Dubai - This service contributes to sustainability efforts and encourages residents and tourists to enjoy an active and healthy life.
Published: Sat 22 Feb 2020, 12:00 PM
Last updated: Sat 22 Feb 2020, 5:23 PM
With 780 bicycles and 78 stations across Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has kicked of first-of-its-kind bike rental service in the region.
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, and Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem inaugurated the service at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers' rental station on Wednesday. The multi-phase project will provide 3,500 bicycles across 350 stations in Dubai upon completion.
Al Tayer said the bicycle sharing service meets the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the quality of life in the emirate. It also falls under the instructions of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to provide suitable alternatives that encourage people to exercise and ride bicycles.
"This service contributes to sustainability efforts and encourages residents and tourists to enjoy an active and healthy life, providing them with a new transportation option that will improve mobility across the city. The service supports the RTA's efforts to create an integrated ecosystem that offers different transportation means, as it supports a vehicle-free flexible model and integrates within daily transportation services, using a safe and comfortable approach," said Al Tayer.
"This falls under the efforts made by the Government of Dubai to reduce energy consumption and pollution, provide a healthier and happier environment and offer short (first mile and last-mile) connection service that helps public transportation users reach their final destinations," he added.
Sheikha said: "We are pleased and excited to launch the first-of-its-kind multi-phase programme in the region. We extend our gratitude to all community stakeholders who played a significant role in supporting the initiative and helped us provide our services to the residents and the visitors alike. We appreciate the great efforts made by the RTA to bring success to this project, while we value the contributions of our partners at Wasl Properties, Emaar, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), TECOM and Dubai Holding, who helped translate this project into a reality."
According to its 15-year contract with the RTA, Careem will operate 1,750 bicycles and instal 175 stations during the first two years, before increasing them to a total of 3,500 bicycles and 350 stations over the next five years.
425km bicycle track in place
Over the past few years, the RTA has laid 425km of bicycle tracks across areas such as Saih Al Salam, Bab Al Shams, Al Qudra Road, Dubai Water Canal, Jumeirah Beach Road, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, in addition to recent projects across Al
Khawaneej and Al Warqa, as well as joint-tracks in Al Qusais, Al Karama and Al Manknool (32km). The overall bicycle tracks across Dubai will reach 647km by 2023.
Phase 1 of the rental service
>780 bicycles
>78 stations
Total initiative
>3,500 bicycles
>350 stations
30 kmph - Maximum speed limit for bicycles
How to hire a bicycle
>Download the Careem Bike app
>Unlock the bicycle by scanning QR code on the bicycle
>Enter a 5-digit code from the application into the station
Where can you ride?
>Bicycle dedicated tracks
>Safe roads covered by the rental service
Some of the areas covered:
>Dubai Marina
>Jumeirah Beach Road
>Jumeirah Lake Towers
>The Greens
>Barsha Heights
>Dubai Water Canal
>Dubai Media City
>Downtown Dubai
>Al Qudra
> Al Karama
> Al Mankhool
Smart features:
>Track their bicycles via GPS and anticipate the locations in high occupancy areas.
>Solar-powered rental stations
>Hire and pay via the Careem Bike app
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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