Cars have been seen on the Dubai Cycling Course on Al Qudra Road as well as the 8km loop in Nad Al Sheeba. Jaime Puebla / The National
Cars have been seen on the Dubai Cycling Course on Al Qudra Road as well as the 8km loop in Nad Al Sheeba. Jaime Puebla / The National

Terror on two wheels as cars hare round Dubai bicycle tracks



DUBAI // Cyclists at Dubai’s first dedicated bike road circuits say they are taking their lives in their hands because of invasions by speeding motorists.

Although Dubai Police have warned the 90-kilometre Dubai Cycling Course near Al Qudra Road and the 8km loop in Nad Al Sheeba are for bicycles only, cyclists say speeding cars are all too common.

Abdul Ghaffar Al Khajah, who drives from Ajman every weekend to use the Dubai Cycling Course, said that recently a white SUV travelling at high speeds came within inches of him.

“For me, it’s too much,” said Mr Al Khajah, 33, an Emirati computer engineer. “I was in shock for the whole day. It was something very scary.”

He said there was also a family using the course that day.

“Kids don’t keep a straight line when they’re cycling and they were lucky,” he said, adding that he now rode in groups for safety.

“You’re supposed to be able to do it yourself. It’s a cycle track, not a car-racing track.

“No one should bother you. A lot of people were there cycling alone that day. After that, I don’t consider going on it alone any more.”

But Mr Al Khajah added: “It’s an amazing track and I appreciate what the Government did for us by giving us a place to practise and have our family there.”

Deniece Wheeler, 33, an education consultant, had a similar experience at the former camel racetrack at Nad Al Sheeba, which was converted into an 8km bike track complete with solar lights and barriers, clearly signposted as a bike-only track.

“There was someone bombing down the cycle track,” Ms Wheeler said. “I could hear it screech behind me. I turned around and it frightened the life out of me – a black saloon car. I am sure they were just joyriding about.”

Ms Wheeler warned other cyclists before she finished her ride.

“It was really dangerous. Someone else posted online the same night a white 4x4 doing the same thing. It’s not the first time.”

Families who have heard about the danger are now reluctant to go down with their children, Ms Wheeler said.

The Roads and Transport Authority, responsible for building the track, referred all queries to Dubai Police.

Police stressed the tracks are off-limits to cars and said they would be investigating the matter.

– Additional reporting by Thamer Subaihi

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Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

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Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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Age: 19 

Profession: medical student at UAE university 

Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

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Hotel Silence
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MATCH INFO

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When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
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Live: BeIN Sports HD
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

SQUADS

India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur

New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult

Uefa Champions League last 16 draw

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Brief scores:

Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37

South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62

Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59

Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

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