Mr Brown has posted an extremely helpful blog post about cycling in Singapore. Since arriving in Japan, I have been cycling to school. I bought a cheap bike and wished I had the fancy gadgets that Mr Brown has, but at least I have an automatic light which comes out when I cycle at night (dynamo power I think). Almost all Japanese bikes have a basket in front of the bike and their own special lock at the back wheel, which prevents people from stealing the bike. Near most shopping malls and town centers, there are real large parking lots (around 100 meters by 100 meters) for bicycles. Also, there are substantial underground parking for bikes, just as they are for cars. Very high tech, as you can see from this video. Most town centers have a bike shop near the train station located prominently for people who need air in their tires or quick repairs. In Tokyo, especially in the suburbs, almost everyone cycles. It is legal for cyclists to ride on pavements and I think generally everyone is very careful as a pedestrian, a driver or a cyclist. Pedestrians do not assume that there would be no bikes coming from side streets, so they tend to pause and look around before moving from streets to streets. Cars are most considerate as they do allow cyclists the right of way sometime on roads! They usually drive slowly as they look out for cyclists. Cyclists ironically seem to be less considerate, as they weave in and out of pavements to the streets with some abandonment. But it seems to be a societal norms as people of all ages bike - be it a 94 years old auntie, a dressed up cuff links 28 years old executive, a 19 year old Japanese “punk”, an entire family going to the town center on bikes (father, cute daughter, mother, disgruntled teenager all on bikes), a 15 years ago fashionable school girl going to high school or out of shape people like me to college. So biking is given priority in Japanese society! On most roads in Tokyo (especially the suburbs), there are striped lines to indicate a bike lane. I have began to go furthur distance, up to half an hour to the town center instead of taking the train. So far a pleasant ride and I wonder if Singapore will become a more bike-friendly place?