Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Corniche has always been a spot where residents can go to exercise and relax, and the host of sport services that are now on offer have made the location a thriving hub of fun activities.
These include bike rental services, which have been a mainstay along the Corniche for about five years, and a newly opened hall for team sports.
“We are in town for just a few days and all the websites we checked said the Corniche could not be missed,” Camilla Evans, a tourist from Australia, told Gulf News.
“And we decided that the best way to see the area and get a feel of activities along the coastline was to rent some bikes and ride around,” she added.
The bike rental services are especially popular during the weekends, but weekday evenings also see quite a lot of demand.
Operators, who provide regular bicycles, tricycles and even bikes that can accommodate couples and families, said that they see customers of all ages.
“Many people regularly use the professional bicycles we offer for their daily morning and evening workouts. Families with small children, on the other hand, like the four-seater bikes that can be steered,” said Jeffrey Solano, a sales staff at one of the bike service providers.
The bikes are available from about 9am in the morning till almost midnight in the winter. Renting one of them for an hour can cost between Dh30 to Dh100, depending on the type of bike and day of the week.
“Some of the funniest experiences are when young children ask me to teach them to ride a bike, but this is not part of the service,” Solano said with a smile.
While many tourists use the services, operators said that the greatest share of their customers are Abu Dhabi residents.
Fahd Al Menhali, an Emirati security coordinator, said he rents a bike around three to five times a week.
“I live quite some distance away from the Corniche, and it is difficult for me to transport a bicycle there every time I want to work out. So I prefer to use the rental facilities. Besides, it is an enjoyable way to work out while also enjoying the outdoors,” he said.
Other residents said biking is an affordable form of entertainment in a city where most other leisure activities can be steeply priced, and that this is one reason why many children regularly use the rental services.
“I am on a short holiday from Syria, and I tried biking yesterday. I loved it so much that I’ve convinced many of my older cousins to join me today, and I expect to come back after today as well!” said 11-year-old Dania Al Safadi.
The sport facilities are complemented by widely spread snack bars and restaurants, all of which have transformed the waterfront into one of the capital’s most bustling destinations during the winter months.
