For Jaap-Jan Boom and Bram Herfkens, cycling is a part of their DNA. The Dutch nationals come from a country that has more than 13 million bikes with a population of about 16.8 million.
The pair work at a UAE-based oil company, but actually began cycling together when they lived in Holland. “In Amsterdam, we lived a street away from one another, and from there, we’d cycle to the train station every day or sometimes even to The Hague,” says Mr Herfkens, 34.
The two-hour bike ride was about 60 kilometres, and both would make the journey at least once a week.
Abu Dhabi is a bit different, but for the past year the two head out to Yas Island on Saturday mornings to cycle with a group of colleagues and friends.
Safety is usually a major obstacle hindering bike enthusiasts in the city, but Mr Boom, 31, says that it has improved. “Safety is a concern, but it’s getting better and better,” he says.
One of his main issues has been about parking.
Mr Boom went to meet colleagues one night at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi. He thought that since he lived nearby in Reem Island that he would take the opportunity to cycle.
Without any dedicated parking, he grabbed his bike and carried it throughout the hotel before locking it to a fence. He then sat down for dinner.
Twenty minutes later, two security guards approached his table. They said that it was an eyesore for guests and had to be moved.
Mr Boom asked what to do in the future.
“They said to me, ‘you can just valet park your bike next time’.”
“I haven’t tried it yet, but that would be epic,” he says.
Although it raises the question: how much do you tip the valet to park your bike in between the BMWs, Maseratis, Porsches and other high-end vehicles present throughout the city?
lgraves@thenational.ae
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