Do I feel lonely on my bike? No, I have a few times felt bored, but never lonely. I can sometimes feel lonely, when I'm in a backpacker hostel surrounded by people. I guess this is because of the quality of the social relationships, that are somewhat superficial in a transient environment like a backpacker hostel.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness to be a pressing global health threat. Nearly 1 in 4 adults across the world have reported feeling very or fairly lonely, a recent Meta-Gallup survey found. This is not good, because lacking social connections increases the odds of premature mortality.
One major difference I noticed in China compared to ten years ago, was that a decade ago I would sit down to eat my food at a street stall. Within two minutes, usually a young man would be brave and approach me, if he could sit down and practice his English? I loved those conversations, and I learnt a lot about China. This time I would eat my food alone, despite my bicycle got some curious looks, when people looked up from their phones. Has the smartphone meant, we have lost the ability or need to strike up a conversation with strangers? Or does it bring us together?
Some suggest that engaging in small talk with those you encounter, as you go about your day, can make you feel less lonely. If this apply to you, I encourage you to do this. You never know what sort of interesting people, you may end up talking to.