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Cycling to work banned
Well, it hasn't been yet. But it has been threatened. This is at a Govt
funded (quasi-independent, the management structure is somewhat obscure) scientific research lab in Japan (http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frsgc/eng/). The main goal of the lab is the understanding and prediction of climate change, and it issues plenty of warm fuzzy statemente about "Protecting our Mother Earth", but when the bureaucratic chips are down, it seems that it is more important to issue diktats and invent rules to outlaw one of the most environmentally-friendly behaviours possible. The real reason behind this is that my wife and I are recidivist criminals. Yes, we ride a tandem (we both work at the same lab). It seems that way back in the mists of time, some careless bureaucrat drafted a law that was intended to prevent more than one person riding on a standard bicycle, but which accidentally included tandems in the prohibition. (Despite the law, carrying a passenger is very common, and of course no-one enforces such a petty nonsense anyway.) Some prefectures have actually changed the law to allow tandems, but unfortunately not the one where we live and work. Anyway, we rode a tandem before we came to Japan, and continued after our arrival a few years ago. Some bureaucrat noticed this immediately, and made disapproving noises, but we ignored him - he refused to give us an official FRSGC badge for the bike, but we found this apparent reprimand surprisingly easy to cope with. Three years later, and he (or perhaps some replacement) is back with a vengeance. He has insisted that we cannot continue to ride the tandem to work. If we continue, he will ban all cycling for all members of staff. The justification for this escalation (and whether is it in principle legally possible) is not clear, and we haven't told any other cyclists yet. We don't want to stop riding the tandem, as it is faster, safer and easier than riding single bikes, and more fun too. People recognise us on our regular route, and are friendly towards us, plus we've got a good tandem (um...3 tandems) and no suitable single bikes. Every day we pass the same police boxes, we have even met some policemen and of course they are not bothered about us "flouting" such a petty, trivial and obviously accidental law. In Japan (in a clear contrast with the UK), the commute to work is partly the responsibility of the employer. For instance, an injury during the commute counts as a industrial accident, and the employer must pay for subsequent medical bills and sick pay (the latter which for non-work-related injury and illness does not appear to be a statutory requirement, or even part of our generally reasonable working conditions). It is not clear to me why this responsibility should give them the right to dictate methods of travel to work, but I have heard of another company where driving to work was banned, and someone was fired after having a crash and getting caught. In the UK, I would happily tell the bureaucrat to **** off, but unfortunately workers' rights are still a rather foreign concept here and it is clear that any foreigner who kicks up too much of a fuss gets sent home in short order (I have already caused more than my share of trouble, and now is definitely not a good time to start any more). Bureaucrats aside, I like it here, and am not in a rush to leave. But I don't take kindly to small-minded petty jobsworths trying to push me around. Any hints and tips for a sensible strategy will be gratefully received. James |
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#2
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Cycling to work banned
"James Annan" wrote in message ... Well, it hasn't been yet. But it has been threatened. Interesting situation. If the person has the power to send you packing, and you really want to stay, then I'd suck it up and pony up for some mama charis. If he's just all talk, I'd continue to tell him to **** off. But just be polite about it (I'll talk it over with my wife, I need to consider my finances, ad infinitum) -- Regards, Ryan Ginstrom |
#3
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Cycling to work banned
On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 22:15:29 +0900, James Annan ...
I can't give you any advice but only the observation that you won't get a reason for this decision. The first "reason" is this is the policy. If you press the point you might get "the decision was made after due consideration etc", then possibly "we are concerned about your safety". You are very unlikely to be told it is because of insurance etc... .. ---- someone who wants junk mail |
#4
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Cycling to work banned
Sorry but I have no hints or tips. Only this observation. Of all the retarded things I have heard and/or faced since I have been in this wonderful(I really think so,too)country....this is without a doubt Number One on the Corky chart.........with a bullet! Brian |
#5
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Cycling to work banned
snippety snip
Any hints and tips for a sensible strategy will be gratefully received. Hmm, difficult one. Personally, I'd comply when commuting to work - no use bringing your employer and colleagues into the slinging match. Then start getting arsey: have people take photos and videos of the pair of you on the tandem; write Haiku poetry dedicated to your love of cycling during the beautiful seasons, what with the falling leaves 'n' all; hell, get dedications of tandem cycling love from the natives. Do all this, bundle up a big package and send it to the beaurocrat on a weekly basis. Then, once the guy's sufficiently vitriolic, sneak on him to his boss. Either way, should be fun. Tom. |
#6
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Cycling to work banned
James Annan wrote:
Well, it hasn't been yet. But it has been threatened. This is at a Govt funded (quasi-independent, the management structure is somewhat obscure) scientific research lab in Japan (http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frsgc/eng/). The main goal of the lab is the understanding and prediction of climate change, and it issues plenty of warm fuzzy statemente about "Protecting our Mother Earth", but when the bureaucratic chips are down, it seems that it is more important to issue diktats and invent rules to outlaw one of the most environmentally-friendly behaviours possible. The real reason behind this is that my wife and I are recidivist criminals. Yes, we ride a tandem (we both work at the same lab). It seems that way back in the mists of time, some careless bureaucrat drafted a law that was intended to prevent more than one person riding on a standard bicycle, but which accidentally included tandems in the prohibition. (Despite the law, carrying a passenger is very common, and of course no-one enforces such a petty nonsense anyway.) Some prefectures have actually changed the law to allow tandems, but unfortunately not the one where we live and work. --snip In the UK, I would happily tell the bureaucrat to **** off, but unfortunately workers' rights are still a rather foreign concept here and it is clear that any foreigner who kicks up too much of a fuss gets sent home in short order (I have already caused more than my share of trouble, and now is definitely not a good time to start any more). Bureaucrats aside, I like it here, and am not in a rush to leave. But I don't take kindly to small-minded petty jobsworths trying to push me around. Any hints and tips for a sensible strategy will be gratefully received. As much as I love Japan the odd bit off petty bureacracy can put you off an entire nation. My friend once got told to cycle on the pavement not on the road which was fun and a pal of mine practicing keepie-ups in the middle of an empty public football pitch got told to clear off by a guy in a uniform and hat deployed specifically for such incidents it seems. I'd just keep riding the thing. Have a talk with your local labour office who were very supportive when I worked in Fukuoka. If it's more then a work issue then I have no idea what you can do other than keep riding until forced off the bike by the self defence force. |
#7
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Cycling to work banned
James Annan wrote:
[...] Any hints and tips for a sensible strategy will be gratefully received. Not sure about sensible, but you've got 3 tandems: how about riding one each for a while to make the point? - Bill - |
#8
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Cycling to work banned
On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 13:57:31 -0000, in
, "Thomas" tom [at] greysheep [dot] co [dot] uk wrote: snippety snip Any hints and tips for a sensible strategy will be gratefully received. Hmm, difficult one. Personally, I'd comply when commuting to work - no use bringing your employer and colleagues into the slinging match. I have no idea of Japanese law. Where does your commute start from? Does it start from the address held by your employer, or can your commute start from a point 25m away from the factory gates? Can you ride your tandem from home to that 25m point? -- I remember when the internet was only in black & white. It only had a few pages but at least they all worked. Email: Put only the word "richard" before the @ sign. |
#9
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Cycling to work banned
"James Annan" wrote in message
... a sorry tale Boo, hiss, bunch of ******s, etc. Erm, sorry, can't come up with any helpful suggestions. (how about riding the s+s one and taking it apart?) cheers, clive |
#10
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Cycling to work banned
"James Annan" wrote in message ... Anyway, we rode a tandem before we came to Japan, and continued after our arrival a few years ago. Some bureaucrat noticed this immediately, and made disapproving noises, but we ignored him - he refused to give us an official FRSGC badge for the bike, but we found this apparent reprimand surprisingly easy to cope with. Three years later, and he (or perhaps some replacement) is back with a vengeance. He has insisted that we cannot continue to ride the tandem to work. If we continue, he will ban all cycling for all members of staff. The justification for this escalation (and whether is it in principle legally possible) is not clear, and we haven't told any other cyclists yet. Can't you just park it round the corner and walk the last bit? |
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