8. Tokyo
You may wonder how this crowded, congested, chaotic city could possibly make a bike-friendly list, but considering the population density it’s remarkable that anyone attempts to get around on two wheels at all. However, cycling has always been a major means of transportation in Tokyo, as in all of Japan, and somehow over 72 million bicycles manage to coexist with cars and pedestrians through an ingrained cultural code of mutual respect. Just ding your bell and people will step out of your way. Stay clear of the main arteries and busy pedestrian areas as you won’t find any dedicated bike lanes, but winding around on backstreet lanes is not a bad way to snake around neighborhoods. Unlike most urban areas around the world, people rarely lock their bikes in Tokyo as theft is so rare. To combat the clutter of bicycles that pile up around train stations, a company called ECO Cycle has implemented an ingenious system of tiered underground parking structures. With a swipe of a membership card, over 200 bikes can be stored in these automated subterranean stacking pods, vending machine style.
