Folding Bikes - Riding a folder in Hong Kong

I will visit Hong Kong for a month and plan to bring my Brompton 3-speed. Anyone have experience riding a folder in Hong Kong?

Thanks,
Doug

I don't know where you are staying in Hong Kong, but for most of the downtown city area, the roads just don't accomodate cyclists very well. Bus drivers and taxi drivers are notorious for aggressive driving habits. I don't remember seeing any bike racks the last time I went, and I would not be comfortable locking up a nice bike like a Brompton for too long. HK has an excellent public transport system, MTRs, buses, vans, trolleys... I think you'd enjoy your trip more without the bike.

Portions of Hong Kong, particularly the regions where biking would be fun, are extremely hilly. As in: it makes San Francisco look flat. This may be a challenge for your Brompton depending on its gearing.

The parts of Hong Kong that are relatively flat are also pretty bike-unfriendly, until you head out into the exurbs: Tai Po, Sha Tin, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, etc.

Hong Kong has exceptionally good public transportation. You will have no need for your bike at all. However if you take it with you, the transportation should also make it feasible to take your bike to some fairly fun biking areas far out in the countryside, but you'll need to know where to go. BTW: there is, or was a long time ago, a small public velocidrome in Sha Tin. There is quite a nice, relatively flat, bike path that runs from Sha Tin to Tai Po (out in the exurbs), along Tolo Harbor.

Thank you both for the advice and I will reconsider bringing the bike. I will visit the City University of HK and do not plan to ride near there but would be interested in taking public transport to the countryside and riding there. I heard that bikes are not allowed on the subway, but do you think a Brompton would be a problem (especially if it was in its bag)? Thanks for the Sha Tin to Tai Po recommendation.

I heard that bikes are not allowed on the subway, but do you think a Brompton would be a problem (especially if it was in its bag)?.

I haven't seen anyone bring a bike on the MTRs, but I'm not sure there's an actual rule/law against it. Just don't take the subway during rush hours because the metros would be packed like sardines. If you take it during non-busy hours, and the bike is in a bag and not in the way, people may give you wierd looks, but it should be fine.

Bikes are banned on the Hong Kong subway (MTR) as of 2004. (http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/2004-August/000146.html) If your Brompton was well disguised you might get away with it if you claimed it was a piece of luggage. Understand that during peak hours the Hong Kong subway is absolutely *packed*.

Ahab, while HK is not a world-class place to bike, I think the above comments sell it a bit short. A few words from a local recreational rider:
There are quite a few paths which I enjoy over the weekends:
1. Taipo Seaside Park --> Tolo Harbour --> Ma On Shan Seaside Park Bike Trail. Dedicated bike path about 20km long. Gets too crowded on weekend afternoons but very nice and scenic during weekdays and in the evenings. Lots of bike shops on the trail. Check out this recumbent rental store which I went to last week. http://www.velocityracers.com/magento/index.php/retail-store/local-tours/local-tour-1-3-people.html
Very helpful staff.
2. Service Road from Disneyland to the airport. Hardly any road traffic, flat 20k run. Google map instructions (in Chinese) here:
http://maps.google.com.hk/maps/ms?hl=zh-TW&gl=hk&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=113597916949967938456.00045f6e2ba3a9230da1c
3. New Territories Cultural Site Run. Ride a bike to see old temples, pre-colonial forts, and villages where folks try to live a traditional life.
4. A few more scenic rides (the Lantau Bronze Buddha run; Sai Kung, etc..) but as others have said, rather hilly!
Ask your local friends for specifics, there is actually a vibrant bike community here.
I take my Dahon with me on the subway all the time - as long as it is bagged, and as long as you avoid the rush hour (i.e. 8-9am) the subway staff will not bother you. Having said that there are many bike rental places close to the paths I mentioned above, and if I were you I'd travel light and not lug around a brompton with you.
One thing to watch out for is heat and humidity - it gets muggy here as early as March...stay hydrated unless you're biking early in the morning or in the evenings!
There are also a few bike shops which offer a great retail experience at prices cheaper than US mail order: the Flying Ball (big brompton collection!), Bullbike.net, and Hong Kong Bicycle Limited, just to name a few.

I think you're right: we do sell Hong Kong short, it's a great city. But it's worth noting that all four of your examples are not in the city proper. They're fairly far out in the exurbs (Tai Po, Lantau, Sai Kung, etc.), and he'll have to know how to get there. That being said, *I'd* definitely bike out there, it's great! I miss Hong Kong.

We should have mentioned Flying Ball (http://www.flyingball.com/).

Levendis,
Thank you for the recommended rides and the pictures of your ride. I am glad to hear that it's probably ok to take the Brompton (bagged) on the subway at least during non-rush hours. I loved the pictures and will try that ride whether I rent or bring a bike. I will be there late Feb to late March and hopefully it will not be too muggy, but I ride in the summer here in Nashville where it can be both hot and humid, so it would not stop me in any case. Thanks again!