There is much truth and psychology hidden behind words; be careful how you use them. Japanese often say, “Let’s meet at gogo-ichi,” but what time exactly is gogo-ichi?
The answer lies with a bicycle rental service called Tokyo Bike!! Our first figure, 24 kilometers, is calculated by assuming a leisurely riding speed of eight kilometers per hour and then multiplying this by three hours for the rental fee, represented by our second figure of 2,000 yen.
How far 24 kilometers can get you might not be immediately clear. However, a circle with a 10 kilometer radius, with Marunouchi at its centre, encompasses areas around the JR Yamanote Line such as Shinjuku (Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden), Shibuya (Meiji-jingu Shrine), Shinagawa and Ikebukuro; Old-Tokyo (shitamachi) areas such as Ueno, Asakusa and Arakawa; as well as locales and attractions around Tokyo Bay such as Toyosu and Hinode Pier.
Isn’t it surprising how far such a short distance can take you?
Starting with the JR line and the Tokyo Metro trains, and not forgetting the various buses, there is a whole host of different ways to reach Marunouchi―and with so many different options available, it’s an easy place to access. However, recently, the number of people traveling to and around Marunouchi by bicycle is on the rise.
It goes without saying, but the energy required to power a bicycle is generated by the rider’s own legs―meaning that harmful exhaust gases are not produced and no electricity is used. In other words, cycling is both a great form of exercise and environmentally friendly. For these two reasons it’s a means of transportation that has been receiving a fare share of media attention worldwide these days.
In additional to the norm of owning your own bicycle and using it from home, there is also now the option of simply renting a bicycle in the area in which you’d like to ride.
Two experimental bicycle-lending schemes were conducted last year, aimed at helping the environment and easing congestion in the OMY (Otemachi, Marunouchi and Yurakucho) area. The schemes continue to face various challenges such as how best to collect bicycles after users finish with them and securing appropriate bicycle parking spaces; nevertheless, schemes like these, which promote the bicycle as a means of transportation, will undoubtedly continue to receive attention.
Shigeru Hosaka
Sales Manager in charge of Tokyo Bike!!
Hotel Business Division
City Park And Service Co., Ltd.
Hinomaru Limousine Group
Tokyo Bike!! is a bicycle rental service offered by Hinomaru Limousine and provides bicycles for hire in various locations, including Marunouchi. According to Shigeru Hosaka, sales manager in charge of the service, 2009 saw a sharp increase in the number of people using the service compared to when it first began in 2006. Hosaka says, “We aren’t in the habit of asking our customers about their particular reasons for hiring a bicycle; however, judging from the number of customers we see wearing suits, it seems that, increasingly, customers are using our bicycles to run business errands.”
Amongst Tokyo Bike!!’s patrons, there is even one customer who, reportedly, once a week opts for their 24-hour plan (4,000 yen) for the round trip all the way out to his home in Makuhari, Chiba. “That particular customer tells me that it would be tough to cycle that kind of distance everyday; however, completing it once a week provides just the right amount of exercise. By accepting reservations in advance we aim to accommodate the various lifestyles of our customers,” Hosaka explains.
The Tokyo Bike!! rental service at Marunouchi is located on the first floor of the Mitsubishi Building, at the Sky Bus ticket counter. Making up the six bikes currently on offer are two BMW sports cruisers, two Louis Garneau mountain bikes and two Yamaha electric power-assist (PAS) bicycles. In the beginning, Tokyo Bike!! offered only BMW models; however, with the introduction of the PAS bicycles, the number of female customers is gradually increasing.
Hosaka says, “We also plan to establish special lunchtime rates and to introduce various other offers to meet the needs of our customers.”
With the weather just beginning to show signs of warmth, you could consider integrating a bicycle into your blossom-viewing plans, take one out for a spin around the Imperial Palace gardens (one of those places that is so close, you never bother to go visit), or even take a ride to one of those slightly out of the way restaurants. How about considering use of a bicycle a way to burn off some calories on your way to lunch? No matter how you choose to make use of a rental bicycle, one thing you can be sure of is that you’ll see a different side of Tokyo and have some great fun along the way.
Tokyo Bike!! Rental Fees
1 hour：1,000 yen (available only at Marunouchi)
Up to 3 hours：2,000 yen
Up to 24 hours：4,000 yen
Late fee：500 yen per hour after the originally agreed return time
Deposit：2,000 yen (refunded upon return of the bicycle)
Helmet rental (optional)：500 yen
Bicycles supplied with：
Map, bicycle light, accessory pouch and lock
Enquiries：
Website：http://www.hinomaru.co.jp/TokyoBike/
E-mail：tokyobike@hinomaru.co.jp
Text：Kyoko Yanagida
Photos：Vertical
| CATEGORY : City | TAG : CITY, M's Number |  |
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