What LA Can Learn from Tokyo Bike Culture

One of the many bike lanes in Tokyo. (Julie Wolfson/LAist)

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Before a recent trip to Tokyo, the LA Times published Steve Lopez's column entitled "L.A. could learn some lessons from Tokyo". In his piece he praises Tokyo for its clean taxis, beautiful parks, and bike commuters.

I arrived in Tokyo to find all of the dreamy things he described to be true. Even the Daily Yomiuri reprinted Lopez's story in their Monday Los Angeles Times edition on April 27. That same day the paper also featured a story about how "Metabolic waistlines have sparked a bike boom" in Japan.

Riders of all ages were everywhere. Bikers had lanes to ride in and plenty of places to park. With the overall polite bike culture, Tokyo continues to be one of the best cities in the work to get around on two wheels.