[ackbar03]

I agree actually, I live in Shanghai. I'm not sure if it's because I don't really u derstand urban planning but I don't really see what the fuss is over, you can still get around the city by bicycle if you want (and which I often do) and public transport is very convenient

[blueberrybadboi]

I think it depends where in Shanghai you lived. If you lived in Huangpu, Changing, Xuhui or Jingan districts, bicycle is fine. These are Shanghai's richy-rich areas, once part of the foreign colonial concessions from 19th to mid-20th century. Filled with heritage architecture similar to the Beijing hutongs described in the article above. But once you branch-out to other districts, e.g. Jiading--the industrial district just a few subway stops to the north, it's a different arrangement.

[dis-sys]

> But once you branch-out to other districts, e.g. Jiading--the industrial district just a few subway stops to the north, it's a different arrangement.

Bicycle is fine is many not that great areas, e.g. Zhabei, Yangpu and most part of Minhang districts. Most areas within the outer ring road are fine for bicycles. Jiading is an extreme example - there are rice paddy fields just 200 meters north of the Jiading North metro station [1].

[1] satellite map here - https://map.baidu.com/@13495931.447421955,3663175.652161875,...

[rahimnathwani]

"you can still get around the city by bicycle if you want"

Except:

- bicycles can't cross the river via the tunnels, so you have to wait for a ferry to get to/from puxi/pudong (I remember this adding almost one hour to my journey one night, as the first couple of ferry terminals I visited had closed for the day, and the third had a long wait until the next ferry).

- some of the streets around the major shopping areas prohibit cyclists, even though they are open to cars and pedestrians