Spring brings a fresh start, and with cherry blossoms dancing in the air, it’s the perfect season for a pleasant bike ride. Even in Nagoya, known as a car-dependent society, it is truly heartening for us as a bike shop to see more and more people incorporating bicycles into their daily lives.
We want to take concrete action to support this growing trend and help ensure that even more people can utilize bicycles in the future. Today, for the sake of the future of Nagoya's cyclists, we are asking for your cooperation.
Daisy Messenger's Izuru-san is the initiator of a Critical Mass event to be held on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd.
Critical Mass is a civic movement where people ride through the city to advocate for the improved status of cyclists and the promotion of bicycle use in urban areas. It began in San Francisco and is now held in cities all over the world.
・Aichi Prefecture records the worst statistics in Japan for both traffic accidents and fatalities.
In 2016, out of 16,318 casualties in Nagoya, 3,082 were bicycle users (compared to 10,871 in cars and 1,234 pedestrians, according to Aichi Prefectural Police traffic statistics). Issues regarding bicycle use are being raised year after year. However, legal improvements, infrastructure development, and industry efforts are not keeping pace, and the civic movements that should be the driving force behind this change have yet to come to the forefront.
Through negotiations with the Aichi Prefectural Police and government agencies, we have managed to realize this event in a legal format. Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers are all just citizens, with only their modes of transportation differing; there are no "strong" or "weak" among us. What exists are merely the administrative conveniences of those in charge. We look forward to the participation of many bicycle users.
To improve the environment we live in, and to ensure a future where the eco-friendly and convenient bicycle remains a staple for the next generation, we, as bicycle users, must stand united. We look forward to the participation of all of Nagoya's cyclists!
Critical Mass Nagoya
Date and Time: Saturday, April 22, 2017 (Earth Day) at 13:00
Meeting Point: Hisaya Odori Park South Fountain Plaza
*We will ride slowly through the city center for about 30–40 minutes. The route is currently under negotiation and will be announced on the day.
Due to our participation in Critical Mass, Circles store hours on Saturday, April 22nd will be 15:00–20:00. We appreciate your understanding.