You can ride a bike in Hong Kong, but it won’t be fun. This is not China and the bicycle trend that has hit the likes of New York and London has not reached Hong Kong. It probably never will. Space in this city is incredibly tight. Basically built on a rock, there is hardly room for cars on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon isn’t much better.
Hong Kong has the highest proportion of people using public transport for a reason: the roads are too small and crowded for cars. That means there isn’t much room for maneuver to fit the bikes. Given the difficult circumstances, very few people cycle to central Hong Kong. The roads are too small and the bus drivers too aggressive. There is also the problem of parking. Chaining a bike to anything other than a designated parking spot will see your bike confiscated.
The Hong Kong Cycling Alliance is trying to pressure the government to adopt a more positive attitude towards cycling in the city, but Hong Kong is a long way from having a massive bike rental system or even a good lane layout for bikes. Given the geographical limitations, it is not a situation that can change anytime soon.
Where can you ride a bike in Hong Kong?
Cycling in Hong Kong takes place on dedicated trails and in parks; mainly in the New Territories and the outlying islands. Frustratingly, to ride a bike in the country’s parks, you will need a permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation. The permit is at least free and can usually be issued on the spot if you visit the office in person with your passport.
For the leisure cyclist, head to Lantau – there are no cars on this rural island and most of the population travels by bike. Just take a look at the cycle stacks featured in our Lantau Island photo guide. The trail here offers beautiful scenery and views of the South China Sea.
The trails that run through the market town of Tai Po in the New Territories are also worth a look.
The Hong Kong Mountain Biking Association is a great resource for finding biking trails. They have outlined and assembled some of the most exciting attractions in Hong Kong. You can go to their website for the full list, but it includes walks like this: “Starting halfway up Hong Kong’s highest mountain, Tai Mo San, a myriad of root-infested trails sweep through lush forests. and bamboo forests to finally leave it in the Tai Lam. Reservoir for a quick section of smooth singletrack ending at Gold Coast ‘.
Do you have your attention? Head to the Mountain Biking Association for more information.
It is worth mentioning that many of the bike trails are shared with hikers and on the weekends they can be very crowded. If you can, try to travel during the week. If not, be careful on the trails.
Where to rent a bike in Hong Kong?
There are many places to rent a bicycle in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance maintains an extensive list covering dozens of stores. It is worth mentioning that it is usually smarter to rent the bike close to where you want to take your trip. It is difficult to transport bicycles in Hong Kong. While you can take them on inter-island ferries, they are not accepted on Star Ferry, buses, or trams.
