When I first started cycling in Hong Kong more than 15 years ago, I almost felt ashamed to admit my hobby to others.
At the time, it was a treacherous activity. Double-decker buses competed to see how close they could pass without knocking you off, while trucks did not seem to see you at all. Off road, the rocky staircases on Hong Kong’s mountain-bike trails meant the chances of not getting bucked off on each outing were about the same as those of an amateur bull-rider in a rodeo.
Fast-forward to today and, while the traffic can still be hazardous, the buses and taxis seem to give you a wide berth. The government has also overhauled the mountain-bike trails to remove some of the worst neck-breakers.