Dubai: Cyclists can now enjoy cycling adjacent to the new tramway in Dubai on Al Sufouh Road all the way to Jumeirah Beach Residence.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has built a nine-kilometre-long cycle track along the tramway on Al Sufouh Road, half of which is aligned with a pedestrian walkway.
A dedicated bikeway is located between Al Sufouh station and Dubai Media City station, while a mixed use track is built starting from Jumeirah Beach Residence station 1, all along the loop that circles around Dubai Marina up to Dubai Marina station.
No cycle track has been provided for the short distance between Dubai Marina station and Mina Seyahi station.
“RTA promotes non-motorised transport modes such as cycling and walking in the city and our ultimate aim is to have an integrated transport system that caters to everyone’s needs, enhances accessibility and mobility and the quality of life for the entire population of Dubai,” said Nasser Abu Shehab, Director of Startegic Transport Planning at RTA.
The new cycle track is part of RTA’s bicycle master plan that covers 900 kilometres of bikeways in the next few years.
According to the master plan a series of bikeways will be connected to mass transit systems to encourage greater integration.
“RTA has identified the need to encourage transit-oriented and smart development around public transport stations in terms of providing a variety of land-use mix, attractive and environmental friendly pedestrian walkways and cycle tracks to increase the convenience and ease of accessing public transport stations,” added Abu Shehab.
The implementation of the master plan will be done in phases depending on cycling demand, urban densities, and linked to other urban and transport infrastructure improvement projects.
“Currently Dubai has cycle tracks of around 115km covering some areas in Jumeirah, Al Mamzar, Mizhar, some CBD areas and Seih Assalam and work is under way to extend the tracks by up to 151.6 kilometres in the coming months,” he said.
Last year, RTA opened the 75-km-long Seih Assalam cycling track, with associated facilities like rest areas, clinic, and bike shops.
“Seih Assalam is a major step towards encouraging non-motorised transport modes among the public and we are planning to further expand it by 48 kilometres connecting to Nad Al Sheba and Al Qudra Street,” he said.
The new bikeways also include a 3.5 kilometre track opened in Al Quoz residential area in March this year.
He noted that a dedicated budget is allocated every year to further improve pedestrian and cycling facilities in Dubai and RTA has plans to add around 200km of cycling tracks in the next couple of years.
As part of RTA’s efforts to encourage biking, all major Metro stations in Dubai have been equipped with bike racks. Up to 1,400 bike racks have been installed so far.
“We are trying to improve the cycling infrastructure within a 500 metre radius of each major Metro station, and this will complement the existing facilities that we have around the city,” Abu Shehab said.
A 25-km track was opened in Jumeirah in 2010, while smaller tracks in Bur Dubai, where a 4.5-km track was built last year, and in Al Barsha, and Mamzar Park as well as Al Mizhar Park have also opened for cyclists.
In the next phase, the project includes tracks spanning 52 kilometres across districts such as Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa’a, Al Quoz 3, Bur Dubai and Mirdif.
The project will be completed at a cost of Dh40 million.
