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Dubai opens more and more cycle lanes as it pushes to target of 500km

With safe cycling and lovely weather (when it's not too hot) - Dubai is fast becoming a cycling destination...

Dubai’s new flagship 32km cycling lane will be open in November, allowing better access for three residential districts.

Those living in Mushrif, Mirdiff and Al Khawaneej will benefit from being able to ride the city’s 250km of tracks, which will be expanding to cover 500km by 2021.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, the transport authority, said 90 per cent of the work was complete on the project.

“Our aim is to provide an infrastructure at residential districts that encourages residents to practice sport, in view of its immense health benefits to people.

“The project is also part of a master plan developed by RTA for providing dedicated cycling and running tracks covering the entire emirate that can also be used as environment-friendly mobility means for cycling enthusiasts.

“Advanced countries and communities pay much attention to raising the proportion of trips made by walking and cycling,” he told Gulf News.

“The selection of these areas was based on several criteria highlighted by the population density, appeal to cyclists and pedestrians, suitability of locations and the traffic safety level.

“Moreover, lanes have been designed in such a way that ensures the safety and security of cyclists,” added Al Tayer.

“RTA is planning to construct more cycling tracks of around 234km during the period of 2018-2021. These lanes will pass through several areas including Al Warqaa, Jumeirah Beach, Nad Al Sheba, Expo 2020 site, Downtown, Jebel Ali, Al Quoz, Al Karama, Oud Metha, Hor Al Anz, Al Qusais and Al Barsha.

“These tracks will bring the total length of cycling lanes in Dubai to about 500 km by 2021,” said Al Tayer.

The popularity of cycling is booming in Dubai, especially in the cooler October to May months. It is mandatory to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in Dubai, and cyclists are not allowed on the main highways, mainly due to the dangers from speeding cars.

Cyclists found riding on roads with speed limits of 60kmph or greater may be fined.

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15 comments

Avatar
Darren Franks | 6 years ago
2 likes

I wrote a blog post with advice about where to ride in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Hopefully it's moved on since I wrote that piece because it was very tough at the time. 

https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2015/12/24/where-to-cycle-i...

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

I only knew one cyclist on Dubai and he was killed on the road. It's a tiny sample but the complications his poor wife had after would be enough to put anyone off. I'm out.

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beezus fufoon | 6 years ago
5 likes

oligarchs and their prostitutes need somewhere to ride safely, given the opposition to facilities in kensington and chelsea

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
2 likes

Disgusting advertisement of a country that has horrendous human rights issues, treats its migrant workers like slaves in labour slums and as for how they treat women who want to cycle, yeah, proper haven ... noy!

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atlaz | 6 years ago
6 likes

THis feels bizarrely like a paid product placement. Since when has Dubai been a cycling destination? Italy, Belgium, Colombia, France -sure. Dubai? I seriously doubt it. 

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to atlaz | 6 years ago
3 likes
atlaz wrote:

THis feels bizarrely like a paid product placement. Since when has Dubai been a cycling destination? Italy, Belgium, Colombia, France -sure. Dubai? I seriously doubt it. 

Keep up.
People don't want alpine climbs and descents any more. Nor are lush verdant views in demand. What people want now is sand and city and 40c heat.

Avatar
Deeferdonk replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
3 likes
wycombewheeler wrote:
atlaz wrote:

THis feels bizarrely like a paid product placement. Since when has Dubai been a cycling destination? Italy, Belgium, Colombia, France -sure. Dubai? I seriously doubt it. 

Keep up.
People don't want alpine climbs and descents any more. Nor are lush verdant views in demand. What people want now is sand and city and 40c heat.

...and cycle lanes built by modern day slaves and indentured labour.

Avatar
cyclisto replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
1 like
wycombewheeler wrote:
atlaz wrote:

THis feels bizarrely like a paid product placement. Since when has Dubai been a cycling destination? Italy, Belgium, Colombia, France -sure. Dubai? I seriously doubt it. 

Keep up.
People don't want alpine climbs and descents any more. Nor are lush verdant views in demand. What people want now is sand and city and 40c heat.

During summer you can beg some days that the temperature is only 40c. The idea of cycling in Dubai for pleasure is not very welcome by me.

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KiwiMike replied to cyclisto | 6 years ago
1 like

cyclisto wrote:

The idea of cycling in Dubai for pleasure is not very welcome by me.

October 2016: I was there for a week, and had a pretty neat / unique cycling experience riding the several hundred km of bike-only paths out into the desert. Beats the crap out of a lot of what passes for a lot of 'cycling' in the UK, and the locals are bloody fast.

A piccy here for your edification: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bg3551igbzdyqg5/IMG_4492.JPG?dl=0

I can recommend, if you are there, taking your own or hiring a bike from Wolfie's bike shop and hitting the track.

Avatar
Leviathan replied to KiwiMike | 6 years ago
0 likes

KiwiMike wrote:

cyclisto wrote:

The idea of cycling in Dubai for pleasure is not very welcome by me.

October 2016: I was there for a week, and had a pretty neat / unique cycling experience riding the several hundred km of bike-only paths out into the desert. Beats the crap out of a lot of what passes for a lot of 'cycling' in the UK, and the locals are bloody fast.

A piccy here for your edification: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bg3551igbzdyqg5/IMG_4492.JPG?dl=0

I can recommend, if you are there, taking your own or hiring a bike from Wolfie's bike shop and hitting the track.

Well that looks lovely, but wouldn't any female companion be arrested for immodest dress?

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
7 likes

Google the dark side of Dubai. Scumbag oil state if ever there was one.

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BarryBianchi replied to Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
0 likes

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Scumbag oil state if ever there was one.

 

Is there any other sort?  Wonder if they will do what we did here when the govt decided to try to meet EU imposed targets for Kms of cycle lanes; left it to local councils to put lanes up and over telephone boxes, through shooting ranges, across rivers, over cliffs etc?

Avatar
Grahamd replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
0 likes

BarryBianchi wrote:

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Scumbag oil state if ever there was one.

 

Is there any other sort?  Wonder if they will do what we did here when the govt decided to try to meet EU imposed targets for Kms of cycle lanes; left it to local councils to put lanes up and over telephone boxes, through shooting ranges, across rivers, over cliffs etc?

Is that why the National Trust were raising funds to buy the white cliffs of Dover?

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Grahamd | 6 years ago
1 like

Grahamd wrote:

BarryBianchi wrote:

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Scumbag oil state if ever there was one.

 

Is there any other sort?  Wonder if they will do what we did here when the govt decided to try to meet EU imposed targets for Kms of cycle lanes; left it to local councils to put lanes up and over telephone boxes, through shooting ranges, across rivers, over cliffs etc?

Is that why the National Trust were raising funds to buy the white cliffs of Dover?

all together now: there'll be bike lanes over the White Cliffs of Dover...

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
0 likes

BarryBianchi wrote:

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Scumbag oil state if ever there was one.

Is there any other sort?  Wonder if they will do what we did here when the govt decided to try to meet EU imposed targets for Kms of cycle lanes; left it to local councils to put lanes up and over telephone boxes, through shooting ranges, across rivers, over cliffs etc?

Do you have a link to something about EU imposed targets for Kms of cycle lanes, please?

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