I was very sceptical about #cycletoworkuae, I’m going to be honest. I worried. About safety, how to get a bike, what to wear and how my hair was going to fare under that helmet. In the end, Arts&Life web editor Felicity and I had a ball this morning. She met me at my house near the Holiday Inn at 6.45am and after a few quick selfies we meandered down back streets along Dhafeer Street to the “new Corniche” on our rented hybrids. We saw the sunrise, a man walking in work clothes and a balaclava and some interesting sculpture along Sheikh Zayed Road, including an aubergine, a mushroom and what appeared to be two artichokes. Felicity promised me there was a banana, too, but it never materialised. An hour later, after a bit of a tussle and profanity in a construction zone near the Dusit Thani Hotel, not to mention the final moments of our ride, when I got cocky and almost hit a Land Cruiser, we pulled up in front of Abu Dhabi Media. While I’m probably not going to start biking to work regularly (I was quite right to worry about the state of my hair) there are two reasons I’m glad we did this morning: since I started the day with some nice exercise, I can take the night off, and, more importantly, we did something I had thought wasn’t possible.
* Ann Marie McQueen, Arts&Life editor
“I want you two to have constant vigilance, do you hear me, CONSTANT VIGILANCE,” the deputy Arts&Life editor, Christine, had warned Ann Marie and myself. After ascertaining that we couldn’t easily get hold of “tall wing mirror things to help with CONSTANT VIGILANCE,” she sighed and said “Just be careful.” Next up was my own mother. “You just watch what you are doing, the pair of you be careful,” she said. “You better let me know the minute you arrive.” After a further lecture from our food writer Stacie on helmets, I wondered how I dare risk such a thing as a bike ride to work. Twelve kilometres later after a beautiful sunrise over the “new Corniche” on Salam Street, a lovely chat and a lot of laughs we cruised into work. I say cruised but the truth is Ann Marie nearly came a cropper on the final corner after a face-off with a Land Cruiser and my legs were going round like Road Runner’s because I couldn’t find the lever for lowering the gears. Will I be getting a bike now? Yes. I loved it.
* Felicity Campbell, Online Features Editor
I think the joy of biking never disappears. From the moment when we first got off on two wheels as kids to it becoming a serious method of transportation, biking is just one of the best ways to get anywhere and today wasn’t any different. Having said that, there’s a lot to be achieved with the infrastructure in the UAE. Also, avoid roundabouts on all occasions, they just aren’t meant for cyclists.
* Nasr Al Wasmi, Staff Reporter
I’ve been in Abu Dhabi for more than two years. In all that time I’ve never once used a bike. But today was the day. Yes, I got bemused looks from motorists and using the main roads can be a little nerve-wracking. But it was a short, enjoyable run to work and with more cycle lanes to make it safer, I’d definitely do it every day. I’m sold.
* John Dennehy, Deputy Review Editor
I’ve biked to work long before this campaign, using a mix of back roads and footpaths. But in two years, I’ve almost never seen another cyclist on the roads. Today, in the short 1.2km hop from home to work, I saw three others. There was even a fraternal spirit evident between us. I hope it continues long after today.
* John Henzell, Editorial Writer
The last time I was on a bike, I was whizzing down Mount Batur on Bali wondering whether my screeching brakes could save me. The 10-minute cycle ride from my front door to the Abu Dhabi Media building was rather less scenic but equally involved thanks to casually parked cars, wheelie bins, speed bumps and giant curbstones. I’d hoped to play it safe and travel all the way along on the pavement but that proved impossible, as side roads and turnings would have seen me spend more time jumping on and off the saddle than spinning the pedals. In the end I followed my nose and saw a different side of my neighbourhood that made the journey very much worthwhile. The look of surprise mixed with amusement on the faces of the motorists who carefully skirted around me was an added bonus.
* Clare Dight, Editor, The Review
