Island ride

No helmet, on the wrong side of the road.

No helmet, on the wrong side of the road.

Proof right there 95% of foreigners never venture to live outside of Tokyo/Osaka areas.

In most of the country, only students and small children wear helmets.

In most of the country, only students and small children wear helmets.

Wrong. I've visited every prefecture in the country. It's been against the law to cycle without a helmet nationwide for over a year.

There is no penalty for riding without a helmet although I think people should wear one.

Wrong. I've visited every prefecture in the country. It's been against the law to cycle without a helmet nationwide for over a year.

Aaand people I've seen wearing helmets on my 20 min drive to work this morning in Tokyo: 0

Why no helmet lady?

Recently released data from the police in my prefecture states that about 18% of bike riders are wearing helmets.

They also stated that death through head injury was 1.5 times higher in non-helmet wearers.

As the stats indicate helmets are rare in my city and I'd hazard a guess that most of the 18% are kids and jnr high school students (compulsory).

Adults outside of road tourer types, almost never ever wear helmets.

And Teshima is exactly the sort of place where cyclists would never wear a helmet - lightly populated, very rural island - except when the Seto Art Festival is on - every 3 years - and lots of tourists come and rent bikes.

A very lovely, peaceful photo. Something of a relief from the usual. Nicely done.

"my 20 min drive to work this morning in Tokyo".

IPCC requires Less Driving. Maybe like the photo.

Shame Japanese cities usually some how make it harder to cycle.