Bicycling in Athens

Possible?

Most definately, but I’d say it’s not common at all depending, on the season. Greeks wear a down coat and a knitted wool hat when I’m ready to wear a skirt to get my legs some freckles. Meaning, it takes a hight temperature for the few greeks that DO bicycle to get out of their winter shell. Personally I managed not freckeling, even though it was tempting since I didn’t want the attention. When you bicycle in Athens, people are very attentive, in a positive way. They are very considerate.

Considerate Greeks

Since I don’t travel without a bike as my assistant in exploring, it really matters how safe it is while bicycling among other trafficants. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “xxxxxx don’t drive well, and you can’t bicycle in Xxxxx cause it’s dangerous” regardless of city. I beg to differ, with the exception of Stockholm, one of my home towns that’s really miserable to bicycle in. Due to the inconsiderate atttiude of both bicyclists and car drivers. This being said, I havn’t bicycled everywhere… But I’ve bicycled in many places.

In Athens you don’t have young men high on testestorone driving bmw’s and behaving as everyone is supposed to give way to them. Niether do you have middle aged men behaving entitled in their big cars. You have trafficants, and everyone is going somewhere, and you have to co-operate. It might sound weird, but there’s very little honking and pretty much no rushing of engines. I find that SO very refreshing. Greeks, or more… Athenians drive. There are cars parked everywhere, and I don’t understand how they manage to get a parking spot. Could that be why the rush hour traffic isn’t that intense? This following video is at 8.35 on a wednesday morning in an European capital. And I’m on my way from Attiki to the Syntagma Square right in the middle of Athens.

During my month, I passed by ONE accident, and that was a motorcylists laying on the ground. I was bicycling in-between 2-3 hours per day, and I loved it. During my month, it slowly became warmer, and a few more bicyclists would occur. Still, very few. One more great thing with bicycling in Athens, there is very little glass on the roads.

Bicycling is dangerous

For sure it’s dangerous to bicycle. Mostly cause you have very little protection, as well as you might not be seen as easily cause your vehicle is kind’a small. Or because the other traficants are not used to bicyclists. Or because you’re not careful enough yourself. Yes… yourself. I’ve bicycled the streets of NYC with a death wish when I was 22 & 23, thank you Universe for letting me come as far as 53. While ageing above 25 years, your brain mature and you develop consequential awareness as well as behaviour. My brain is still too wild, but I’m super careful while bicycling, regardless if it’s in Stockholm, Malmö (both in Sweden) or any other place. Trust me, it does make a difference.

It happened again and again while I interacted with expats that they informed me about how not possible it was to bicycle in the city cause if the danger. But they had never tried it. Neither had my Greek tennis friend Petro, but he still had the idea that it’s dangerous.

Caring on a Bicycle

Yes, showing respect and consideration to other fellow traficants also contributes to a safer ride. It shows if you care. Staying far to the side, giving way more often than not, respecting traffic rules, constantly keeping track of others in relation to where you are yourself gives a signal that you’re in the game of the road. And that gives comfort, and you’re likely to be better treated than not.

I’m actually impressed myself.

Bicycling Rules in Athens & Common Sense while Bicycling

The’re most certainly not the same thing. But they do coincide quite frequently. Being a most respectful trafficant, as well as a fair amount of practical experience from riding a bicycle in cities with plenty of other vehicles DO help.

It’s very hard to find any official bicycling rules for Athens, but there are some good sites for recommendations. My wild brain had NOT read these beforehand. Bu reading them now I realise I most certainly have followed them, cause they make sense. To me, that is. The only ones I didn’t follow was no head phones and I always tried to give pedestrians right of way. First, I don’t use big head phones cause it looks stupid in traffic. I use my ear pods since I use my gps all the time. And I do hear the traffic, plus I’d like to survive. Meaning I do pay a lot of attention to other vehicles.

Second, in Athens they do not give pedestrians right of way. If I’m first in line I make sure I do give pedestrians right of way. Never did anyone honk at me. Athenians don’t seem to be that keen on the honking, and it’s so very comforting. I have my own additional an personal traffic rules. They state that when you see a child or an elderly person that’s about to cross the street at a sidewalk, you slow down way before you reach the cross walk, so give a signal that you see them, and that you intend to stop for them to cross. Sharing is Cariing❤️. Of course I fail sometimes, but most of the time I don’t.

In one of these links it says to give way to pedestrians. But from having bicycled in Athens, I felt pretty lonely and NOT successful in the matter. Cause I would stop to give way, but the car behind me didn’t. Just say’n. However, it didn’t stop my efforts.

Do’s & Don’ts for a smooth ride -Athensbikerental
Safety tips -Athens bikes

Bicycle in public transportation in Athens

Is your bicycle foldable or not? Meaning how much of a hassle do you want to put yourself and others in while riding the subway with your fellow bicycle? Apparently the train allows 2 bicycles per train, as well as you can be denied. If going by bus you can only travel with a foldable bicycle, as well as you have to put it in a bag that covers the entire bicycle. Makes sense to me.

I’d say, if possile avoid travelling with a bicycle during rush hour. That’s only an opinion though. Some cities have that as a rule, but it doesn’t seem to be the case in Athens. I have been riding the subway with my folded bicycle later at night and a friend, and it worked very well. But I would avoid doing it in rush hour if I didn’t absolutely have to. The whole point of having the bicycle is to ride it 😊. But going to the airport might be too long of a ride. On the other side… flying should give you plenty of challenges since it’s completely unsustainable.

Transport of bicycles in public transport in Athens

Bicycle Shops in Athens

I didn’t pass that many in numbers, but the four that I did pass seems pleeeenty in regards to how few bicyclists I passed.

Gatsoulis is a large one, and it’s located at 3rd Septemvriou 37 & Stournari right in-between the areas Metaxourgeio, Exarchia and Omonia.
Bike Lab is a small hole in the wall shop, located at Odissea Androutso 37 in the Koukaki area.
Bike Station is rather large an located at Lioson 189 in Attika ❤️ area.
Tzortzopoulos Bikes & Accessories is another large one, and located at Kallirrois 38 in, or next to the area of Acropolis.

Bicycle Lanes in Athens

Far and few inbetween I’d say. If they’re around it’s the law that you use it instead of the main road. I talked about bicycling with Petrus that I found in a tennis group on facebook. He, amongst many others said it’s too dangerous bicycling in Athens, and I of course said it’s not really the case. Depending on what you compare with… Life is associated with risks, you just have to make a calculation, take precautions and then try to see if it’s doable or not. If the calculation says no, then don’t do it.

I said to him that I hardly see any bicylists and hardly any bicycle lanes. His response was that there are no bicyclists cause there are none or too few designated lanes. The hen or the egg, what comes first? Since the weather got warmer, more bicyclists started to appear. But it was never many, more like I wasn’t the “only” one.

Since my main way of transporting myself on my travels is by train, with a bicycle and an occasional bus, and a rare and totally unsustainable fligh I see changes. I started out in NYC with absolutely NO bicycle lanes in 1992 & 1993, came back 1997-2000, still no lanes. Everything worked beautifully as long as you were looking out for yellow cab door being opened… You do the maths. And yes, I’we flown over the steering weel once. When I returned 2014, there were bicycle lanes, as well as cars being parked in the lanes and… everyone had left co-operating behind and gone territorial. So I guess the success rate in separation of different trafficants depends on the interpersonal skills & culture of the place it’s applied. I find New Yorkes to be largely a very friendly set of people, and the lanes… made them less conciderate.

Whatever Works

In Athens people are friendly, but not cherfully and openly friendly like americans in NYC. Meaning they will care for your safety while sharing the roads with cars. According to Petrus (the tennis partner) he said they are propably careful cause they don’t want to hit you. My reflection is: Whatever works. And I always felt as if people cared more than enough. As well as I behaved as I knew I’m vulnerable. I actually always stopped my mission of going somewhere if I saw a bicycle lane and followed it too see where it ended out of curiosity. It may happen that someone have placed their little kiosk right on the lane. Don’t get mad, smile. At least they had a lane up to the… kiosk.

Mind you, there are very few bicycle lanes. Be careful and stay safe.

Felicias Review of Bicycling in Athens

First, it’s right hand traffic in Greece.

1. Always stay far to the right. And show that you care and respect other vehicles and pedestrians.
2. While staying far to the right, keep an eye on the edge of the road since very often the top layer of asphalt doesn’t go all the way out to the end of the side of the road.
3. While staying far ti the right #2 pay attention to the angeling of the roadside. I found it to very often have a roadside misdosing, and you can loose balance or comfort while bicycling.
4. ALWAYS look at the road. They have plenty of unevenness in them. Some tram rails as well, but not everywhere.
5. There’s lots of traffic in Athens, but not massive. Do NOT get stressed, or you’ll be a risk factor.
6. Athenians don’t stop for pedestrians. Odd in my view, byt that’s how they do it.
7. Some people told me Athenians are not used to bicyclists and will give extra space not to hurt you. I certainly was given extra space, whatever the reason.
8. No one honks or rushes their engine in your back. Athenians are kind people.
9. No careless driving in general by either cars, motorcycles or mopeds.
10. Traffic lights are ONLY on your side of the street crossing. Meaning you have to tilt your head backwards to see when the light turns. It’s not only uncomfortable, it’s also difficult to see cause of the hight bright and blinding sun.
11. You have to pay extra attention to where you’re going at the traffic lights, or if you’re going to make a left turn. This because of the position of the lights, as well as the marks in the lanes that are… covered by… cars.
12. Some of the avenues are very wide, pay extra attention if you’re going to cross.
13. If it’s a wide T-crossing and your turning left, your best off by getting all the way up in the front, cause you have absolutely no indication where in the avenue the cars will turn right or left. There are no signs or lights in the front indicating what lane will turn right or left. If you’re making a right turn, just stay your usual far to the right.
14. Hardly any bicycle lanes, but the cars leave plenty of space for you on the side of the road.
15. I didn’t, but I DO recommend a helmet.
16. Always remove your lights or other removable gear from the bicycle as you leave it, or others will. They even removed things that needed a screwdriver from my bicycle.
17. Athens is hilly so you’ll either stay in shape, or get in shape.
18. I loved bicycling in Athens.