A common sight in Japan — bikes

Bikes are so much a part of life here in Japan. Our family rides and walks far more often than we drive. As I look through my photos I find that bikes come up a few times as subjects of photos. 

Here are some random, interesting bike photos I've taken in Japan in the last 18 months:

Well, not exactly a bicycle, but the seat cover was intriguing.
I suspect not too many people in Australia would go out with a Hello Kitty
army-patterned scooter bike seat cover.

Not easy to see, but this bike has an umbrella fastened to the
handlebars. I doubt that this would help much, though!

Knitted bike seat cover.

Outside a restaurant. Guessing that the local kindy had a lunch gathering!
Children aren't allowed to ride to kindergarten or school (until middle school?),
so mothers take their kids to kindy on the back of their bikes until they are at
least six years. Or, they walk (as I did), if they are close enough. Most
elementary aged kids walk to school. Sometimes they catch a train and then
walk if they're going to private schools.

The aforementioned umbrella was attached like this. Obviously this
was a possible-rain type of day. 

Here's a better view.

Our Australian friends were intrigued by this common bike lock. It is attached to
the bike. We were a bit surprised they were so interested, but obviously
these aren't common in Australia?

A bit hard to see, but the outside handrail for those stairs
are bicycle-wheel like. There are spokes originating
at a hub halfway up the stairs.

When riding you have to ride straight (no wobbles), cautiously and not too fast.
Too often you're sharing a skinny road with pedestrians, cars and trucks.
Granted the drivers of motor vehicles are very cautious, but care is needed!
Sometimes you're riding on very narrow paths. No cars to worry there, but
no wobbles either as you pass other bikes and pedestrians.

Does your supermarket have a dedicated bike park out front? Ours does.

This bike intrigued me. So many spokes!

I don't mind this lifestyle. The biggest problem is rainy days. Cold days aren't all that fun either, with your eyes watering and your fingers feeling like they're about to fall off. But generally it is a good, healthy lifestyle. A lifestyle where exercise is already built into it.