＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
As our society ages, it’s common to see elderly people riding electrically assisted bicycles. Recently, young mothers with children on the back have also been riding electrically assisted bicycles.
However, while electrically assisted bicycles are easy to pedal, they also have drawbacks, such as the tendency to gain speed and the heavy frame, which can be extremely dangerous if the bicycle loses balance.
1. Advantages of Electrically Assisted Bicycles
(1) The assist function allows the bicycle to move with only half to one-third the normal effort, making it convenient for people with limited physical strength, the elderly, those living in rural areas, and those living in residential areas with many hills.
(2) Young mothers can easily pedal the bicycle when carrying children or carrying a lot of luggage.
(3) The assist function makes starting uphill easier, as the bicycle emits less exhaust gas than cars or motorcycles, making it more environmentally friendly.
2. Disadvantages of Electrically Assisted Bicycles
(1) They are 4 to 8 times more expensive than regular bicycles, costing anywhere from ¥50,000 to ¥150,000.
(2) They are heavier than regular bicycles (average 25 kg), making them more difficult to push.
(3) If the battery dies, they are more difficult to pedal than regular bicycles.
(4) Charging the battery is more time-consuming than regular bicycles.
(5) After extended use, batteries require replacement, which is costly.
(6) The assist function shuts off at high speeds, making them unsuitable for high-speed riding.
3. Dangers of Electrically Assisted Bicycles and Accidents
(1) Dangers
① If you pedal without straddling the bicycle, the bicycle will accelerate suddenly.
② If you place one foot on the pedal without holding the brake handle, such as when waiting at a traffic light at an intersection, the bicycle will accelerate suddenly. Therefore, stopping at an intersection with the pedals still on can lead to an accident.
③ If a young mother carries two children, one in front and one behind, the total weight of the electric assist bicycle (25 kg), the mother (50 kg), and the two children (10 kg x 2) is 95 kg. As with carrying a large amount of groceries, the braking distance from braking to stopping can be longer than expected.
(2) Accident Reality
In 2011, there were 1,238 electric assist bicycle accidents nationwide, double the number from 10 years ago. In 190 cases (12 of which were fatal) the bicycle was largely at fault, with approximately half of these accidents involving people aged 65 or older. This is certainly on the rise.
In 2014, there were 109,269 bicycle-related accidents (accidents in which a cyclist was either the primary or secondary party) involving all bicycles, including standard bicycles.
I, and everyone else, will be careful to avoid accidents when riding bicycles in the future, whether they are electrically assisted or standard bicycles.