Dubbed Japan’s bike city, predominantly flat Osaka is exceptionally bicycle-friendly, so much so, for many locals biking is their main mode of transport. Riding and eating your way through the Dotonbori area – a street about 2.5km long, lined with small shops and hole-in-the-walls – is a fun way to get a taste of the local culture, cuisine, and nightlife. Sections of the street can get crowded with pedestrians but you can steer to the side streets along the Dotonbori River to get through. You can also cycle around the surrounding area of Osaka Castle which can be pretty taxing on foot.

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Many hotels in Osaka offer guests bicycle rentals complimentary or for a nominal fee. Community bikes, Umegle-Chari, can also be found in the city centre and easily rented with an IC card (Japan’s version of the Hong Kong Octopus card) or credit card.

Pro tip: Don’t go overboard with the Japanese sake and whisky, cycling under the influence is against the law in Japan!

2. Xiamen

When a city builds the world’s longest bicycle skyway, you know just how serious they are about urban cycling! In 2017, Xiamen unveiled a 7.8km-long bicycle highway passing through the city’s three financial centres and five residential neighbourhoods, five-metres above traffic and congestion on the ground. The skyway can be accessed at 11 points between the tip and end of the cycleway, Hongwen Station and Xianhou Station. Along the island’s coastal line, on Huandao Road, is another scenic cycling route to visit a handful of Xiamen’s attractions such as Baicheng Beach, Hulishan Cannon Fort, and the Xiamen International Conference Center.

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Mobike, Ofo, and Hellobike are the three most common dockless bike companies in Xiamen. To rent, simply download the app, and follow the sign-up procedures.

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Pro tip: Get a bike close to the entrance of the bicycle skyway, if not you would have to hand-push the bike up a ramp to access the cycleway.

3. Beijing

Beijing is no stranger to urban cycling, with its roads built with cyclists as one of the major road users in mind. Nearly all the roads in Beijing have designated bike lanes, separated from automobiles with barriers. The city’s grid plan also means navigation is straightforward. Beijing also has plans to build a 9km-long elevated cycle path to provide a safer, less-congested way of commuting in the city. Beijing is sprawling and landmarks are spread out so it’s best to bike around a specific area rather than as a means to get from one place to another. An afternoon can be spent exploring the areas around Tiananmen Square before cycling to wangfujing for some local street food. The nanluoguxiang hutongs are traffic-free, ideal for first-time urban cyclists.

Mobike and Hellobike bicycles are scattered around Beijing. Simply download the app, sign-up, and scan the QR code to start riding.

Pro tip: You might find a number of damaged or vandalised bikes in Beijing, so check that your bicycle is in good riding condition before renting.

4. Taipei

Taipei is fantastic to explore on a bike as most of its landmarks and hot spots are centrally located. Roads can get quite congested, so biking can sometimes get you somewhere faster than on a taxi. The city’s central areas have marked bicycle lanes and virtually non-existent uphill terrain. A relaxing route for some shopping and local food: ride to Yonghe Soy Milk on Weishui Road for breakfast, then shop for electronics at Guanghua Digital Plaza or indulge in a few games of virtual reality at Viveland VR. Take a break for lunch at Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodle before returning your bike and ending the day at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

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YouBike is Taipei’s government run bike-sharing system with stations on every corner of the city. If you have an EasyCard (Taipei’s Octopus card) simply tap and go, if not, pay per ride with a credit card at the station kiosk.

Pro tip: Cycling is prohibited at some tourist areas so keep an eye out for signs.

5. Tokyo

Despite Tokyo’s often raved about train network, biking is also an incredibly convenient way to get around the city. Many locals cycle so you won’t feel like a nuisance to pedestrians you share the pavement with when biking. More importantly, the city bikes are all in tip-top condition and electric-powered, so you won’t break a sweat even if you hit some steep terrain! The path surrounding the Imperial Palace is a popular picturesque biking route. The Daikanyama and Aoyama areas, lined with shops showcasing the latest in fashion, are made up of small, traffic-free streets, perfect for cycling. More avid urban cyclists can head to Tsukiji for a seafood lunch before riding across the Kachidoki Bridge to Odaiba, home to a number of tourist attractions like the teamLAB museum, Palette Town, and Toyota City Showcase.

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Docomo Cycles are everywhere in Central Tokyo. To locate a bike, simply open up the station map via the Docomo Cycle website and rent with an IC card or online with a credit card.

Pro tip: The bicycle pass code can be used to temporarily lock and unlock your bike allowing you to stop and park wherever and whenever you need to.

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6. Singapore

With the Singapore government’s recent, stricter legislation controlling the fleets of bike-sharing companies, cycling as a means of commuting in the city has become more challenging. Urban cycling is however, still popular at cyclist-friendly areas in the city like the Marina Barrage along Gardens by the Bay, East Coast Park, and Instagram hot spot, Joo Chiat.

International bike-sharing brands Ofo and Mobike have recently exited the Singapore market because of the new regulations. Luckily Singapore start-ups SG Bike and Anywheel are still in service. If you fancy trying something different, e-scooter sharing companies, Telepod and Popscoot, are available in the Central Business District, along Marina Bay and the Quay.

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Pro tip: Be mindful of Singapore’s tropical climate, prepare accordingly if you plan to spend the day biking or scooting around.

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