If you’re a new resident or visitor accustomed to spending a good chunk of your time cycling, KL may prove a difficult place to find your groove. Emilie Owens shares how to get on your bike.

Cycling around Malaysia: you’ll often be hard pressed to find a bike lane, or even sometimes a safe path to your destination. With so many roadblocks – both metaphorical and literal – cycling often strikes new residents of KL as a hopeless task.

It is certainly true that the city can be a trying place to try riding, but as with most new cities, knowing your way around will make a big difference. And, in this case, your maps application is probably not the best place to start. Criss-crossed with highways, pocketed with private estates and littered with dead end roads, any topographical study of the city is bound to look like a bit of a mess.

This can – and has – prevented many an avid cyclist from trying out their bike to go to the shops. Do not be defeated! The sooner you get out into the streets, the sooner you’ll realise that there are many ways to navigate a neighbourhood.

Where to go

Using unmarked footpaths, crossing through closed off estates – most security guards are exceedingly understanding of cyclists looking to cut a little time off their commute by taking a shortcut – and winding your way through parking lots will enable you to begin collecting personalized pathways to local shops, restaurants and bars.

In addition, there are plenty of designated cycling areas to be found around the city. Trails for families, beginners, or people who simply prefer to take it easy are often located in and around city centers, and can be easily reached by car or public transport.

Here are just a few: Perdana Botanical Gardens, Putrajaya Botanical Gardens, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Taman Jaya ‘eco-mobility’ Park, Bukit Kiara, Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve, FRIM. You can read more about where to go in our article, here:

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There are a great many cycling groups to be joined through internet forums and social media. On various forums you’ll find a wide array of individuals searching to cycle with other expats on a weekend.

For those seeking a solo ride without the daunting task of forging a new path, the sites bikemap.net and mapmyride.com create communities where like minded cyclists can record runs they’ve tried (or created) and rate them according to difficulty and level of enjoyment.

Staying safe

Of course, safety is paramount. In a city known for its wild drivers and impossible traffic, getting yourself a helmet and the proper safety gear for your machine – reflective tape, a bell, and reliably functional brakes – is crucial. Cycling at night is not recommended, as the street lighting is patchy at best, and non-existent at worst.

For those cycling the jungle trails of city parks and hills, a brightly coloured set of clothing will help your visibility for hikers on foot, as well as other cyclists doing the trail. And always keep a sharp eye out for vehicles, pedestrians, and monkeys (who have been known to cause a spot of trouble along more tree-laden streets and paths).

When it comes to cycling, KL isn’t always the most accessible city. With mayhem in the streets, often-indecipherable road names, and ongoing detours from construction, those who wish to hop on a bicycle can find themselves easily frustrated when they first arrive.

But with a bit of perseverance, the right resources, and the willingness to get very very sweaty, those who dare to explore Malaysia by bicycle will be rewarded by the discovery of an entirely different side of this incredible city.