Rent-a-bicycle part 2
2013年07月14日
Continuing with the topic this month of rent-a-bicycle, the Takamatsu City have designated “no parking zones for bikes” to curb unwanted bicycles cluttering up the city.
So if you are riding in the city and you see one of these “no parking zones for bikes” or leave a bike or motorbike unattended in these areas for more then 2 hours, keep in mind that there is a risk that if parked in these areas they’ll be carried away and impounded. If a bike is removed, the owner or user must pay 1,500 yen for a bicycle or 2,500 for a motorcycle to get them back from the bike pound. Not a happy thought so be careful.
Renting & riding bicycles in Takamatsu is pretty easy and the facilities for rentals are just great. There’s even a power-assisted ramp to help push one up from the huge underground storage and parking area. There are a couple of these underground rental/parking facilities in Takamatsu City now. This one is right in front of the Takamatsu JR Station and the entrance signs are clearly marked in English. The Youtube link below also shows the main bicycle port underground and in front of the Takamatsu Central Station.
Keep in mind that these bicycles are all shopping bicycles with front baskets for carrying stuff and not designed for speed. Please ride carefully and although this is a pretty safe city to ride bicycles. Accidents are rare but they do happen.
Elevators are another way to get down to the parking lot and they are designed to take both riders and bicycles. Once in the basement, you’ll see a registration desk and here’s a little video to help walk you through the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4BRC9bxgmI
There are a total of 7 rent-a-bike ports in the city and the link below will give you the information on fees and where they are located.
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/living-infomation/traffic/rental-bicycles.html
So please remember we have English speaking staff at our Tourist Information Center located right in front of the Takamatsu JR Central Station and if you’re unsure about how to do any of this, they’ll help you.
The Kagawa Welcome card is another thing you should have as it offers some discounts around the town.
http://www.my-kagawa.jp/special/visitor/kanko/index.htm
or
http://www.i-pal.or.jp/profile/topics/kagawas-welcome-card.html
Takamatsu welcomes you, this is a wonderful city to pedal around in and although not mandatory, helmets are a good idea.
I’ll be back in a week or so with part 3 in this series. Until then, safe pedaling.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Takamatsu
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
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Posted by pat at 11:25
