Dubai: The path to a healthier life in Dubai continues to widen with new cycling and pedestrian sport tracks at Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One.
Set within the upscale new community scheduled to open next year in the Meydan area, the new development’s cycle and pedestrian paths will not be an exclusive personal health maze for District One residents only, said company officials.
The new Dh81 million cycling tracks opened on December 6 to the general public, developers confirmed.
The 8.4km of tracks took eight months to construct.
“The District One cycling and running tracks are open to the public and of course the residents of the District One community. Given the location and safe and friendly environment of the tracks, we envisage a lot of usage by both members of the public and residents,” a company official said.
The paths fit well within the community vision to help residents seek natural experiences outdoors in a tranquil environment.
“Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One will consist of a crystal lagoon, manmade beaches, a 14km boardwalk as well as running and cycling tracks which create a world-class residential community for its residents,” the spokesperson said. “The integration of a cycling network is vital to its success and usability. It is critical to identify nodes which can be linked through one unified multi-modal transportation network.”
The latest addition of recreational paths to Dubai supports a growing demand by athletically minded residents for proper sport amenities that help one to live a healthier life.
The rise of competitive and extreme sports in the region is also buoying further demand for proper athletic facilities, the company spokesperson said.
“Dubai holds an exceptional position in the sporting world with events such as the Dubai International Parachuting Championship, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, the Dubai Desert Classic Golf, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, the Desert Triathlon, and the Dubai World Cup taking place and attracting thousands of visitors year each,” said the official. “Dubai has the unrivalled advantage to be the next world-class cycling destination due to its first-class sporting facilities already existing coupled with the rise in interest in the sport. We have an opportunity facing us whereby we can combine tours with major sporting events. The location of the District One Cycling and Running tracks makes this an ideal and convenient location for many.”
The new series of paths at Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One is in addition to a vast array of new cycling and pedestrian pathways completed or still in the works across Dubai by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
To date, the RTA has already constructed more than 150km of cycling paths across the emirate in the last couple of years, including a 25km cycling track at Jumeirah Road, an 11km cycling track in Bur Dubai, a 115km cycling path at Seih Assalam and Al Qudra Road comprising 10 rest points, facilities for hiring bikes and accessories, and a fully-fledged clinic.
The RTA also opened a nine-km-long dedicated bikeway along the tramway following the opening of Dubai Tram in November last year. A section of the track 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.
The RTA is currently studying several proposed cycling tracks, while construction of cycling tracks in 11 residential areas stretching 52km at a cost of Dh40 million has also been approved.
RTA has plans to build around 850km of dedicated bike paths as part of its Cycling Master Plan, that will be implemented in various phases.
Phase four of the cycling master plan includes areas such as Al Sufouh, Al Mamzar Park, Hor Al Anz and Mushrif Park and is scheduled to be completed by 2016.
District One cycling and running tracks:
• Built at a cost of Dh81 million
• Construction took eight months to complete
• Officially opens December 6
• Length totals 8.4km
SOURCE: District One Cycling and Running Tracks
