Just got back from a 1month holiday in Japan/Korea and have a few interesting perspectives compared to cycling in Sweden/Germany (moving to England in a few months).

in Japan:

pros:

lots of bikes (from a euro-perspective)
lots of neat bikes (different wheel diameters on the same bike as an example)
lots of folders
lots of cool adaptations (kickstands, umbrella holders) compared to eurobikes
very polite riders

cons:

not many dedicated bike lanes in the larger cities (compared to Europe)
need to watch all of the time on all sidewalks for bikes

in Korea:

pros:

lots of neat bikes that are quite cheap and look to be of OK quality (from €50 or so new)

cons:

not so many bikes from a euro-perspective
traffic is a total mess in Seoul
need to watch out for mopeds/minibikes/motorcycles on the side in the middle of markets
felt safer crossing the street on sidewalks in Bangkok, Phnom Peng and Hanoi than in Seoul (in Seoul drivers often runs the reds and honk at the peds when they cross on green ... first time I've seen this in Asia)
whomever on BF said that dealing with bus drivers in Incheon is a hassle is totally correct (horrible driver manners)

How about post some pics to show to give some visuals of what you are talking about

Yeah I lived in Korea for a year and got hit twice while cycling. Luckily no serious injuries. Japan and Vietnam were way more laid back for cycling.

I feel safer burning up the side of the outside lane and splitting cars here in Yokohama/Tokyo than I did trucking down the dedicated bike lanes in The States.

Japan:
Many Moma-charies
Many electric assist bikes
Many full squish folders
many slow people on bicycles on the sidewalk
Many pedestrians who do not see bicycles, but cars that
You have "people on bicycles", and you have "cyclists". There is a huge difference.

I that shouldn't bee too hard...

Manners? What manners? The rule on the road here is "Bigger is better". That means Buses and trucks ignore any traffic laws that might exist (not that they are ever enforced). Thus the cyclist is at the bottom of the ladder under cheap 50cc scooter. You might as well be, and often are invisible. The good thing is that the traffic is so thick at times you can ride faster than the crawling cars. There is also an extensive network of bike paths. You don't want to use them between 12pm-6pm though! More bikes than cars on the roads and most of them ridden slowly and very badly.

Get out on the country roads with a decent shoulder though... very nice.



Do watch out for black ice in the winter though. Skating is not fun!