Dubai Unveils New Cycling Tracks In Al Khawaneej And Mushrif, Totaling 39 Km

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has recently announced the inauguration of new cycling tracks in Al Khawaneej and Mushrif, adding 7 kilometres to the existing network in these districts. This development increases the total length of cycling tracks in these areas to 39 kilometres. The timing of this launch is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, a period when outdoor activities, such as cycling, become even more popular among residents and visitors.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, highlighted that this initiative is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. The aim is to make Dubai a more bicycle-friendly city, a vision that aligns with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 which seeks to make Dubai the best city for living in the world.

The expansion of cycling tracks is a strategic component of RTA's Master Plan. This plan focuses on constructing dedicated tracks for walking and cycling throughout Dubai to encourage residents and visitors to partake in sports and leisure activities. Such initiatives are aimed at enhancing the quality of life in the city and improving connectivity between residential areas and major attractions.

Al Tayer provided details about the new tracks. The first begins at Qur'anic Park on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, crossing Al Khawaneej Street via a pedestrian and cyclists bridge to connect with an existing track. The second track starts near Mushrif Park, extending to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, and then northward until it crosses Al Khawaneej Street through another bridge to join the Al Khawaneej cycling track.

These additions are part of a broader vision to extend Dubai's cycling track network from its current 544 km to 1,000 km by 2030. This expansion aims to connect key districts within the emirate, including coastal areas like Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, and Marina, with external tracks in locations such as Al Qudra, Saih Al Salam, and Nad Al Sheba through districts like Al Barsha, Dubai Hills, and Nad Al Sheba.

RTA has ensured that the design and construction of these cycling tracks meet top international standards and specifications. These standards take into account the specific nature of each area and the classification of tracks, thereby encouraging cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation for both leisure and commuting purposes.

Furthermore, RTA has set speed limits on these tracks to ensure safety for all users. Tracks dedicated to amateur sports cyclists have a speed limit of 30 km/h, while those shared with vehicles on safe roads maintain this limit. Tracks designated or shared with pedestrians in urban areas have a lower limit of 20 km/h. However, training tracks across the city allow cyclists to ride at unlimited speeds. These measures reflect RTA's commitment to safeguarding both pedestrians and cyclists across Dubai.

With inputs from WAM