A tourist takes to Abu Dhabi’s safe biking area – a smart choice!
Cycling culture in Abu Dhabi is not well understood. Although it is hot, hot, hot four months out of the year, a growing number of people are parking their cars and traveling on two wheels instead. These intrepid adventurers constitute a minority in the richest emirate (where things like solid gold cars exist).
Unless people take to desert hiking (which isn’t really viable in the summer), there are few opportunities to breath fresh-ish air. Walking and biking on the Corniche creates one such opportunity, but some cyclists want to take their training to the next level. But they have to compete with Abu Dhabi’s drivers, who we have seen texting at the wheel, and who demonstrate outright hostility towards them.
The Abu Dhabi traffic police recently vented their frustration that foreigners insist on pedaling on highways, while the Department of Transport (DoT) announced its entrance into a twelve-month planning period for a Pedestrian and Bikeway Masterplan that would expand bike routes.
Once the planning stage is finished early next year, the DoT will begin work on newer, safer bike routes in tandem with the Urban Planning Council and the Department of Municipal Affairs.
The plan will be implemented in phases beginning in areas of high demand such as city centers and residential areas and would eventually spread throughout all urban areas. These pedestrian and bike friendly routes would be separated from car lanes. Which is a good thing.
Because for some people in Abu Dhabi, bumping bikes is the latest national sport.
One experienced cyclist, Rani Wehbe, told the National that people often jump out of nowhere and that some drivers do not fully respect the cyclist. This year, two cyclists have been injured and one was killed on the motorway.
A 19 year old Emirati who cycles along the Corniche said that expats typically stop when needed, while locals either don’t stop at all or purposely try to run over people on bicycles.
Other road users welcome the plan, provided that officials simultaneously launch a targeted awareness and enforcement campaign and ensure that the surfaces (unlike the smooth tiles lining parts of the Corniche) are bike-friendly in all weather conditions.
In the meantime, bike enthusiasts can either stick to an easy ride along the Corniche, the Yas Marine Circuit, or continue to defy death on the manic roadways.
:: The National
More on biking culture in the Middle East:
Bike Tourism Grows in the Middle East
An Insider’s Experience of Exploring Beirut by Bike
Israel Becomes a Nation of Pedalers (Bike Freaks)
image via get bent!
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Thanks Liz. Do you ride in Abu Dhabi?
Its high time that Abu Dhabi come up with bike lanes.
I would ride my bike in Abu Dhabi, though I would definitely fear for my life! Although, I think it would be possible to stick on the back roads and avoid the hairy areas. It’s the same in Dubai, where I’ve noticed a lot of people ride bikes out of necessity! This will be the subject of my next story 🙂
Tafline – would you ride a bike in Abu Dhabi?