Bicycle Registration
It is often said here in Japan that the people most likely to steal a bicycle are drunken salarymen who have missed the last train home.
This is probably true.
Bicycles are probably the best way to get around Japan, given that most suburban streets are narrow, some too narrow to actually fit a car, let alone two in opposite directions. Even out on the main roads, it’s not really possible or safe to try and reach high speeds.
So unless you can afford a scooter, your best bet is to buy a bicycle, complete with basket, bell, one gear and a “ladies” frame. One can be bought relatively easily for about US$100. Everyone has one. The pavement outside department stores or train stations are often hard to get through, for all the bikes parked there. And with all those bikes parked there, who’d notice one missing? Bicycle theft is a common crime in Japan.
To combat this, Japanese Police set up the “crime prevention bicycle registration” system. If you own a bike, you must register it with the police. If you buy from a shop, they’ll usually handle the registration for you. But if you buy it second hand from another person, legally you are both required to go to the police office and register yourself as the new owner of the bicycle.
Police officers, if they hear about a bicycle theft, will stop any cyclist riding past their koban if the description fits. And if that bicycle isn’t registered then there can be some polite but insistent questioning.
So while it costs a small amount to register, it can save you a big headache if you get stopped by the police. And, should your bike ever be stolen, there’s a chance you can get it back.
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