicycles and all of them are available for rent for 300 yen per day.

I think this is an extraordinary measure. Green Bay, WI, Washington D. C., Seattle, WA, Paris, Copenhagen and other cities around the world have tried similar bike rental and bike-sharing programs but many of them are struggling to survive or have already been deemed a failure. The problem lies in that the users of these facilities do not treat the bicycles with the consideration they would treat their own bicycles or the bicycles are stolen. I think that the Setagaya Ward program has a good chance of succeeding where other cities failed. First off, there is the basic honesty and respect for authority that is common among Japanese people. In general, the Japanese have a respect for authority and the government that would awe most westerners. Of course, like all countries the times are changing in Japan and the younger generation are not always their fathers’ sons. Still, when I hear about young, Japanese delinquents my first impression is often, “What amateurs.” Compared to the bad boys and girls in America the Japanese delinquents seem like angels. This isn’t something that western nations should be proud to excel in.

The second reason I think the Setagaya Ward program will succeed is that the bikes aren’t free. The cost for one day of rental is 300 yen. Even though this is literally pocket change we are more likely to take care of something if we paid money for it. As humans, if something is free we take it for granted or take it lightly. A good example is our lack of respect for a clean environment. God gave us clean air and water free of charge and look at the mess we have made of it.

The third reason the Setagaya Ward program will be a smashing success is that it is just cool. Solar power, electric assist bicycles. I want one of these stations in my neighborhood and one of these bicycles parked at my house. I would leave my trusty cross bicycle, Whitey, at home once in a while just to try one of these bikes. There is something inherently cool about solar power. And I am not just saying that because green is my favorite color. Long before we cared about greenhouse gases, global warming and energy shortages we had solar-powered calculators. The calculator with the little solar chip in it was the milestone that truly marked the beginning of the solar age. If you are old enough to remember when these first appeared, you will recall how much joy and glee you felt waving your hand over the solar cells watching the display blink on and off as your hand blocked the light to the PV cell. These solar bike stations are solar-powered calculators on a neighborhood scale. The Japanese peoples fascination with cutting edge technology will help protect the program from vandals. In addition to solar power, the bicycles that are provided are the Sanyo Eneloop CY-SPA226 which won an award at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last year. These bikes are cool and if you give me one I guarantee I will put you on my Christmas card list forever.

My only concern about this program is whether anyone will use it. What if you threw a party and nobody came? I wonder who would take advantage of these bikes. Tokyo has perhaps the highest rate of bicycle usage of any city in any industrial nation. Almost everybody has a bicycle and my guess is that at least 60-70% ride it at least once a week. If that is the case, who then will ride these bicycles? Electric-assist bicycles seem suited for the older generation who still need to get around but don’t have the physical strength to pedal a bike solely with their own power. These bikes would be a hit in hilly areas as well. (Setagaya is not very hilly.) Since the Tokyo summer is hot and muggy these bicycles may appeal to the businessman and the OL that wants to commute by bicycle but doesn’t want to work up a sweat. This may not be a good solution for the commuter though because 300 yen a day 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year (not excluding Obon and Golden Week) add up to a fair amount of money. However, if monthly discount rates were provided and if parking in a lot next to the train station is included in the price then this becomes a great solution. I pay anywhere from 100 to 400 yen (the lot in Kichijoji should hang its head tube in shame for its exorbitant prices) per day to park my bicycle.

I’m sure the designers of the Setagaya Ward bike station have got all or most of the technical details worked out but I am wondering about the process details. The Tech-On article is full of technical details about the solar cells but silent regarding information about how these stations and bikes work at the ground level. (I may just have to take trip to Setagaya Ward to try it out for myself.) The bike station reported on in Tech-On is the second of its kind but there is no clue as to how many more are planned. Can I rent a bicycle at one station and return it to another? Do I have to apply to use these bikes like I have to apply for certain bicycle parking lots? If I own an electric assist bicycle can I charge it in the public lot? Who will maintain these bicycles? Solar system? I wonder what the estimated return on investment is?