Thursday, October 10, 2013

blinded by science

blinded by science by owenfinn16
blinded by science, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.
Cool expensive urban transportation tech in the background - better urban transport tech in the foreground.

Looks like Yokohama is getting ready to roll out it`s new e-car car-share system, "Choi-Mobi". Wouldn`t expanding and improving the existing BayBike bicycle share system be less costly and even more eco-friendly? How about encouraging cycling (and discouraging driving) by building some dedicated bicycle lanes?

#smartcity

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Beer Fes 2014 Bike Rides!

Planning on going to Beer Fes 2013 on Saturday? - why not make the most of the day while you are visiting Yokohama by taking a scenic bike ride over to the festival at Osanbashi Pier? 

Escorted waterfront bike rides on Yokohama Rides and Rentals folding bikes are available from Yokohama Station to the event at Osanbashi Pier. Takes from 40 minutes to an hour.  Only ¥1000 for 1 person, ¥1600 for 2 people and ¥2000 for 3! Saturday only!

Contact me at james@yokohamabikerides if you would like to reserve a time -else it`s first come first serve -  look for the guy with the tremendous blue cargo bike at Yokohama Station`s Northeast Exit A.


Great Japan Beer Festival Yokohama (aka BeerFes)- English info

 
 



Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Cycling excursions to off-the-beaten path Ofuna

The hot and sticky Summer is finally coming to an end (trust me) -  and the best time for cycling in Japan will soon be upon us.

Though not very well known, the town of Ofuna, only a short train ride from Yokohama, has some very interesting sites to see as laid out here in this recent Japan Today article - 


Japan Today: Don`t Overlook Ofuna

Entrance to Taya Cave



As always, Yokohama Rides and Rentals cycling excursions can be arranged to suit your schedule and time constraints, but basically, I can meet you and your party (max party of 4) at Yokohama station with our compact folding Pacific Carryme and Dahon bicycles. Next, we will take the bikes aboard the train to Ofuna where we will head off at a nice easy pace towards the mysterious hand-carved tunnels of Taya Cave, followed by a visit to the nearby glass studio, next an optional soba lunch, where we can power up for those last few kilometers to the Kannon Temple and the beautiful garden near the river.

It`s a fun, healthy, easy ride that can be done in just a few hours -it is certainly less of a hassle than taking all those buses and cabs! Train fare, entrance fees, and bike rental fees all included. Only ¥6000 per person (+ ¥1000 if you would like lunch)

Contact me at james@yokohamabikerides to make arrangements.


Pacific Carryme in the Ofuna Rice Fields


Monday, August 26, 2013

no bicycles! :(

no bicycles! :( by owenfinn16
no bicycles! :(, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.

...but big ugly barriers to keep them away are better?

Face palm.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

See you tomorrow for "Microbikes and Microbrews"!



It`s supposed to rain in the morning but stop in the PM so we should be OK for our 4PM MicroBikes and MicroBrews Cycling cruise tomorrow. I will post here, and on twitter at @yokohamarides, and try to contact everyone riding, if it looks like we`ll need to cancel.

If you don`t here from me then it`s all systems go!
...
So, hope to see you all at Yokohama Station`s Northeast exit at 4PM tomorrow.

Expect we will be playing it by ear a bit tomorrow but, basically the itinerary should be something like this - we will set off at 4PM and ride along the waterfront to Yamashita Park. From there, we will go to Bashamichi Taproom for some BBQ and craft selections from Baird Brewing.

Next, we will head up the Ookagawa to Kannai, where we will park our bikes along the river and then make our way, pub crawl style, to The Full Monty, Bay Brewing and lastly, Antenna America.

The guys at Antenna America, kindly agreed to provide us with some of their awesome buffalo wings and a sample of beer from the tap. At the other places, it looks like we will probably have to pay full price, so bring enough cash for one beer at each place and then for a few more at Antenna (let`s reward them for their support!).

Should be a great one! Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

James

Monday, April 22, 2013

"Microbikes and Microbrews!" Free ride!

Big news!    The first "Microbikes and Microbrews" ride is going to be on the house.  That`s right - no charge for the tour or for one of our rental bikes.  Thursday, May 2 at 4PM @ Yokohama Station. Can`t make any promises but I will try to make arrangements for some free craft beer tasting at at least one place in Kannai, and ending with a grand finale at Antenna America -  email me at james@yokohamarides.com to reserve a free microbike for the ride - or bring your own!

Here`s to cycling, craft beer and Yokohama!  Cheers!

James

Monday, April 15, 2013

Pacific Carryme

Pacific Carryme by owenfinn16
Pacific Carryme, a photo by owenfinn16 on Flickr.

took a nice ride along the waterfront this afternoon!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Yokohama Rides and Rentals - "Microbikes and Microbrews!"


Pleased to announce that we will be running a couple Golden Week "Microbikes and Microbrews!" rides -  Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3!

We all know that Yokohama is a great place to ride a bike, and it has long been famous for it`s fantastic waterfront scenery.

Increasingly, Yokohama is gaining a reputation as the place to go for great beer. Over the past few years, quite a few establishments have opened, especially in the Kannai area, that specialize in elusive, high quality, microbrews and craft beers.  I mean awesome stuff from the likes of Baird Brewing, Yokohama Brewery, Lagunitas, Stone and Ballast Point!

What you can expect --> Fun cycling on small wheels +great views+ ending with amazing craft beer = "Microbikes and Microbrews" 5/2 and 5/3
 

How`s that sound?

Stay tuned for more info!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima - Looking back 2 years later

a few minutes after quake - picking up son at school

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

When the quake struck at a quarter to 3, Finny, my youngest son and I, were by the front door putting on shoes and getting ready to cycle over to pick up my oldest son, Owen, from elementary school.
 
Suddenly there was a bang, then slight shaking that kept increasing in intensity until things were falling off shelves and we couldn`t stay on our feet - so, we squatted under the frame of the doorway and hugged each other. 
 
After what seemed to have been a very long time, the shaking finally stopped - and we got on the bike and went to pick- up Owen at school.  Unbelievably (in hindsight), I foolishly and naively  rode over to Marinos Town (on the waterfront!) to see if their scheduled soccer practice was still on.  Of course it wasn`t. 
 
Only when we got home and turned on the TV, and I saw the images of the tsunami, did the magnitude of the event become apparent to me.  Then, sometime later, and gradually, I started to hear rumors, and bits and pieces of (vague and imprecise and often conflicting) information about trouble at the Fukushima nuclear plant. 

What follows is an an actual Facebook messaging conversation I had at the time with a good friend, a teacher at a university here in Kanagawa.   Right before the quake we were thinking of starting a business together and he had learned that his wife was pregnant.   
 
 
March 14, 2011
  • Friend


    you planning evacuation?
  • March 14, 2011
  • 4:49pm
    James Szypula


    I`m really not sure what to do. What do you think? Am I worrying too much?
    My instinct as a father is to get the kids out of harms way. I want to make an informed decision but there is no definitive info about what could potentially happen.
     
  • Friend


    i don't think you can worry too much about this if you keep it well short of irrational hysteria. i'm also thinking of bugging out -- at least until i start to teach again in april. miho's about 3 months pregnant!
     
  • 5:55pm
    James Szypula


    wow! well then go, especially if you have no reason to be here now.
    Junko said we should go "if you are worried", but she can`t come because of work. I can`t let her stay by herself, so I am thinking of putting kids on plane by themselves but they are probably too small to handle it.
     
  • 5:57pm
    James Szypula


    at what point, i mean what news, would make you pack your bags?
     

  • 6:00pm
    Friend


    the only problem with us is health care. miho's permanent resident card has expired so she'd have to go back on a tourist visa and apply again. during this time she wouldn't be covered.
    there are other things like flying on a plane, leaving her parents etc. she's concerned about.
    didn't your mom or someone offer to come and get them?
     
  •  
    Friend


    i dunno. waiting for that news might already be too late.
     
  • 6:34pm
    James Szypula


    right.. at that point it would be pandemonium. I think we both are pretty good at seeing through govt and organizational BS, so maybe we need to have some faith in our instincts here.
    I will talk to Junko about having my sister or mom pick up kids.
    Junko`s permanent visa expired too. Can she take a few days off?
    Maybe you should get out of dodge and go to Kyushu or back to SE Asia for a week or so until things become more settled.
     
  • 6:40pm
    Friend


    yeah we'd have to weigh the known harmful effects of radiation to a fetus while flying against the unknown, but potentially much greater, amounts of radiation down here.
    but there is radiation out there. you saw that report about the ronald reagan, eh?
     
  • 7:18pm
    James Szypula


    yeah 160 km. when the wind shifts I suppose we will get some of that.

    160 km away
     
  • James Szypula


    how about just a shinkansen to as far as you can go south. what I`d do to be in Nagasaki or Hiroshima.
     
  • 8:46pm
    James Szypula


    I just got some advice from a former navy nuclear technician - yesterday, I asked him what he would do if he was me living 200 km from the plant. he said there was almost nothing to be concerned about, but he changed his tune after the reagan report and just sent me a message saying "if the wind changes, and you can, you should try to get away."
     
  • Friend


    that sounds pretty dire
     
  • 9:40pm
    James Szypula


    Contamination in the air 60 miles away... wow. Either they were lying, underestimating how much radioactivity they were venting, or there's something else going on as well. That's incredibly bad.
    his words
     
  • Friend


    something else? like what?
  •  
    10:32pm
    James Szypula


    incompetence? shenanigans?
  •  
  • March 15, 2011
  • 11:25am
    James Szypula


    We are trying to find airline tickets out. plus need re-entry permit and I heard lines at immigration are crazy.
     
  • Friend


    it looks like miho will be able to stay with a friend in kyoto. after that if things get worse we might be able to get tickets out of kansai.
    can you apply for re-entry outside the country?
     
  • 11:43am
    James Szypula


    not usually - but I think that`s what I will try. Immigration phone line is busy. Can`t get any flights now - worried I waited too long.
     
  • 11:44am
    Friend


    try out of kansai and get a bus or a train down there
     
  • 12:02pm
    James Szypula


    right
     
    March 15, 2011
  • 4:50pm
    James Szypula


    we have tix for a flight out of Narita 4PM tomorrow. Hope they don`t close the airport.
     
  •  
    Friend


    you convinced your wife to go?
     
  • 7:05pm
    James Szypula


    flights at 6 actually not 4. she might come on the weekend if things get worse.
     
  •  
    7:09pm
    Friend


    so you're going with the kids? how much were tickets and how did you find them?
     
  • 7:16pm
    James Szypula


    went to the airline sites directly. it was 450,000 for 3 tickets. I could have saved about 90,000 if I jumped on tickets in the morning.
     
  • Friend

    wow! that's steep. how did you decide to go with them?
  •  
      7:36pm
      James Szypula


      Panic move - it looked like the prices were going up the longer I waited.

      want to borrow a couple bikes?
      • Friend


        i dunno i'd have to get to them i guess
        • 7:55pm
          James Szypula


          hmm - yeah. can`t see a way unless you are coming to yokohama.
          •  
            7:57pm
            Friend


            yeah likely not. how long are you staying in the states? any idea yet?
            • 8:17pm
              James Szypula


              if things seem better here - we will come back in april.
              • Friend


                i think miho's going to split to kyoto and stay with a friend and then we might head to taiwan to stay with friends there.
                • 8:38pm
                  James Szypula


                  good. when?
                •  
                  8:38pm
                  James Szypula


                  good. when?
                  • March 17, 2011
                  • Friend


                    she's kyoto now. you got out safely?
                    • 8:36pm
                      James Szypula


                      That's good! Yeah we are at my Grandmother's house now on Long Island. I think my family thinks we escaped the apocalypse judging by the welcome we got. Weird to go from Japanese, like my wife, saying "relax the govt says there is no reason to worry.", to my family "on CNN, Anderson Cooper and and Dr. Sanjay Gupta say everyone is going to die!."
                      Still worried though about Junko and her sister's family in Fukushima. I know Junko won't/can't leave until she knows her family is all safe. Told her they all should come here.
                      Are you feeling better or worse today about the situation?
                       
                    • Friend


                      better because miho's gone to kyoto. i also have a better ideas of the risks that is if the rates are what nhk reports them as. but it is clear that this thing is not stable at all. now they using firehoses and water canons on it. seems pretty desperate. there are big questions, too, about these spent fuel rods that are exposed and on fire at reactor four.
                      good to hear you made it out safely.
                      • 8:46pm
                        James Szypula


                        remember the good old days when we were thinking about opening up a place in Koganecho?
                        • Friend


                          seems so long ago...
                          really digging ulysses. thinking of writing a joycean disaster journal
                        •  
                            9:48pm
                            James Szypula


                            you should keep a journal.
                            I was thinking I should write a "Kaidan" about that bloody torii I told you about. Must of been a portent.
                            before the quake, I was reading a book about the firebombings of Tokyo and Yokohama in March and May 1945 and I was looking at period photos and taking photos around town and wondering about the psychology of the people before and after. Really trying to imagine a form of "gambaremasu" mutiplied in a time of war and what must have been intense social pressure to keep people fighting and dying(often in mass) and never questioning (openly) the status quo.
                            The past week made it clear to me how ganbare can potentially lead to great tragedies.
                            http://www.flickr.com/photos/yokohamarides/5461407172/
                            http://www.flickr.com/photos/yokohamarides/5493354959/
                            in the second photo click on the link in the decription to see the same spot 65 years before.
                          •  
                        • Friend


                          yeah that's pretty ominous. you know also,eh?, that the firebombing took place on march 10th 1945. also last year on march 10th, the big 1000 year old ginkgo tree in kamkura fell down, a year and a day before this big quake.
                          then there's this kurosawa film about the 6 exploding reactors of fukushima (actually he didn't mention fukushima!):
                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ZxTB8mqbk
                        • Friend

                          i'm starting to think that all of japan is going to go like detroit. this could be hipster ground zero of the world. bar idea ON!
                           
                        • March 26, 2011
                        • 1:45am
                          James Szypula

                          I guess you haven't had a chance to talk to the people at the Kogane X office? I'm really curious to see what space they have available and if that 20,000 yen/mo is true, also how much work would have to be put into them.
                          What would you like to see this place being?
                        •  
                        • March 26, 2011
                        • Friend


                          Yeah, haven't had a chance or the inclination to think about that lately. I'm pretty preoccupied with monitoring this situation.

                        • You did the right thing to get out while you did. Boredom beats stress any day.
                          The good news is that the atmospheric radiation levels have not increased by any significant amount --although they have increased. The bad news is that radiation has entered into the food and water supply, though in small amounts, and the authorities still seem no where near getting this thing under control. Surprises are still possible.

                        • It appears that since the US hype machine has moved its attention on to Libya that many people here are growing complacent -- willing to accept the "new normal", for instance, that we should always buy bottled water for our kids. Some people become downright hostile at any suggestion of negative news, so because of this social pressure self-censorship is occurring as well.

                        • This is the psychology that's playing out on a social level and based on it we can imagine the psychology involved of those in the government. I don't think that there is a massive deception campaign, I think the radiation levels are accurate for example, but I think it's highly likely that they are withholding worst case scenario type analysis and negative trend analysis from the public.
                        •  
                        • There is nothing conspiratorial in this -- it is their job to prevent raising alarm and to keep the economy functioning. Definitely, though, there is a degree of face and ass saving that's also occurring on government and corporate levels.
                          However, because of this we don't get a complete picture. We hear one day that miniscule levels of radiation have been detected in Fukushima spinach and milk, the day after that there is radiation detected in other vegetables as well and outside of Fukushima, the day after that there is radiation found in the Tokyo water supply. It is true that all of these rates are low. They all seem basically harmless at this point. But it is the incremental, boiling-frog, drip-drop, release of this information that bothers me. It begs the questions: What else don't we know about? and What other news is coming down the tubes?

                        • All of these things really have me considering my options. We don't want to leave Japan, but with a baby coming it is well worth thinking about. I'm not trying to be an alarmist here, but it is very difficult for me to put my blind faith in the capabilities and periodic pronouncements of the corporate and government "experts".
                          People, including me, really WANT things to be getting better, to be going back to normal. It is becoming, even for the most "scientific" thinkers that I know, a BELIEF that the situation will be OK. Let's hope this belief is correct. At this stage, though, it is just a belief and all beliefs can involve deception. Are we duping ourselves?
                          What are your current thoughts from the outside?
                        •  
                        • 12:43pm
                          James Szypula


                          Totally with you D. Good analysis.
                          I suppose what we are witnessing is related to our recent discussion about faith and religion and science. It is sure easy to see how blind-faith, in anything, but in this case scientists and experts is alluring and comforting to people. Easy also to see how it allows people to be manipulated and duped.
                          For me, when experts and scientists use utterly meaningless words like, we don't "expect" blah blah to happen in the "immediate" future and so-and so is "unlikely", it becomes apparent that they really have no control of the situation.
                          I think if I have faith, it is only in the common goodness of the average individual. But man, how useless is the word of that individual captured within an organization (or system). Damn the system really needs to change!
                          • Friend


                            On the up side, I just got a note from one of my Bunkyo students asking me to come to an anti-nuclear march that he and other students are attending in Ginza tomorrow.
                            First time I've ever seen them interested in activism at all!