Easy-to-ride electric bicycles in vogue

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JPYuki at 02:41 PM JST - 25th August

It sounds like an easy ride towards obesity to me.
knowitall at 09:13 PM JST - 25th August

Fully electric powered bicycles are illegal to ride. They are considered motor vehicles and require a registration and license plate. There was a police roundup of them a while back. Electric ASSIST bicycles is what is article is about. Ride one that requires no pedaling and get noticed by a traffic cop and you get fined.
funkyfresh at 11:13 PM JST - 25th August

what about those TOMO 50cc bikes that require pedaling,... waoo i think i just blew my mind.
kyoken at 07:25 AM JST - 26th August

Fully electric powered bicycles are illegal to ride. They are considered motor vehicles and require a registration and license plate.

If they are illegal, why then do they need a registration and license plate?

I saw one this morning (with license plate); as they are illegal I must report this grief violence to the police!
kyoken at 07:27 AM JST - 26th August

Easy-to-ride electric bicycles ...

JT, are there also "difficult-to-ride" electric bicycles? Like the one in the fitness clubs, that resist your pedaling...
neverknow2 at 10:10 AM JST - 26th August

This article looked way too boring to actually read, but electric bikes are illegal in Osaka. If the police are bored or if you are an evil foreigner they will stop you and tell you off for riding one.
noborito at 10:21 AM JST - 26th August

thrifty? These things cost a few thousand dollars. thrifty is one word I wouldn't use. How about walking? Now that's thrifty.
sk4ek at 01:50 PM JST - 26th August

Electric assist bicycles are legal, even in Osaka, and generally cost about 50,000-100,000 yen, with a few yen in electricity used to charge the battery. They're great if you use your bicycle for short trips, shopping, etc. I was going to get one, but decided on a self-powered model with double front wheels, each on independent suspension, providing greater stability (it's been 25 years since I've been on a bike) and shock absorbence. My neighborhood has few hills but lots of potholes.

And as usual, the Kyodo translation of this article is truly horrendous.
rei307 at 03:01 PM JST - 26th August

My mother-in-law　suggested I get one of those when I had to ride my two kids to kindergarten. I'm glad I didn't, because regular bicycle keeps me in shape.
kavikahi at 03:09 PM JST - 26th August

Intelligent fashion. I like it.
kanadamanada at 07:10 PM JST - 26th August

To those claiming that electric powered bicycles are illegal, I ought to add that if speed limited to under 35Km/h, they are considered no diferent than any other bicycle. The throttles are speed-rated. Now, what makes me scratch my head is when I see women trundling about on their denkicharrys here in Sapporo - which is largely flat. Get in shape you fat gits!!!
Stereofreak at 02:26 AM JST - 27th August

I would love to have an electric alternative to my petrol-powered scooter. Unfortunately, where I live we don't have much access to these technologies, and the ones that exist are too expensive or not worth the hassle (in a big city, 20km per charge is nothing, even less with slopes and hills).
UnagiDon at 05:54 AM JST - 27th August

So the police won't stop me if I start Voguing while riding one of these?
Apsara at 09:58 AM JST - 27th August

aarrgh, this article, while interesting, needs some rewriting. "an electric bicycle becomes speedier than an ordinary one" ??? ouch. Also, what's "three-riding bicycles"? A three-person tandem bike?
TSRnow at 11:53 AM JST - 28th August

Words:

Illegal Electric bicycles: Look at knowitall's explanation. If they are registered, you can ride it legally, but you need a license plate, helmet and driver's license(50cc ones will do).

Speedier: They assist your pedalling, so naturally you can pump up more speed than the regular mama charris without so much effort.

Three-riding bicycles: A bicycle with one rider and 2 tots (one in front and another at the back of the bicycle, both with added-on seats) used to be illegal. But they bended the law with pressure coming from the housewives to allow manufacturers invent bicycles safe enought do this.

Hope I'm not too late.