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Oct 18 2011 10 Comments

A Japanese bike that’s both a way to get around and a workshop

With its busy trains and traffic-congested roads, Tokyo is a great city to navigate by bike; the side streets, sights and a real sense of freedom making even a commute something to relish rather than recoil from.

And if said bike also doubles as a workshop and therefore one’s workplace, it must be even more wonderful.

Japanese bike workshop

Categorized: Odd, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Arthur Guinness says

    10/18/2011 at 8:44 am

    Knife and lawnmower sharpeners had bikes like that in Dublin in the 60’s. Amazing to see they’re still in use somewhere.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/18/2011 at 11:46 pm

      Bikes like that are everywhere in Japan, but very few double up as a workshop!

      Reply
  2. Sesquipedal says

    10/18/2011 at 12:01 pm

    I love this picture. The person is doing 100% honest work, and the photo represents it perfect with the time of day and lack of miscellaneous debris around her. Just her, a bike, and her job.

    Thanks for showing us!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/18/2011 at 11:46 pm

      Not at all. Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  3. winnie says

    10/18/2011 at 9:05 pm

    I love this picture too!!
    Great shot!!
    Your pictures never fails to amaze me!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/18/2011 at 11:48 pm

      Thanks Winnie. We weren’t the only ones interested by this. When I took the photograph, there were a few other people stood staring in surprise.

      Reply
  4. Hans ter Horst says

    10/19/2011 at 12:38 am

    Don’t remind me of bicycles in Japan: each time I’m in Japan I end up getting irritated by the cyclists on the narrow pavements who expect me to jump in traffic to let them go past. Nowadays I just stand still and let them do all kinds of acrobatics to get past while they give me nasty glances. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/19/2011 at 12:51 pm

      Yes, the sound of that bell can get pretty irritating…

      Reply
      • Sesquipedal says

        10/20/2011 at 7:00 am

        I much rather someone /say/ something IE sumimasen rather than use a bell – a bell is so commanding, and at least with words you have to acknowledge that you are both equally allowed to use said ped-way and if one of you could be kind of enough to the let the faster one through that would be nice.

        Or they could just trick off the sidewalk and head past you, but that opens up possibilities of problems if that walker decides to cut to the other side, or if a car turns the corner suddenly in front of you.

        ….or they could just learn the “I’m like a car” signals and wave their hands around while pissing off people that want to go fast in those little tiny roads common-place in the residential areas.

        Reply
  5. mimi says

    10/21/2011 at 12:37 pm

    I don’t like how bikers in canada are seen as too poor to afford a car. bikes are so much better for the environment.

    Reply

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