a great time I had, it's something I will try to do in every city
where it's practical.
To see it, cycling here seems harrowing: traffic rules are loose at
best, the bikes themselves are looser (travelers are advised to check
their bike over thoroughly before leaving the rental shop, especially
the brakes), the streets are crowded, and no one wears helmets. Yet,
it is a surprisingly comfortable way to traverse and see the
surroundings. While the traffic can be disorienting, people pay much
closer attention to what's happening than back home, and are therefore
better prepared for the inevitable, unpredictable lane switcher or mid-
block u-turner. In addition, bikes, rickshaws and scooters have their
section of the roadway, which also helps (though not an excuse for
reduced vigilance, as there are still plenty of drivers of cars and
trucks who invade that lane, sometimes going against the flow of
traffic). And the bikes themselves don't go very fast: most on the
road (and all of the rentals) are heavy single-speed jobs, so most
bikes just cruise along at maybe 8-10 mph.
Most important, though, is the exposure: I got to see parts of old
Suzhou today -- down twisting unmarked alleyways that are another
reminder of Venice -- that I would never have had time to explore on
foot, and couldn't have reached by cab. And there's also the exposure
of being able to easily stop and ask directions, of chatting with
other cyclists at stop lights. You don't get that in a cab, either.
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