[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,...