{"id":8485,"date":"2018-02-21T09:15:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T14:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/?p=8485"},"modified":"2018-02-28T03:52:27","modified_gmt":"2018-02-28T08:52:27","slug":"cycling-around-the-world-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/2018\/02\/cycling-around-the-world-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Which countries are safe for bicycle touring?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Would you cycle the world's most dangerous tourist destinations? Many people do.<\/h3>\n
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Before setting off on a round the world bicycle tour, it's important to inform yourself about potential hot spots. That way you can make informed decisions about where to cycle based on your personal\u00a0level of risk tolerance.<\/p>\n

\u00a0In Part 2 of our series, we count down the top 10 most dangerous countries for travelers as ranked by The World Economic Forum's\u00a0Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report<\/a>. Surprisingly, the country ranked as the world's most dangerous tourist destination is also a popular spot for bicycle travelers.<\/p>\n

The WEF\u00a0tourism safety ranking<\/a>\u00a0 \"measures the extent to which a country exposes tourists and businesses to security risks mainly related to serious harm to people (violence and terrorism).\" The ranking does not take petty crime into account.<\/p>\n

Note that this report covers only 136 of the world\u2019s 196 countries. Notorious hotspots, including Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia and South Sudan, have not been ranked. Check out part one of the world's most dangerous countries for bicycle traveler's here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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10. Ukraine<\/h2>\n

Fighting between Ukrainian armed forces and Russian-backed armed separatists is common<\/a>\u00a0in both the eastern and south-eastern regions of the Ukraine, more specifically, the regions of Donetsk oblast, Luhansk oblast, and Crimea. Civilians continue to get caught up in the fighting.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> Since violence in Ukraine is isolated to the eastern region, I\u2019d cycle the western part of the country without worrying too much.<\/p>\n

9. Honduras<\/h2>\n

Honduras is home to\u00a0one of the world's highest murder rates<\/a>. The department of Gracias a Dios in particular is plagued with crime and drug trafficking, and also lacks police or military presence.<\/p>\n

Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba are other dangerous areas;\u00a070 per cent\u00a0of US citizen homicides in the past seven years happened in these districts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> We\u2019ve biked and backpacked in Honduras and the country never really felt safe to me (too many barred windows and bad hombres strolling around town with loaded guns and). I\u2019d go there again, but be extra safety conscious.<\/p>\n

8. Kenya<\/h2>\n

Although many\u00a0terrorist attacks occur outside Nairobi<\/a>, the threat of terrorism is still high in the city. Grenades, shootings, and stabbings are common forms of attacks.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> Kenya is a vast country and the security situation can vary enormously from region to region. The spikes in violence since 2011 resulted in a decline of tourism but the country still hosts over 1 million foreign visitors per year.<\/p>\n

When we cycled Kenya in 2008<\/a>, we passed through some areas of political unrest, particularly near the northern border with Ethiopia. I\u2019d go bicycle touring in Kenya again, but monitor the security situation closely and avoid visiting near election time.<\/p>\n

7. Egypt<\/h2>\n

ISIS and other extremist groups<\/a>\u00a0pose serious threats to public venues throughout Egypt, including tourist sites. The groups have also been known to target various modes of transport.<\/p>\n

Our Extremist groups were active in Egypt when we cycled there in 2008. At several points, police insisted on escorting us as we cycled in order to assure our safety.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> In 2018, I would not consider cycling through the Sinai due to the high terrorist threat and risk of kidnapping (the US government never pays ransoms and I wouldn\u2019t want family and friends begging for donations on social media in order to pay captors).<\/p>\n

I might cycle through other parts of Egypt, but would study the security situation carefully beforehand.<\/p>\n

6. Venezuela<\/h2>\n

Shortages of basic goods such as water, food, medicine, and electricity have led to much social unrest and crime throughout Venezuela. The country has one of the\u00a0highest crime rates in the world<\/a>; armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, and carjacking are all common forms of violence in much of the country. The US\u00a0Department of State warns against travel to Venezuela.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> I pity the plight of Venezuelans who have been witnessing the decline of their country for decades. We enjoyed backpacking through Venezuela in 2002 but by the time we cycled there in 2010<\/a>, the country was already suffering from high crime rates and food shortages. Someone would have to offer me an armed escort and a very large sum of money before I\u2019d even consider cycling \u00a0Venezuela today.<\/p>\n

5. Nigeria<\/h2>\n

Two extremist groups, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa, are responsible for much of the violence that occurs in Nigeria, and commonly target\u00a0heavily populated areas like churches, schools, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The US\u00a0Department of State says visitors \"should be vigilant at public gatherings and locations frequented by foreigners\" and to \"exercise extreme caution throughout the country due to the threat of indiscriminate violence\".<\/p>\n

Our take<\/strong>: We cycled Nigeria in 2007<\/a> and, while the people were some of the friendliest we\u2019ve met, the country didn\u2019t always feel safe. Come to think of it, the friendly factor<\/em> is rarely a good predictor of safety, even less so in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Extremist groups act with impunity in Nigeria, and for that reason I\u2019d give the country a wide berth these days.<\/p>\n

4. Pakistan<\/h2>\n

Religious conflict has plagued Pakistan for years and\u00a0violence against certain religious groups<\/a>\u00a0is still common throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Pakistan's government also greatly limits freedom of speech, and forbids foreigners access to numerous places throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Our take:<\/strong> I absolutely loved Pakistan when we backpacked there in 1999. The people were friendly and hospitable and the landscapes simply stunning. Sadly, this is another one of those countries that suffers from rampant violence and political instability<\/a>. Not to mention terrorism and regular roadside bombings.<\/p>\n

Pakistan ranks high on my cycling wish list. The Karakorum Highway is one of the world\u2019s most magnificent rides. But for now, I\u2019ll hold off cycling Pakistan.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m risk-averse these days, but a fair number of more intrepid Westerners still cycle Pakistan. \u00a0I\u2019ve not come across reports of anyone being harmed.<\/p>\n