Friday, June 5, 2020

5 reasons why you should rent a bicycle the next time you travel

I think one of my best memories of travelling was the time I cycled 21km around Kyoto on a rented bike. I cycled from my hostel (Hana Hostel) near Kyoto Station to the Imperial Palace where we took a free tour in English then onto Kitano Temangu Shrine for their monthly bazaar and then to the Golden Pavillion. It was perhaps the most memorable day of that entire trip. 

So if anyone were to ask me if they should cycle, walk or rent a car to explore a place, I would say - just cycle. You get the best experience of walking and being on two wheels. 




As World Bicycle Day spun around again on June 3rd, digital travel platform Agoda shares five reasons you should explore the world on two wheels, as well as great cycling routes to help you get on your bike now or bookmark for later travel.

Reasons to get on your bike
Get Closer to Nature
According to Agoda’s Usage & Attitude Study 2019, Nature/Countryside is the top motivation for people to travel. Cycling gets you close to that with many cycle routes boasting and connecting scenic sights, nature parks and the countryside. Take in the sights at your own pace, hop on or off where you like, and quite literally stop to smell the roses.

Unique Experiences
Get to know a place, maybe even your own town or country, authentically; Traveling on two wheels allows you to easily navigate off the beaten track areas, go and stop where public transport might not take you , explore country lanes and tracks, meet the locals and experience travel from a different perspective.

A Rewarding Workout
With health being a key topic in 2020, who would mind some exercise and have fun while at it? There is even greater satisfaction and reward in the experience when you’ve put in the effort to pedal the distance.

Eco-Friendly
Keen to reduce your carbon footprint? More than 25% of travelers want to make more eco-friendly travel choices in the next decade, according to Agoda’s recent Next Decade Travel Trends research. Cycling is an affordable and eco-friendly way to get around.

It is All in the Journey
You know what they say about how it is the journey that matters. It could be a challenging route with hills and climbs or a few-hours family scenic cycle with the wind in your hair to a new part of town, traveling on a bicycle brings an incredible adventure from start to end.

Pedal power routes across Malaysia From lovely beaches to historical towns, there is much to explore on bike in Malaysia beyond the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur. If you’re spending more than a day, check in at one of Agoda’s 39,000 properties in Malaysia. Solo or family and group travelers will be spoiled for choice with the wide range of hotels and Agoda homes and apartments.

For families:

Take the family on a fun educational and food adventure in historic Penang. Sundays are car-free days in Georgetown, an ideal time to experience this UNESCO Heritage site. Feel the sea breeze cycling past the clan jetties, go down the Georgetown heritage trail and spot traditional Peranakan architecture and iconic street art, and stopping at your convenience for some local street food.

For cycling enthusiasts: 


Discover the beautiful Kiulu countryside on a cycling tour where you get to pedal across a suspension bridge and visit the riverside villages that are home to the hospitable Dusun tribal people.

For nature lovers:
Be sure to visit one of the oldest rainforests in the world at Selangor’s Forest Research Institute Of Malaysia (FRIM), where you can pick from a range of easy to challenging cycling trails. You might get to meet FRIM’s researchers along the way or spot what remains of an old Orang Asli settlement.


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