Regarding the Oct. 26 article "Reckless cyclists face crackdown," in Chigasaki and Samukawa, I cycle 10 km to work every morning. The dangers I face have nothing to do with fixed-gear bikes, and I have never seen anyone riding one without brakes.
If the accidents involving bikes do not largely include the fixed-gears, why did they get so much attention in your article? (Maybe they do, but I doubt it.)
My daily commute dangers come from old ladies (I don't see nearly as many old men), and youths wearing headphones while texting, all running "stop" signs, sometimes on the wrong side of the street, and not on the sidewalk. None of them have been on a fixed-gear bicycle. Usually they don't even look left or right while running the "stop" sign.
But if fixed gears sell more stories, then continue selling your soul.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.