An Example in Nakano City

Nakano City, at western area of 23 Cities in Tokyo Metropolis between Shinjuku City of east side and Suginami City west side, has the long territory on north and south. As a traffic of east west direction, there are railroads such as Seibu Shinjuku line which passes through the northern area, JR Chuo line central area, and subway Marunouchi line southern area, but there is no railroad which it runs to north and south direction, so except some roads in which traffic density is high, movement utility is not good. Because punctuality is not guaranteed and the transport quantity is so limited, the public transportation system cannot be useful. So bicycle use to the station "park & ride" are much demanded, it is similar to the case in the other station of Chuo line of neighbouring area.

Nakano City, as shown to maintaining the quasi- public selection system of the member of the board of education to the last of the nationwide local governments, was the area where the citizen has high consciousness and their influence is strong relatively, even at today Nakano City authority seems to do the policies considering height of consciousness and subjectivity of the citizen; for example, on September 11th, a little more than 1 month's after start on the August 5th of 2002, cut off the residence basic network system (" juki-net"). But in regard to environment and the bicycle the despicable policy which is far from that is forced.

Nakano City authority
become the most bicycle hostile local government in Japan

In 2002 Nakano City authority has escalated to enforce the bicycle hostility policy. Besides it started "tekkyo (removing)" the "" hochi (left)" bicycle " around JR Nakano station everyday from May, it started, saying through the mass media, to require 5000 Yen from July for the return of the bicycle. Until recently, the upper limit of such a cost was 3000 Yen, but, Nakano City, surpassing that the Tokyo Chiyoda City and Ichikawa city of Chiba prefecture made 4000 Yen, soon, has required present nationwide highest amount. I should say that not only such amount itself, including all process, the Nakano City authority has become the most bicycle hostile local government in Japan.

A plate showing prohibited area of bicycle parking (2002.10.2)

Nearby JR Chuo line Nakano station. It shows the receipt cost of the nationwide highest amount overbearingly.

The falling down process to the most bicycle hostile local government in Japan

In Nakano City authority, as for the bicycle, bicycle measure position of the traffic counter measure section of the maintenance division (the former constructive division) is in charge. In the City organization, the post which the word "counter measure" is attached is 3 and (another one is traffic counter measure position of the same section, but the object of the "counter measure " is indefinite). Furthermore it is clear that among them to be defined clearly as the object of the "counter measure" is bicycle only. It shows the bicycle view of the City authority, and is prerequisite of the bicycle hostility policy which escalates drastically.

Around JR Nakano station south entrance (2002.10.2)

It is the place where Nakano City authority abuse bicycle cruelly.

Bicycle parking around JR Nakano station south entrance and underpass of JR Chuo line (2002.10.2)

There is a bicycle parking where one of the shopping centers extending from the Nakano station south entrance is passed through. As for the fee 100 Yen one day and 1000 Yen one month, relatively the latter is treated favourably. The bicycle parking fee becomes the obstacle for the store of this area where is not the big retailer store other than Marui dept. store.

Neglect the citizen

Now we will keep tracing such a cruel way from the document and Homepage of Nakano City authority.

Now preparing! Please wait a moment.

We should say that such a process is quite counter and cruel; not only enforcing bicycle hostile policy and against realizing kind policy to the environment, but also Nakano City authority ignores and neglect the existence of the citizen as a subject of the civil society which held in Nakano City.

Bicycle use environment

The district of Nakano City -- long on north and south -- is able to concern to divide into 3 area; northern area along with the Seibu Shinjuku line, the central area along with the JR Chuo line and southern area along with the subway Marunouchi line. And we can understand that it also features the environment of bicycle use.

Central area; JR Chuo line

As for the central area along with the JR Chuo line, under the name of counter measuring against the "" hochi (left)" bicycle ", City authority makes bicycle hostile policy most cruelly. Especially around JR Nakano station which is the main entrance of City and nearby city hall, it has made desperate efforts to bicycle abuse.

Around JR Higashi Nakano station (2002.10.2)

Because in addition that the rapid service train does not stop, it is close to subway Tozai line Ochiai station, the user of JR Higashi Nakano station was not many until recently, but Metropolitan subway 12th line Hikarigaoka to Shinjuku ("Oh-Edo line") being open to traffic, does the user increase? The underground bicycle parking was constructed in the vicinity of the subway which runs under along with Yamate-dori street.

Along with JR Chuo line, the public transportation which is crossed to north and south direction, is not punctual and the amount of the traffic is so limited that many bicycle go to the station. This is similar with Suginami City, Musashino city, Mitaka city and so on, not only Nakano City. But there is no reason which justifies that the Nakano City authority make desperate efforts to bicycle banishment, Because Nakano City is relatively easy to access to the central area of the Metropolis directly, different from other cities in the west.

Northern area; Seibu Shinjuku line

The Seibu Shinjuku line which extends from Shinjuku and Takadanobaba is running the northern area of Nakano City to east west. As for the line because between of the station is short in comparison with Seibu Ikebukuro line in parallel, access to the station is convenient, but in the point of duration, regardless of comparatively short distance, access to the central area is inconvenient, (express train does not stop other than Saginomiya which is most distant from Shinjuku and at the west edge of the Nakano city). So you can hold down real estate price, cost of living may be cheap in comparison with other area -- not only the house but also daily necessaries.

Around Arai-yakushi station (2002.10.2)

The road along with the railroad is used as the bicycle parking space free of charge. Without excessive cost, and not required unreasonable fee, we can use bicycle reasonably.

Around Nogata and Numabukuro station (2002.10.2)

Kan-nana st. (the 7th loop) goes under Nogata station. The side road is used the bicycle parking space free of charge. The bicycle parking of Numabukuro station south side has the rack because of the form of the site. This needs pay.

Concerning the cost of bicycle use, the northern area of Nakano City is kept cheap. Almost all of the free available bicycle parking places City authority manages, is in this area. As for the bicycle parking place which is at the public area, is free of charge -- it is common sense! -- in the advanced nations such as Europe and America, so the area is relatively close to the global standard.

Southern area; Subway Marunouchi line

There are many swamp in the area, to recently even with the little rain caused flood of the Kanda river, inside Nakano City it is most useful to access to central area of the metropolis such as Shinjuku. There are many route which go straight to Shinjuku e.g. Ohme-kaido ave. which subway Marunouchi line goes in paralle.

Around Shin-Nakano station (2002.10.2)

subway Marunouchi line goes under Ohme-kaido ave. from Ogikubo to Shinjuku. To the sub center of metropolis Shinjuku it is close from Shin-Nakano.

Not only Shinjuku City of east next door, Shibuya City of south next door and Suginami City of west next door, in daily life many people moves by bicycle, because of the attending sphere of the school and the commercial sphere of the shop which is near the city boundary.

(Oct.29.2002)