getting to school

I walked to school as a kid in a sleepy coastal village. the fresh air mixed with an over-active imagination meant that it was a great way to start the day as I wandered the small streets and lanes. Then I started cycling to school as I got older and presumably wanted to buy a little time in the morning. I still cycle to work whenever possible: it helps me waken up, gets me a bit of excercise and importantly, means I interact with people and have experiences enroute. It's also fun. In Japan, for younger kids, the school run is by and large done by mothers on bikes. there's a lot of sheperding done (often by retired men) and because of the busyness of life and crampt streets - It can be a bit dangerous at times (though Japanese kids very quickly adapt to their surroundings).

for some kids though, a ride on the magic bus is a daily occurence. you see cat and dog buses, trains and airplane buses: you name it and it'll probably have been fabriacted into a school bus somewhere in Japan. The finish is incredible though - this is not just slapped on - this is serious workmanship. There must be a company specialising in it - or does nissan and toyota provide such a vehicle-pimping service. I think I would have collapsed with excitement had I been picked up by one of these as a child.

The mamachari is the staple transport for mum's taking their weans to school and although I'm sure all the proud middle class, brand sensitive mother's would prefer to take the 4 wheel drive there is simply no choice. the city bike is essential. the mama comes from, well, mama, and the chari is short for the slang for bicycle. you can see up to three kids pinned onto seats, their tired heads slumping against cartoon character cushions or hanging over the side. as this sounds, it also looks, bloody dangerous but as a mate once said to me hairing around twisting welsh B-roads in his westfield, "I'd sooner hurt myself than crash my baby."

mamachari's are generally fixed wheel and come with a host of additions to your regular bike.

1. parasol/umbrella sticking up mary poppins style which always looks like they're going to take off.
2. umbrella holder stem.
3. 'air-bag' cushion to protect kids head when slouching forward, asleep.
4. hand protectors. these are for the sun. as the opposite to italians, japanese women have an wholy unnatural preoccupation about hiding from the sun.
5. kids seats. some times you get one up front.
6. the obligatory basket.
7. umbrella sheath down the front fork for out-of-use brollies
8. skirt/small leg protector - a plastic mesh covering the rear spokes

you also see the mums in arm protectors and huge visors to protect them from UV (9)- maybe even arranging a coffee with friends on the mobile. in any case - these women have better handling skills than some of the guys in the last criterium race I rode in and it's a far more sociable way to get to school than being locked in an SUV. It's certainly an invaluable part of keeping the community spirit alive: in a car you have every excuse not speaking to people, on a bike you have none. Some friends have been threatening a, no doubt beer induced, mamachari race down at the docks of which there's a small underground scene .