New Cyacle bike stations installed around Abu Dhabi

It’s 11 o’clock on a wet and blustery weekend morning, and my husband, son and I are heading out into the rain. We are off to explore a route along some of the newer stations installed in Abu Dhabi City by Cyacle, the cashless bike-share system that was rolled out in the capital in 2014.

Sponsored by ADCB, Cyacle consists of 50 stations, and we pick the one closest to our home in Khalidiya: Nation Riviera Beach Club on the Corniche.

The new station has several heavy-duty white bikes docked on either side of a touch-screen terminal. It takes a few minutes to sort out the passes (from Dh20 for 24 hours), retrieve the keys and release the machines from their electronic docks.

After adjusting seats and gears, we are off, racing down the Corniche with the gentle drizzle in our faces. On the way we pass a few joggers, who seem to be equally delighted by the unseasonal weather.

Because Cyacles are meant for short trips, they have to be docked at a station for a minimum of five minutes every 60 minutes, or extra charges apply. So we devise a route, with Nation Riviera as the start and finish point, that includes stations within easy distance of each other and the Corniche: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority building (Adia), Corniche; Al Aryam Tower in Al Mina: World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah; and Bateen Park, a gated residential community, in Al Bateen, 32nd Street. We estimate the journey will take about six hours, including lunch and any explorations.

The bikes are sturdy and well-maintained, making for a comfortable ride. As we ride along the seafront, I keep a sharp eye on my watch, mindful of the 60-minute caveat, but we have more than enough time to get to Adia.

As the building comes into view, a flock of white terns alight silently on the choppy slate waves. It is a peaceful, rain-swept scene, and we watch for several minutes, until a solitary seagull swoops, screeching raucously. The terns go berserk.

The Corniche is also home to many cats, one of which decides to follow us. When we eventually come to a halt opposite Adia, the tabby walks right up to my 15-year-old son and nuzzles one of his feet. It takes 10 minutes to prise apart boy and cat, after which we hurry through the underpass to the Cyacle station in the building’s shadow. We make it with 20 minutes to spare.

The neighbourhood is busy with detour signs, traffic cones and construction sites, so we return to the Corniche before turning towards Stop Number 3: Al Aryam Tower, on Mina Street.

This leg of the trip takes a little under an hour, thanks to more encounters with friendly felines. By the time we cross Corniche Road, going past Heritage Park to Mina Street, the rain has stopped. The busy thoroughfare is lined on both sides with cycling paths, and we navigate the intersection at the far end then cycle down the other side, going past the Indian Social Club. With bikes safely stored away at Al Aryam Tower, we step into Sushi Central restaurant on the building’s ground floor, for warming cups of matcha.

From here, it’s a straight but arduous run down Hamdan Street, via Firdous Street, to Stop Number Four, WTC Mall.

This is the heart of the city, dense with buildings and pedestrians, and without any cycling path in sight. Reluctant to pedal alongside the fast-moving traffic, we end up having to heft our bikes onto and off pavements. It is a difficult 30-minute journey, made worse by the discomfort of getting splashed by cars racing through puddles.

After what feels like ages, we finally reach the station and shopping centre, where we rest our aching muscles during a quick lunch.

The residential community of Bateen Park is Stop Number 5. A quicker way is to go through the city, but we are tired of wheeling the bikes instead of riding them. The plan is to again use the Corniche as a main artery, this time clocking in at Nation Riviera before the 60-minute mark, then turning onto 32nd Street for a half-hour of brisk pedalling to our destination. The only cycling lane along this length of the road circles the park’s enclosed buildings, but it’s safe enough to bike through the quiet, villa-filled districts on either side.

One of these is home to Etihad Modern Gallery, where Abu Dhabi photographer Yiannis Roussakis is showing a collection of images from his travels through South East Asia and Ladakh.

Later, after a round of frappes at Lavazza, a tiny cafe a couple of blocks away, it’s time to return to Nation Riviera.

It’s nearly 5pm when we call it a day, and as the leaden skies open up again, a family of four flash past on bicycles, speeding full-tilt towards the other end of the Corniche.

How it works

New stations have been installed near Nation Towers. Ravindranath K / The National

The details

• Bikes are available 24/7 for short rides via short-term passes and monthly or annual memberships. Only for ages 15 and above.

• Bikes must be returned to a dock every 60 minutes, or a “usage fee” is charged.

• Upon docking, there is a five-minute reset time before you can access the bike again.

• It is a cashless system – only credit/debit cards are accepted.

Passes and membership

A day pass costs Dh20; a three-day pass costs Dh50. A monthly pass costs Dh99; a yearly pass costs Dh499 – both offer limitless short rides. Annual memberships include discounts on biking gear at select sports shops in Abu Dhabi.

Usage fees

Charges apply if a bike is used for longer than an hour:

• 60-90 minutes, Dh10;

• 90-120 minutes, Dh20;

• Dh10 for every additional 30 minutes thereafter.

The app

The recently launched Cyacle Mobile App allows users to find the nearest station, view numbers of available bikes, plan routes and share rides with friends. Free to download on iOS and Android phones.

For more information, visit www.bikeshare.ae or call 800 292 253

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