Matsuyama cyclists

Matsuyama residents are masterful cyclists. They appear to be born to their bicycles, like Mongolians on horseback.

They ride on crowded sidewalks among pedestrians, down narrow side streets against car traffic, through shopping malls, over trolley tracks. Old and young, businessmen in suits, college students after class, parents doing errands: everyone, it seems, is on a bike. Despite the close quarters in which they frequently maneuver, I did not once see a collision.

Matsuyamans frequently bike with just one hand, the other being used to hold a bag, an umbrella, or a drink. I once saw a guy biking while holding an umbrella in one hand and an open can of beer in the other.

The bicycles themselves are not at all fancy. On the contrary, they are starkly utilitarian.

Most have baskets in front. The placement of the headlamp is almost always down beside the front wheel.

I like the way the basket support post wraps around the light. This placement of the headlamp is superior to placement on the handlebars the way we do it in the US. First, the light isn't blocked by the basket or its contents.  Second, proximity to the road surface means better illumination. Third, the low placement prevents the light from shining in the eyes of oncoming bicycle, car, or pedestrian traffic.

To support all of this biking, a lot of parking infrastructure is needed.  This is one of the parking areas on Ehime University campus.

Here's the covered mall in downtown Matsuyama.  Actually, I think that parking here might be illegal.

You're supposed to park your bike in one of these parking areas inside the mall, which are patrolled by guards to prevent theft.

A block away from the covered mall is this bicycle and scooter parking garage.  Note the moral monkeys, who are helpfully protecting the environment.

The moral monkeys have created a memorable acronym.  (Okaido is the name of the big street in the downtown area.)

Almost everywhere you go you can always find a few bikes parked.

This is a typical bike lock: simple and small.  It won't prevent someone from physically removing the bike, but it does make it unrideable, which is usually deterrent enough.

During the rainy season, many Matsuyama residents tuck an umbrella along the rear wheel.

Here are a few (blurry) pictures of Matsuyama bikers carrying umbrellas in the rain as they ride.

If I'd planned to stay longer, I would have bought, borrowed, or rented a bicycle.