1.
mama bike; utility bicycle (with basket and child seat)
A practical city bicycle with a low frame, a front basket, and often one or two child seats. The default bike type for everyday shopping, school runs, and short errands in Japan.
Casual compound of ママ (mom) + チャリ (bike, slang for 自転車). Despite the name, used by anyone — students, men, grandparents — not only mothers.
Common collocations
- 電動ママチャリ: electric-assist mama-bike
- ママチャリに乗る: to ride a mama-bike
- ママチャリで送り迎え: to do school / daycare runs by mama-bike
- ママチャリの前かご: the front basket of a mama-bike
Cultural note
The ママチャリ is a Japanese icon: cheap, sturdy, three-speed at most, and built for short flat-city trips. Common features include a frame low enough to step through in a skirt, a basket large enough for grocery bags, a wheel lock, and front/rear child seats. Distinguishes itself sharply from sports bikes (ロードバイク) and folding bikes (折り畳み自転車).