Cyclists prefer neat and short cable housing. However folding bikes are different, the cables need to be loose and flexy in the front. Why? Folding a bike with tight cable housing will kink the cables once folded. Therefore tight cables on a folding bike make it a non-folding bike :)

Cable housing moves on folders frequently, it is important to pull the housing back to the front. This will minimize the risk of housing kinks during folding.