A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

As I mentioned before (here), JR Hakata Station has undergone a major makeover,

and so has the underground bike parking lot near the station. Today I parked my bike there and was amused with how innovative it was.

First of all, at the entrance, you will be welcomed by an automatic ticket-issuing entrance gate,

instead of senior citizens (I don’t know why, but always senior, not young) who usually look after the users in other public bike parking sites. (I think this gate system contributes to the increase of unemployment.)  Unless you take a ticket issued by the machine, you can’t even get in the parking area.

The most amusing part of this site is the storage area. In most cycling lot, you are supposed to put your bike on a wheel chock, which cause a lot of problems. Your front basket will be blocked by the handlebars or basket of the next bike that has already been parked. This is the most annoying and frustrating part of parking bicycle in the city centre.  But this parking space sorted out the problem: the chocks smoothly slide from side to side on a rail (inspired by shoji or fusuma? ).

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So, by pushing the next bike aside, you will have a plenty space for your basket.

When getting out, you will again face a ticketing gate. Here I must warn you based on my embarrassing experience. You need to pay the parking fee (free for up to two hours)BEFORE you attempt to go through the gate,

otherwise the gate will forever stop you and the custodian will come up to you with a suspicious look.