Abu Dhabi: Steps towards helping Abu Dhabi to embrace bicycles and walking as modes of transportation instead of their current status as a means of entertainment are currently being taken, Department of Tranport (DoT) officials said on Tuesday.
Although scheduled to be gradually implemented over the course of the next six years, the Walking and Cycling Master Plan (WCMP) bids to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists to use.
“After conducting several surveys, we have found that people are generally unhappy with the current biking and walking facilities available,” said Abdullah Al Muhairbi, Acting Section Head of Public Transport Planning at the DoT. “Many parents have even complained that they consider the streets dangerous to send their children out on their own.”
Commenting on whether the master plan will include special facilities for women and the disabled, Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager of Public Bus Office at the DoT, said: “Constructed roads for walking and biking are generally made to be open and are subject to monitoring. It would cost twice as much to construct seperate pathways for women and as long as there is a culture of mutual respect between the two sexes, such measures are not necessary. The master plan will definitely include accessibility for individuals with special needs.”
Other improvements that will be made to the capital’s current biking landscape include creating natural shading using trees and buildings, in addition to setting up bike parking under hotels, malls and at bus stops.
The DoT has also announced that it has spoken to several hotels on the Abu Dhabi Corniche that have agreed to provide guests with free bicycles and all but one have complied with the request.
