Cycling in Suzuka, Japan

by Bobby Yuskar (Indonesia)

Making a local connection Japan

Five and half years ago I experienced one of the “healthiest moments” in my whole life, cycling in Suzuka, the Honda City in Japan. This once in a lifetime opportunity was provided by IATSS Forum after I won the leadership scholarship for 55 days of “Thinking and Learning Together” in Japan along with other ASEAN Young Professionals. One day after arrival, I was given one day training on September, 15th 2011 of how to ride bicycle in safe and sound condition. The type of bicycle that I used at that time called “Sepeda Mini” in Indonesian Language. There was a basket in front of the wheel as a container to put things, two head lamps and a honk sound “ring…ring”. I used to do cycling in the afternoon after lunch. September is the beginning of autumn in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Central Japan and the weather is so mild with friendly sun. I spent an hour or two cycling from the hotel in the complex of Suzuka Circuit Formula-One to explore the surrounding areas such as AEON Mall Suzuka, Max Value Shop, Wonder Goo Electronic Store, Suzuka Public Park, Local HONDA Showrooms, LAWSON Convenience Store, 7-11 Suzuka and Long road of Suzuka. I really impressed with the High Standard of Ethics that applied by the Suzukans on the street, especially in the traffic lights. If the cyclists are trying to cross the street, all vehicles, motorcycles, cars, minibus, and trucks will stop and give us time to cross the street safely even though the light is already green. When the sun goes down, and the night is coming to town, I went out of the hotel go cycling with my Philippine, Singaporean, Laos, Cambodian, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand brothers and sisters to visit one or two malls near our training center. Our Japanese course masters always remind us to wear short scabbard that we must wear crossing from the neck down to our hip with bright color as a “light” in the dark of the night to identify the drivers about our presence in the evening. In addition, cycling in Japan was really great! I didn’t feel tired even after hours of cycling in the afternoon and evening. Perhaps because the supportive condition provided by the authority in ensuring the safety of the cyclists such as providing certain special track on the left side of the road with clear line and wide space, a button in the traffic light that can be pushed and stop the cars if we want to cross the street and of course the high tolerance of drivers in respecting us the cyclists on the road by giving us giving us time