Uber Eats cyclist indicted over death of 78-year-old pedestrian

Uber Eats must be held responsible for this however they in their wisdom had all delivery staff sign a contract that makes them independent agents. Uber Eats is responsible no matter what they try to get away with.

"momentarily wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of him."

I was riding a bike down the center of the sidewalk, because of an approaching cyclist on the right and left. Both middle aged jwomen did not want to share a one direction side. And out of nowhere comes a super speeding jman down the middle, I had nowhere to go left or right, and this fool had a selfish sinister look on his face, so I chose the side with not much more space to let this bat out of hell nutcrack have his way. I have a strange feeling he did that on purpose. ...like he crossed the street before coming our way to do his nutcrack dangerous stunt. So now I try to keep my eyes further up the road, and look across the street for a illegal crosser trying to wreak havoc.

There is a larger problem no limited to Uber Eats, which is bicyclists think they do not have to stop at red lights. They think it is OK to barrel through and pedestrians have to leap out of their way.

I've complained to Uber directly about their cyclists driving dangerously, they don't care.

Something needs to be done about cyclists in Japan. As @KevinMcgue states, they really don't abide by any form of safety rules.

Wrong way down roads, sidewalks at speed, very often no lights, too fast, ignoring stop signs, etc. It's pretty bad.

Such an avoidable death. What a shame.

"There is a larger problem not limited to Uber Eats, which is bicyclists think they do not have to stop at red lights. They think it is OK to barrel through and pedestrians have to leap out of their way."

Some predict that casualties from selfish bike speeders on those narrow sidewalks, will take a chomp out of the "Japanese aging population", and add perhaps may have an affect on their already "declining birthrates"

Uber Eat should also be prosecuted and held accountable regardless, the rider was working for them at the time of the accident.

I see many here agree , there is a foolish peril, riding bikes in Tokyo. I have had some close calls with people crossing in front of me not looking before they walk, and of course the ruthless "barrel through speeders," FRONT AND BEHIND, and the people who if you ring your bike bell at, all of a sudden want to jump gangsta at you. Really stupid $#!* I'd say.

Problem with cyclists in Japan, they don’t know if they are pedestrians or vehicles. They want to be both. They don’t stop at red light and cuts off pedestrian lane.

I have had some close calls with people crossing in front of me not looking before they walk

You’re the one who don’t know basic “driving” etiquette. The one who sees should be the one who gives way. That’s basic.

Uber Eats delivery man on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death after he hit and killed a 78-year-old man last year

not surprised at all. Those jokers think they rule the roads just because they have a minimum wage back pack on.

Bicycle riders are indeed a safety concern in Japan, not only for pedestrians but also while driving a car - especially during bad weather like fog or rain or in evening in dark narrow streets with only a few street lights. Very difficult to see, no lights neither front nor rear, not respecting any traffic rule, coming out of nowhere from all sides...

Police is too tolerant towards bicycle riders, talking and texting using a mobile while riding a bicycle, ignoring red traffic lights and stop signs should result in a fine.

The use of bicycles should be better regulated by law in Japan. It should not be allowed to sell bicycles without lights front AND rear and they should be switched on day and night while riding them similar to motorcycles. There should be an obligatory accident insurance - maybe a family insurance covering parents and their children using bicycles.

Until a politician or their children is injured by a cycle, nothing will change.

Mark...

Uber Eat should also be prosecuted and held accountable regardless, the rider was working for them at the time of the accident.

No, they are NOT working for Uber. They are self employed.

"You’re the one who don’t know basic “driving” etiquette. The one who sees should be the one who gives way. That’s basic."

I'm talking about when being on a bike Holmes.

Jalan5, pedestrians have right of way, not you on your bike. A cyclist thinking otherwise killed that gentleman last year.

The cyclist killed the man, not Uber. He may have been under a lot of pressure to get X number of meals delivered within a narrow time frame to pay for the expensive bike that seems de rigeur for Uber Eats deliverers in Tokyo (what's with that?). That might explain eschewing the drag and weight or expense of an appropriately high-end headlight. He may have been trying to set a new time for himself and bragging rights with other riders, who knows?

Anyhoo, he killed someone. Dead. Probably a father, husband, grandfather, best friend and all the rest. I love cycling myself, and where I grew up the cops made a point of stopping kids breaking the law on their bikes. They also provided free cycling proficiency courses in my local park during the summer. Passing the test was rewarded with a certificate and an expensive looking badge. As a result I cycle assertively and safely, with plenty of lights and hi viz.

As far as I'm aware, Japan doesn't police kids' cycling. Near where I live, there's a 交通公園, literally a traffic park with little roads and junctions and hills and bends where kids can learn to cycle with their parents. The local city rents out bikes there. There's absolutely no discipline, and no signage with cute mascots urging the kids to keep left, stop at red lights, and be considerate of others. Often the parents are the worst offenders (not their fault... nobody seems to have ever thought to teach them).

Kids have carte blanche to do as they please, and our car has been in the shop a couple of times (at our expense) having been ridden into by mindless cyclists darting out of side streets. Kids become adults, and too often drive intuitively, like they've always done, and to hell with the in-one-ear-out-the-other rules.

In Ayase on Christmas Eve I wanted to shake a cop's hand. He had stopped and was ticketing a person who had been cycling on the right, a bugbear for me, particularly when cycling myself and the other cyclist - in selfish self-preservation - tries (unsuccessfully) to force me out into the traffic.

Let's be safe out there, and hope the cops become a bit more proactive with kids. Don't hold your breath.

Uber Eats, is an element o the so-called 'gig economy'. Contractual employees who are not direct hires of Uber. Essentially enabled by an app. No genuine infrastructure, let alone employee benefits and the like.

Uber is an example of a modern aka contemporary carpetbagger. An exploitive entity created to glean profits which are extracted from local economies. App-based companies are the face of a larger, sinister trend.

Uber delivery? No thanks! I saw the delivery guy sneezed and wiped it off on his shirt sleeve but NOT washing his hands or used provided disinfectant spray......

The only time I use glasses are when I’m inside. Rest of the time, only contacts. I can’t even walk down a flight of stairs with glasses on account of possibly tripping and breaking my neck. So yeah, I would never ride a bicycle with glasses.

I cycle quite a bit and Uber riders p!ss me right off. Dangerous and completely inconsiderate.

If it was raining he should of not be going so fast that he could not stop. Further more if he needs glasses he should know that if it was raining that he should get something to cover his head so that the rain will not get in is eyes/glasses. That being said riding bicycles in tokyo is a great way to get where you need to go especially if there is no direct train to where you need to go. Why spend 45 min on a train when you can get where you need to go on a bicycle in half the time? I see plenty of cars turning into lanes even though the cross walk is green for pedestrians to walk and getting so close that they could hit just so they can turn that much quicker. But I digress this guy should of been more careful and because of his negligence that poor old man died and both lives were ruined and for those of us who ride bicycles (myself included) need to be more careful especially in poor weather conditions.