Opinions and Responses

About the Tamagawa Cycling Road

When I stopped by the restroom on the way back from going to the Tama River with my child, my child was walking alone along the path by the Tama River ahead of me. They cried, saying they were very scared because a cyclist on the cycling road shouted at them, "You're in the way, move!" My child was walking on the edge and was not walking side by side with several people. As a parent, I am filled with sadness wondering why they had to endure such treatment. I have also experienced being verbally abused by a cyclist on this same path, so I feel, "Not again."
In the first place, there should be an absolute rule that pedestrians have priority on this road. In fact, it is clearly stated on the Fuchu City side, and it is also clearly written on the road that bicycles should ride slowly along this line.
Honestly, I would like you to stop naming places as cycling roads or bicycle towns. It is nothing but a nuisance to the locals, and I seriously doubt whether attracting cyclists who do not stay overnight has any economic benefit. Especially racing bicycles are nothing but weapons. Without clearly stating speed limits or emphasizing pedestrian priority, it is no wonder that cyclists get the wrong idea.
If you claim to be a bicycle-friendly city, could you also put effort into improving manners and thoroughly understanding the rules? It is too late after an accident occurs. Especially in these times when rules for bicycle riding are being strictly penalized, such a loose policy is extremely outdated. Please provide specific measures in response.

Response

Regarding the Tamagawa cycling course within the city, we have received occupancy permission based on the River Act from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and have developed it as a pedestrian and bicycle-only road on the embankment. In fiscal year 2018, it was connected to the Tamagawa cycling course in Kawasaki City.
As the city, due to restrictions under the River Act that make it difficult to widen the road, the width is only about 2.5 meters. Since it connects with Kawasaki City's Tama River Cycling Course, similar to Kawasaki City, to ensure pedestrian safety when pedestrians and bicycles share the path, we ask that both pedestrians and bicycles keep to the left side, not pedestrians keeping to the right side as stipulated in Article 10 of the Road Traffic Act, but according to the proviso of the same law.
As the city, to promote left-side traffic, we have installed center lines and arrows, and to alert bicycle users that pedestrians have priority, we have placed "Pedestrian Priority" road markings and signs. Furthermore, the city website features the "Tamagawa Cycling Course Traffic Rules."
In the future, we plan to consider further measures such as increasing the installation of road surface markings and signs, and thoroughly promoting awareness and understanding of the "Tamagawa Cycling Course traffic rules" in cooperation with the Tama Central Police Station.
Please note that the city does not use the term "cycling road" to avoid any misunderstanding that the "pedestrian and bicycle-only road" gives priority to bicycles.

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