100km of tracks ready for Dubai cycling fans

In what is good news for biking enthusiasts in the city, one phase of a cycling track that extends 104 kilometres has just been completed. This completed stretch is part of the larger Dubai Bicycle Master Plan to make the city cyclist-friendly.

Bikers of the Dubai Roadsters group hadn’t heard of the newly completed phase, but were cheered by the news.

Wolfgang Hohmann (or Wolfi, as he is best known), the 42-year old founder of the Dubai Roadsters Cycling Group, told Khaleej Times: “We’ve been here in Dubai for 11 years now and are happy to see more and more people take up the sport.” Wolfi said it was great to see the development of tracks in Dubai over the last few years, adding that the municipality was doing a wonderful job in encouraging people to take up this activity that was “more social here in Dubai than in other countries”.

The Dubai Bicycle Master Plan would see 850 kilometres of cycling tracks in Dubai built by the next few years.

Wolfi encouraged people to just pick up a bike and head to the nearest, most convenient cycle track. And if it’s too hot in the day, the most popular nights are Sunday and Tuesday at the Nad Al Sheba track.

Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said the cycling tracks constructed comprised a 23km-long track along Jumeirah Street, 1.4km track along Street No 7 linking Jumeirah Street with Al Mankhool Street, 1.6km track at Mall of the Emirates Station, 67km track spanning Seih Assalam Road and Al Qudra Road, as well as the Dubai Cycling Track Gate, public utilities, rental outlets for bicycles and accessories, and a fully equipped medical clinic, in addition to the 11km track at the centre of Bur Dubai covering Al Fahidi, Al Falah, Al Ghubaiba and Al Hisn roads.

“The RTA will embark on the construction of suggested tracks in a number of areas during 2013-2014 covering Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa, Al Qouz 3, Al Sufouh Street, Al Mamzar Park, Mushrif Park, and Hor Al Anz East,” he added.

The RTA will also include cycling tracks to projects pertinent to the completion of internal roads and pavements in residential areas in order to link the points of attractions, such as public parks and shopping malls, with collector roads in areas covered by the cycling tracks.

nivriti@khaleejtimes.com