自転車デビュー New Bicycle

自転車デビューと言っても私ではなく旦那ですが、我が家に新しい自転車がやってきました。家から旦那の会社までは歩いて45分。車で行っても渋滞にはまって無駄にガソリンを消費するだけなので、自転車を、とずっと話していましたが、ついに購入しましたv(｡･ω･｡)。

My husband bought a new bicycle so that he can ride it to the office. He always wanted to buy one, because it takes about 45 mins to the office by foot, and also, it could be save money and time. Even when he goes to the office by car, often he is caught by the traffic jam an wasting time and petrol.


現在、ザグレブではガソリン１Ｌ約11.30Kn (日本円にして約158円）。日本とほとんど変わらないと思います。でも、平均月収が約30万の日本に比べたら、平均月収が8万くらいのクロアチアでこの値段ははっきり言ってべらぼうに高いです。とはいうものも周りを見てもたくさんの車が走っているし、どうやってやりくりしているのか不思議なくらい。

そういうこともあって自転車の購入を決定しました。聞くところによると、経済不況、ガソリン価格の高騰の影響でここ3年、自転車に乗る人が急増したらしいです。

近くの自転車屋さん何件か回ってみた感想ですが、自転車の相場はディスカウント抜きで大体2000Kn～（2012年10月15日時点で1Kn = 約13.5円）。自転車屋さんには2000Kn以下で自転車を探すのは難しい、と言われました。

Currently, the petrol price in Zagreb is about 11.30Kn per litter. I think the price is almost the same as in Japan, or could be a bit more expensive than in Japan. Considering that Japanese average monthly income is about 3,000 euro (before taxed), this petrol price is extremely expensive to Zagreb people whose monthly income before tax is about 800 euro! But, still I see lots of cars on the roads. I seriously want to ask how they manage their finances...

Anyway, my husband's coworker told us that more and more people start riding bicycles because of economic crisis and high price of petrol.

When I visited some bicycle shops, I found bicycles are very expensive here. It's very hard to find a bicycle below 1,500Kn. We didn't want to buy too expensive bicycle in case someone steel it :S

自転車の価格もここ3年でかなり跳ね上がったそうです。その影響もあってか、ここザグレブでは自転車の盗難事故が多発しています。たぶん他のヨーロッパ諸国も同じような感じかな。写真はパリで見つけた無残な姿の自転車・・・。聞いた話だと、自転車本体と写真をロックしてちょっとATMによって目を離した2，3分の間に自転車が盗まれた、ということもあるそうです。自転車が盗まれても警察はあまり動いてくれないらしく、自己防衛をしっかりするほかないのだとか。そういう話を聞くと、日本って安全な国だな、と感じます。そんなわけで、我が家も自転車は家の中に入れています。

I've heard that price of a bicycle is doubled or even more in the last 3 years here in Zagreb. It might increases the number of stolen bicycles in Zagreb. I think it is not only the problem in Zagreb, but all European countries share it, but bicycles thefts are very serious problem. I've even heard about a story that a person locked his bike between the main frame and wheel and went to ATM, and in a few minutes when he looked away, someone took his bicycle. The photo above is the bicycle I found in Paris.

So, to avoid our bicycle be stolen, we keep the new bicycle inside our apartment.

The situation is very different from Japan, well, at least from my town and around. There are of course bike thefts. But, most cases, a thief steel a bike which is not locked, and the purpose of steeling is not to sell it but to get a quick ride to his destination and then just leave the bike there. So, when a bicycle is stolen, we usually report it to a local police and they will find it in a month with high chances.

ちなみにザグレブの自転車事情を…。こちらではオランダやデンマークに比べたらまだまだ自転車専用道路の整備もしっかりされていない感じです。写真は歩道の隅に書かれた自転車道。う～ん、でも日本に比べたらちょことだけ進んでる感じなのかな?　クロアチア人は車の運転も荒いので、自転車で街を乗り回すときは要注意。方向指示器を出さないで曲がったり、曲がるのと同時に方向指示器を出す人が結構います(^ ^;) 

I think compared to Holland and Denmark or other European countries, Zagreb needs to improve the bicycle roads a bit more. Well, compared to Japan, Zagreb is better, because in my town and around, we don't have it yet (I think we still don't...). Anyway, when you ride a bicycle in Zagreb, watch cars around you carefully. I found out that many Croatian drivers turns without turning the indicator or turns the indicator the moment when they turn. Which actually surprised me because the driving habits are bit different from Japan.