UAE | Traffic and Transport

Pedways planned to link major buildings in Dubai

The majority of the pedways in the congested parts of the city and commercial areas will be air-conditioned.

By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 December 20, 2009

Image Credit: Gulf News archive
'We are also improving the existing footpaths and building more pedestrian bridges,' the RTA official said.

Dubai: After putting a fully integrated public transport system in place, Dubai is now planning to build climate controlled pedways to link major buildings to promote a walking culture.

"Apart from the existing and planned air-conditioned pedestrian crossings, we are planning to build air-conditioned pedways to link major buildings, shopping centres, Metro stations and bus stations.

The aim is to make Dubai a pedestrian-friendly city and to encourage people to walk to cover short distances," said Abdul Mohsin Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Ebrahim told Gulf News in an exclusive interview that pedways either underground, on the ground or elevated would link buildings in areas such as Shaikh Zayed Road.

"We want to see a 20 per cent increase in pedestrian traffic and a 30 per cent decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the next three years as part of the Dubai Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Plan."

According to the RTA's statistics, 49 pedestrians were killed on Dubai's roads in 2001 and in 2007 the figure was 145. However, the number of pedestrians killed in 2008 was down to 106 as more pedestrian bridges were built and the traffic rules strictly enforced.

Ebrahim said the project would be implemented soon after the completion of a study of the areas where the pedways would be built. They have been designed to link pedestrian crossings and Metro stations with nearby buildings.

Comments (16)

Added 14:49 December 20, 2009

I am quite pleased to read this article. Montreal, Canada has an underground city where buildings, shopping malls are linked. This is to avoid the extremely cold weather in Montreal. Dubai is vying for competition and such initatives augurs well. I suggest that pedways should start from Deira, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Karama. I have been watching Cities of the Underground on History Channel and may be the planners should study each city where underground network exists and take best practices from each city and develop Dubai's unique style. My support for Dubai is very strong and continues to be reinforced...

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:25 December 20, 2009

I am once more overwhelmed by the ideas of Dubai. This is a really great way to make a liveable city and the right step into the future. By the way, we could use it here as well. At the moment we have -18 degrees celsius.

Andreas Schulz, Dresden, Germany

Added 13:53 December 20, 2009

Building air-conditioned pedways to link major buildings, shopping centres, Metro stations and bus stations is a great idea. However once it's completed the maintenance should be done regularly as the air-conditioned pedestrian crossing near Clock Tower which lets pedestrians cross over from Rigga Road to Port Saeed (Bassam Centre) and vice versa has its escalators, lifts and air-conditioning non functional most of the time. It is very difficult to climb the escalator steps and imagine the plight of children, pregnant women, sick and old people. In summer, it's like a bakery inside the pedestrian crossing.

Denis Rodrigues, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:41 December 20, 2009

I believe this is a great thing that is being done. But the authorities has to look at other places like on Dubai Alain road, where we have to cross daily 6 lanes of fast moving cars to go to the other side of the highway to Silicon Oasis.

Anonymous, Dubai, Seychelles

Added 12:45 December 20, 2009

Building air-conditioned pedways to link major buildings, shopping centres, Metro stations and bus stations is a great idea, however once its completed the maintenance should be done regularly as the air-conditioned pedestrian crossing near clock tower which lets pedestrians cross over from Rigga road to Port Saeed (Bassam Centre) and vice versa has its escalators, lifts and air-conditioning non functional most of the time, it is very difficult to climb the escalator steps and imagine the plight of children, pregnant women, sick & old people. In summer its like a bakery inside the pedestrian crossing.

Denis Rodrigues, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 11:04 December 20, 2009

I hope the pedways are not just for the red line and Sheikh Zayed Road. Even before Healthcare City metro station and the green line opens there is already a need to link Healthcare City/ Wafi City with Oud Metha by building a pedestrian bridge from Healthcare City over Oud Metha Road next to Eppco/BurgerKing Petrol station to link up with the very fast growing residential area between Oud Metha Road and Lamcy Plaza

Ken Loughery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:26 December 20, 2009

I think the best way to attract people to walk instead of driving is by providing such pedestrian foot bridges in places mostly visited by a lot of people like malls, government establishments, places of worship, and business offices in a way that will make walking safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. Shaded sidewalks should also be built to connect these pedestrian bridges by having the sidewalks planted with trees that can provide good shade but still thrive on a roadside environment. I just hope that once these are provided by the government, the public would use them properly and not vandalize or put garbage on them. Coordination and cooperation is important for projects like these to be successful. Thanks and keep it up Dubai!

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:24 December 20, 2009

I remember standing below a wind tunnel ( similar to those you see on top of old houses at Bastakiya ) during a recent desert safari. The wind was gushing down as if I was standing beneath huge fan or something. Making shaded walkways is great plan and RTA should experiment with wind tunnels over these walkways. Dubai being coastal city and getting good wind speeds , I believe such a walkway may help pedestrians stay comfortable naturally.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:12 December 20, 2009

Pedestrain overbridges are necessary in Dubai to improve health of public and reduce congestion on road. At present people are compelled to use their vehicles even for short distances due to unavailability of road crossings. If the pedestarian bridges are planned according to the chosen residential areas, then this will be a great success. Also try to link the crossings with the Bus stops for e.g. linking bus stops in opposite sides of the road. This will help people to use Bus service alight at the other end of the road and cross safely to the other side. Encourage people to use public transport by providing such facilities is essential for future of Dubai and any like cities in the world.

Brijesh, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:05 December 20, 2009

I have seen that most of the pedestrians do not have the patience to wait at the traffic signals till it is safe for them to cross. Most of them run through the busy roads confusing the drivers. I am a person who have to cross almost 3-4 signals daily and most of the times I see people run through the zebra lines at the signals when it is not their chance also confusing and tempting other pedestrians who are still waiting to cross with them unsafely. Constructing pedways can thus reduce a huge number of casualities which are caused by this unsafe crossing of roads.

Raisa Samir, Dubai, United Arab Emirates