After Dubai has launched an ultra-modern line of buses and the first metro system in the Gulf, the city is now concentrating on encouraging its residents to bike, especially when it comes to shorter distances.

They are planning to hand over 900 km of bicycle lanes in the near future, and have already finished part of the cycling track on Al Rigga Road in Deira, which is connected to the Dubai Metro station as well.

Article source: Gulf News

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has plans to have more than 900km of cycling tracks in the city. The tracks will be laid in phases over the next 10 years. However, some 157km long cycling tracks, including 70 km in Bur Dubai and 57 km in Deira, will be built on a priority basis. Work on the first phase of laying tracks on important roads has already begun.

Some of the major roads which will have dedicated tracks in near future include: Shaikh Zayed Road (service road), Al Mankhool Road, Al Rigga Street and Al Diyafah Street. The RTA has also laid part of the cycling track on Al Rigga Street and it is connected to the Al Rigga Metro Station. The 14km-long Jumeirah Road already has a cycling track and it will have marking on the road soon.

‘We have started work on building the tracks in the areas that have relatively greater cyclist population,’ said Abdul Mohsin, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance.

Mohsin told Gulf News that there was a huge cycling population in the congested Central Business District (CBD) areas of Deira and Bur Dubai. ‘We will either have dedicated cycling tracks or just marking on the roads to provide safe passage to cyclists in these areas,’ he added. The RTA will also initially build some 2,000 parking stands along the tracks to provide parking facilities for bicycles.

The parking spaces will be increased to 6,000 over the next 10 years.

‘Our aim is provide safe cycling facilities in the city in a bid to encourage more people to use cycles to cover short distances and avoid using cars,’ Mohsin added.

He said that the RTA ha s also recommended to the Federal Government to amend some laws allowing more freedom to cyclists and to provide them with greater safety.

Conditions: Law on riding bicyles

The UAE’s Federa1 Law No. 21 of 1995, along with Ministerial Order No.130 of 1997, addresses the legislative requirements for the use of bicycles.

Article I6 of the Law states that a cyclist shall ride bicycle on the right side of the road and is prohibited from riding their bicycle on sidewalks. They shall use the cycle tracks if available. Currently, it is prohibited to ride bicycle on main roads for safety reasons.

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