Pedalling Through KL

ELLFIAN RAHIM | 25 September 2025

PLANNING your next getaway but can’t quite spare too many days away from Kuala Lumpur? No worries – you don’t have to leave the city to enjoy a spot of adventure. Instead, why not hop on a bicycle and see KL in a whole new light?

Yes, we know – the city centre can sometimes feel like a maze of traffic jams and crowds. Most people default to walking or public transport, but there’s another option that’s often overlooked: cycling. Not only does it get you places, it also gives you the thrill of discovery at your own pace.

That’s exactly what Dutch national Mike Janssen realised when he first came to Malaysia.

“While travelling through Malaysia in 2016, I met the then Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz,” Janssen recalls. “Two years later, when we met again, he asked if I could share some ideas on how to show KL’s hidden gems by bicycle.”

Drawing on the famous cycling culture of his homeland, Janssen decided to take the plunge. He gave up his IT business in the Netherlands, moved to KL, and started MikeBikes – a social enterprise that not only runs cycling tours, but also gives back to the community.

All for one: From left, Arif Aiman Othman (Operations Manager), Janssen and Mohd Hafidz Md Zain (Director).

“From the start, I wanted the tours to be authentic – with local guides, local businesses, and part of the revenue funding social projects, like food packs for the Klang Ekliptik Children’s Centre,” says Janssen with a smile.

Along the way, he also helped consult on the city’s now-familiar blue cycling lanes. Today, with the “Cycling Corridor” in place, KL is slowly but surely building up its cycling-friendly credentials.

MikeBikes first operated out of the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) along Jalan Ampang, but has since moved to a cosy base in Kampung Baru, just steps away from the LRT station. The outfit has grown too – now boasting some 20 guides and more than 90 bicycles, including Dutch-made models in a range of sizes. “We even have child seats and smaller bikes for younger riders, so the whole family can join in,” Janssen adds.

The company runs a variety of themed tours. The Best of Kuala Lumpur Classic and Sunset & Night Tour weave through Chow Kit Market, Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, Bukit Nanas and the Golden Triangle. The Riverside Experience traces the Klang River down to Brickfields, while The Authentic Experience explores the heritage-rich streets of Kampung Baru.

And for those who believe no adventure is complete without makan time, there’s The Pitstop Foodie Tour. Picture this: pedalling through Lebuh Ampang’s Indian quarter, Chinatown’s bustling lanes, and Kampung Baru’s street food paradise – with plenty of pit stops for snacks along the way. “Don’t makan too much before the ride – you’ll want to save some space in your tummy!” Janssen chuckles.

Since its launch, MikeBikes has become one of KL’s top-rated outdoor activities, earning multiple TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. And with expansion plans in Langkawi ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, the wheels are still turning.

Janssen sums up nicely: “On a bike, you have the opportunity to really explore the hidden gems of Kuala Lumpur in a novel way. Life slows down. You feel the sun as you soak in the surroundings. Your senses record the environment around you, and you come to a truer understanding of what being in a new place is all about.”

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MikeBikes
Where: 46, Lorong Raja Muda Musa 4, Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +60 17 673 7322 (Voorkeur)

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