Staff writer Edan Corkill rolled up with his camera to last weekend's 40-km "Tokyo City Cycling 2009" event to celebrate the joys — and utility — of urban bicycling, and asked participants how often they ride, where they like to ride and how they think bike-riding in Japan could be made safer.

Tatsuya Kondo (48):

I cycle for leisure — about 40 km once a week on my days off. I like to ride around Yokohama, in particular at Rinko Park.

I think it's necessary to make bike lanes. Even just having a line on the side of the road to demarcate where bikes can ride would be a help.