After the massive earthquake struck Japan's northeastern coast on March 11, 2011, Tokyo was left in transportation chaos. Thousands of passengers were unable to get home through subways, and had to stay overnight in offices. 　　But cyclists like Masaaki Hayashi faced no such problem. 　　"On March 11, I was working at the office when a big earthquake hit and the building began to shake really hard. On the television, I heard that the transport system had ground to a halt. There were some people at the office who stayed there overnight, others who walked home. But because I was commuting into work by bike, I was able to cycle all the way home," 　　After the quake rattled the capital's transport infrastructure, more and more people are choosing bikes over public transportation. 　　Bicycle groups said the number of cycle commuters has increased since the earthquake. According to Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute, said that from March to August last year, domestic shipments of new bicycles increased more than 15 percent compared to the same period in 2010. 　　In addition, bike shops have also seen a greater demand in commuting bikes in central Tokyo, while more and more people are bringing their old bikes for repair. 　　Japan Cycling Association (JCA) said the real increase in cyclists on the streets could be as high as five times the level before March.However, the more cyclists on the road, the more accidents happen. 　　Based on the government statistics in 2010, cyclists made up 16 percent of road fatalities in Japan, compared to 3.7 percent in France, or 5.8 percent in the UK. 　　JCA managing director Keiichi Nagasawa said the reason was due to the Japanese habit of cycling on the sidewalk, not on the road. 　　"Parents tell children they should cycle on the pavement and because of that bad habit, accidents are increasing on the sidewalks. It also leads to a tendency for people to ignore the rules when they're on actually the road, like running red lights or not cycling on the left. That's why accidents are increasing," he said. 　　In response to the surge in bicycles on the streets, police has issued new guidelines, which recommend most cyclists to use the road, with sidewalks limited to elderly or younger riders.