They don't lock their bikes in Japan.

The penal code in Tunisia is fairly severe but they certainly don't cut hands off, you'd need to go to Iran and perhaps only one or two other countries that have a very strict Islamic code for that to happen. My impression of Tunisian people was they were fundamentally honest and not honest out of fear of reprisals if caught. Police presence was essentially non existent where we were in Djerba. Decent honest people and nothing like the extremists in charge of Iran. We shouldn't tar all of Islam with the same brush just because Iran and Afghanistan are run by terrorist regimes.
You may have misconceptions about Iran, it's one of the more open societies in the region. They have very intolerant attitude for drug trafficking, though, which is when we see the public hangings.

Saudi and current Syria are one of the few places that practice strict sharia. Afghanistan used to be under Taliban 1.0 but 2.0 is much more refined.
 
If Irvine is the armpit I don't know where else in California isn't. It is one of the safest place in SoCal already. Having said that I would park way far from Oakland and Tenderloin San Francisco any day of the week.
Actually Irvine is the equivalent of South Central Los Angeles. The crime analytics are skewed. I worked nights in that town and it was horrendous. I actually witnessed a car jacking in a Walmart parking lot. It may be better now. It's been a number of years.
 
Actually Irvine is the equivalent of South Central Los Angeles. The crime analytics are skewed. I worked nights in that town and it was horrendous. I actually witnessed a car jacking in a Walmart parking lot. It may be better now. It's been a number of years.
I used to drive there 20 years ago every other weekend, it was quite "poosh" back then, literally a mini Taipei. How things have changed.
 
Locks were rare.
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BTW I think I saw a couple of these on the bikes in your photo, you sure you paid attention to the more "blend in" style of locks? I can't tell by the photo whether those I circled are really bike lock or brakes, some of them look more like lock than brakes.
 
We don't lock up our bikes - or much else - in our neighborhood. Why?

1. We don't have riff-raff or street trash in our subdivision. It's a big selling point in this ZIP code.
2. We know and look after our neighbors...even the ones we don't like
 
A couple on YouTube teach English a d she was shocked that a wallet with alot of Yen was still there an hour later
I believe it. I lost my wallet in Nagoya's subway station and someone turned it in to the station police, nothing was lost, including the 30000 yen and $200 USD inside.

I learned in 10th grade in US that whenever someone found a wallet they keep the cash and you keep the rest when they turn it in.
 
The penal code in Tunisia is fairly severe but they certainly don't cut hands off, you'd need to go to Iran and perhaps only one or two other countries that have a very strict Islamic code for that to happen. My impression of Tunisian people was they were fundamentally honest and not honest out of fear of reprisals if caught. Police presence was essentially non existent where we were in Djerba. Decent honest people and nothing like the extremists in charge of Iran. We shouldn't tar all of Islam with the same brush just because Iran and Afghanistan are run by terrorist regimes.
IDK buddy, some stuff going on the UK that sure tarnishes everything. Grooming gangs come to mind. I'll keep it at that.
 
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BTW I think I saw a couple of these on the bikes in your photo, you sure you paid attention to the more "blend in" style of locks? I can't tell by the photo whether those I circled are really bike lock or brakes, some of them look more like lock than brakes.
I saw locks on a few bikes on my trips to Japan, but they were the flimsiest things I had ever seen. You could easily twist or push them out of the way in many cases to clear the spokes and ride off...
 
Most of those bikes look to be not worth stealing. Is anyone in Japan so hard-up and poor that they would risk it?

It's also important to crack down on the ways that stolen stuff gets converted to cash. These are usually fairly rich people working on the edge between legitimate business and organized crime.
The 3 bikes I lost back in my college days in the US are in way worse condition (gear shift were worn out and will pop out of gear) and still got stolen. They may not keep all of them but a lot of low life will steal anything as long as they are convenient.

My guess is the network to receive stolen goods in Japan is much smaller than in the US. Stealing something is one thing but causing trouble selling and keeping stolen goods are probably not worth it there, that the managing criminals would rather not deal with it.

They already are making money off pinball machines and bubble bath, the low end trouble making that provokes the public would be a no-no for flying under the radar.
 
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Awesome Jeff.

I LOVE Japan. Such an amazing mix of the new and the old.

One of the last few places outside of Paris and Rome where poeple are smoking cigarettes.

IF you get a chance bring back some Imabari towels. This is a rabbit hole worth going down.
 
I saw locks on a few bikes on my trips to Japan, but they were the flimsiest things I had ever seen. You could easily twist or push them out of the way in many cases to clear the spokes and ride off...
As my dad always said, locks are there to deter temptations to the gentlemen. Most criminals with a cordless drill can break into a typical American homes' front locks. If that's too much work a baseball bat can smash most sliding doors.

I grew up in an area with metal "gate" outside of homes' solid wood doors. I felt unsafe when I first move to US with only wooden doors facing the street. I felt safer with a metal cage that criminals can't just smash with a baseball bat.
 
As my dad always said, locks are there to deter temptations to the gentlemen. Most criminals with a cordless drill can break into a typical American homes' front locks. If that's too much work a baseball bat can smash most sliding doors.

I grew up in an area with metal "gate" outside of homes' solid wood doors. I felt unsafe when I first move to US with only wooden doors facing the street. I felt safer with a metal cage that criminals can't just smash with a baseball bat.

I install metal safety doors at all my places.
 
We don't lock up our bikes - or much else - in our neighborhood. Why?

1. We don't have riff-raff or street trash in our subdivision. It's a big selling point in this ZIP code.
2. We know and look after our neighbors...even the ones we don't like
Well stated and same here.
 
Most of those bikes look to be not worth stealing. Is anyone in Japan so hard-up and poor that they would risk it?

It's also important to crack down on the ways that stolen stuff gets converted to cash. These are usually fairly rich people working on the edge between legitimate business and organized crime.
They are not high-end bikes like we see here; there is a reason for it. In America, we ride for exercise and sport; in Japan they are used for transportation, shopping, etc. There will be baskets, child carriers, etc. And they are not going fast. People walk, bike and use public transportation like we use cars. I have to believe the population is far healthier due to it. I was impressed.
 
While I like Japan, their culture, and their cleanliness, it's not like it's without its own problems. The grass seems always to be greener on the other side.
Need I mention panty dispensing vending machines?
No doubt. There are plusses and minuses everywhere. I also understand that what foreigners see is not necessarily real life. And I am sure I did not understand the real meanings behind everything I saw.

It was a spark for learning.
 
They are not high-end bikes like we see here; there is a reason for it. In America, we ride for exercise and sport; in Japan they are used for transportation, shopping, etc. There will be baskets, child carriers, etc. And they are not going fast. People walk, bike and use public transportation like we use cars. I have to believe the population is far healthier due to it. I was impressed.
You have been to San Jose State, you have seen those commute bikes students use right? The same ones Walmart sells. They are probably equivalent to what your photo shows. Not everyone rode on high end bikes, many of us use it to "commute" as well. Ok, maybe the K-12 kids do use BMX sometimes and they probably won't be rode to commute in Japan, that's probably the only difference.

As for why Japanese are healthier: fish diet, portion control, and having housewives is still a culture there. Typical diet there are probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the US portion and I was told no doggy bagging (and no take out if they are not a fast food) if you can't finish your food, and not finishing your food is disrespectful to the chef. You would need to help your friends finish his / her portion before you all leave out of respect. So, don't order too much. When I ask them what happen if you didn't eat enough and get hungry later, they said that's what snacking is for. Just eat snacks or make a cup noodle, or go to a conbini to get a small TV dinner.

Salary man from what I heard gets about 15000-20000 yen allowance a month (yes adult get allowance once married) so you can't really eat like a king if your wive pack your lunch. Imagine your wife let you keep $200-300 a month for eating out, outside of packed lunch, including social drinking or hanging out with friends on weekends. You probably can't get too fat either. Your daily Starbucks 800 calories also come out of this budget.
 
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