MAR. 2013

No.78

LIVING GUIDE MORIOKA
MORIOKA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSOCIATION
e-mail moriintl@nifty.com〒 020-8531 MORIOKA-SHI WAKAZONO-CHO 2-18
TEL 019-626-7524

http://www.e-morioka.com/~moriintl/top.html

Illegally parked bicycles will be removed.
Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation in our daily life. To makethe safer and more comfortable living environment, Morioka City is taking
preventive measures against the illegal bicycle parking problem. Let's checkthe prohibited zones for bicycle/engine-equipped bicycle parking.

◆◇◆ Where are No-bicycle parking zones? ◆◇◆Around the vicinities of JR Morioka Station

bicycle is towed away.

(figure1) - It is illegal to park bicycles (including< At the restricted No-bicycle parking zone>

engine-equipped bicycle) on the streets and- A warning tag is attached to a bicycle and if thesidewalks in these areas for any length of time. If

bicycle has been left unattended there for more

you go against the rule, you get a warning tag andthan 6 hours, then it will be towed away.

eventually your bicycle is towed away. When you< In areas other than the vicinities of JR

reclaim your removed bicycle, you have to pay aMorioka Station >handling fee for it.

- A warning tag is attached to a bicycle and if< At the No-bicycle parking zone >the bicycle has been left unattended there for 14- A warning tag is attached to a bicycle and thedays and more, then it will be towed away.

figure1N

Asahi-bashi bridge

Morioka Ekimae bicycle
parking lot

The Morioka branch ofSendai Immigration
Bureau(Return Area:
Claim impounded bicycles here)

aiinaMokaoriKaiun-bashi bridge.

StMorioka Eki Nishiguchi
bicycle parking lot
Prohibited Zone for Bicycle Parking

MARIOSKozukata-bashibridge

Restricted Zone for Bicycle Parking◇◆◇ After the removal of your bicycle, it will be... ◇◆◇For 3 months and more from the following dayof announcement of bicycle removal (usually theof the removal, the bicycle/engine-equipped

removal announcement is made within one week

bicycle will be stored in a bicycle lot. After thatafter the tow), Morioka City acquires ownershipsome bicycles might be disposed of and othersof the bicycle.

be sold. If 6 months have passed since the date◆◇◆ What to do when you reclaim your removed bicycle. ◆◇◆At the north exit of Morioka Ekimae bicycle parking lot, you can reclaim your removed bicycle. To get it
back, you have to pay a handling fee. (Telephone 019-622-0972, Japanese only)▼Business hours : every day, from 6:00 through 20:00(except year-end through New Year holidays)▼Handling fee:
Category

Length of stay (in a bike lot)Fee

6 days and less (including the tow-away day)

1,500 yen

7 days and more (including the tow-away day)

2,500 yen

Engine-equippedbicycle

6 days and less (including the tow-away day)

2,500 yen(for one)

7 days and more (including the tow-away day)

3,500 yen

Bicycle (for one)

▼What to bring:・a handling fee
・identity document (ex. driver's license, student identification card, etc.)
・things which verify your ownership of the bicycle(ex. the bicycle key, a copy of theft-prevention registration card, etc.)
NOTE: In case you have received a notice from Morioka City concerning the return ofyour bicycle, bring the enclosed form for your reclaim and receipt, please.

Under the same traffic law as automobiles?
The traffi c law defi nes bicycle as a type ofIf you don't keep the rules, your convenient

vehicle (light vehicle) and requires riders tobicycle turns to a nuisance vehicle for otherfollow traffic rules. All traffic signs and signals

people. There are various safety rules which

apply to bicycles as well. In Japan vehicles mustshould be observed bykeep to the left side of the street.

bicycle riders. Let's

When you ride a bicycle please keep in mind thatlearn those rules inon the street always run on the left side, on theour next issue.

sidewalk (where permitted) always run slowly
on the side that is closer to the street and yield topedestrians.