Dubai: Authorities will construct as many as 3,000 bicycle parking spaces for Dubai Metro users, by the first quarter of this year, it was announced yesterday.
The move comes in a bid to avoid unruly parking of bicycles such as by tying them to trees, light poles or traffic signals, Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said yesterday.
"Such practices inflict damage to public property, block visibility for motorists and road users, and distort the general appearance of neighbourhoods, particularly in tourist areas," she said.
Parking spaces for bicycles will be constructed near stations along both Red and Green Lines. The parking spaces have been designed in a way that makes them accessible and easy to use, according to the RTA. The decision is a step forward in enhancing integrated public transport systems in Dubai, she said.
Promoting use
Maitha urged residents to use bicycles, particularly for short trips, as they help ease heavy usage of vehicles and thereby reduce environmental pollution.
"The project comprises the construction of about 3,000 bike stands near the Metro stations. Phase 1 of the project was completed earlier, with 212 stands built at eight stations on the Red Line," she said.
These include 96 parking spaces at Al Rashidiya Station, 16 at Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station, 32 at Jafliyah Station, 16 at Financial Centre, 32 at Mall of the Emirates Station, 16 at Ibn Battuta Station, and about four stands at Nakheel Station.
"RTA has completed the construction of bases for about 1,200 new stands on the Red Line stations and has planned to complete them by the first quarter of this year." Maitha added. Phase 2 of the project, which involves construction of bases for about 1,100 parking spaces on Green Line stations, will begin later.
In future, all Metro stations will be integrated with dedicated cycling tracks, said Nasser Abu Shehab, Director of Strategic Planning, at RTA's Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.
‘Vital requirement'
"The provision of cycle stands is a vital requirement that has to be addressed in an effort to eliminate haphazard parking of bicycles at unsuitable locations," he said.
The RTA has finalised studies for the construction of cycling tracks with an overall length of about 900km under five phases, scheduled for completion by 2020. The project's trial run has started in key spots such as the streets of Jumeirah and Al Mankhool.
