Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012

By CHARLES LEWIS

Yukihiro Sakuma
Beautician, 21 (Japanese)
People rode bicycles carelessly in the past, but now they are enforcing the rules more strictly. I think this is necessary if they want to reduce the number of accidents.

Lena
Housewife, 23 (Russian)
When I'm driving and I see mothers riding bikes with kids on the front and back, I'm scared of hitting them, and I wonder why they can do such things. I'd never ride on a bicycle with my child.

Michael Hatfield
Carpenter, 31 (American)
I don't know much about bicycles but I've heard complaints about bicyclists in California, and I know the police there can give out tickets. I've never had any problems with bicyclists in Japan.

Sato
Beautician, 22 (Japanese)
The crackdown is tough for people who ride bikes, but it can't be helped. When I drive, I see people riding bikes with umbrellas, which is against the rules. This should be stopped because it's dangerous.

Taichi Sakai
Meat shop worker, 36 (Japanese)
Enforcing rules for bicycles is a good thing as it will protect pedestrians, but I don't think they should crack down too hard. If bicyclists followed rules, the police wouldn't have to go after them.

Nobuko Sakurai
Housewife, 50s (Japanese)
Sometimes there are bicycle accidents that leave people badly hurt. Bicyclists are not allowed to ride with headphones on, but many do. The police should fine people who break the rules.

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