Sheikh Hamdan announces plans to make Dubai a bicycle-friendly city

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has said government employees can work from home if their children are distance learning. Courtesy: Wam   

Dubai is set to become a bicycle-friendly city after new road safety laws and infrastructure to support riders is put in place, said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

The Crown Prince of Dubai urged authorities to adopt global best practices to develop a bicycle-friendly infrastructure in the emirate.

The new announcement is in line with the objectives of Dubai Vision 2021, which aims to strengthen the city’s position as the world’s most preferred place to live, work and visit.

It also supports the objectives of the Dubai Traffic Strategy 2021 that seeks to reduce road fatalities and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050’s, which aims to achieve a 16 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by next year.

The announcement was made at a Dubai Police event on Thursday.

The participants at the event suggested forming a task force that can work on developing the infrastructure, promoting a bicycle culture and introducing rules and laws that will ensure the safety of cyclists.

On August 9, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was seen cycling around the city with friends and aides before stopping to pray on the roadside.

The images, shared widely on social media, showed Sheikh Mohammed and a group of almost 20 friends and family cycle past the Dubai Canal, using a dedicated cycling path and wearing helmets.