DUBAI // Adopting a European-style “bike culture” is essential if cycling is to grow in popularity and become safer, say Emirati cyclists.
More people would be encouraged to start cycling if drivers and pedestrians, and even other cyclists, were more aware of road safety rules and basic etiquette, said Roudha Alawadi.
“When you go to Europe, for example, even in the places without cycling lanes it’s in the culture to give space to allow the cyclists to move,” said Ms Alawadi, a senior engineer who has been cycling regularly for the past year.
“Here, the cyclists just have to move out of the way and it’s just not safe. I’d like to see us adopt systems which have been proven to work elsewhere.”
Ms Alawadi, who helped establish the UAE Cycling Girls, a group that organises rides using the ByKy rental bikes around Downtown Dubai, said she would like to see the concept expanded to other areas.
“There is real demand for it, especially near to metro stations. You have to take taxis to stations usually but if we had this system, you’d see many people using it. Emiratis would certainly use it.”
Lamia Salem, a mother of two from Sharjah, regularly cycles while on holiday in Munich. The German city, she said, was “really kitted out for it”.
“I’d like to see something similar to Munich in the UAE. I don’t see anything along the main roads, which isn’t safe unless they’re going to build something to ensure the safety of cyclists,” said Ms Salem, who uses the Al Qudra cycle track in Dubai with her family but would like to have something closer to her home.
She agreed that encouraging people to opt for bicycles instead of cars was going to be difficult in the UAE. “People here aren’t used to seeing lots of cyclists on the roads. I wouldn’t cycle on the roads to get from place to place. If awareness increases, if for example they can raise awareness in schools before people begin driving, it will create a young generation who understand the rights of the cyclist.
“If the right authorities were aware of the demand for spaces to cycle, it would make a difference. We don’t want to have to drive to a place to cycle. Cycling is fun and social and is much less intimidating than some things like running.”
Ms Alawadi said there was huge potential for cycling to take hold and establish itself in the UAE.
“People want to cycle but the only issue is that it’s not available. It would reduce congestion. There are many areas in Dubai where there’s already too much traffic.”
mswan@thenational.ae
