Roads and Transport Authority exec reveals plan to make Dubai a cyclist-friendly city
Dubai's transport authority has announced plans to expand cycle lanes in the city to 850km by 2030 from 316km this year.
Speaking at a session at the MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition, Mona Al Osaimi, director of Strategic Planning at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The RTA has strategic plans to make Dubai one of the best cities in providing cycling lanes and supporting non-mechanical mobility means.”
She added that the RTA also has a plan for supporting walking mobility in Dubai as part of plans to develop public transport services which saw 551.7 million riders in 2017.
Antony Reynaldi, business development manager in PBSC Urban Solutions, told the event that he is impressed with the steps taken by Dubai, adding that is is setting a good model for the huge improvements in the Middle East to emulate.
He stressed the importance of walking and cycling, citing medical statistics revealing that cyclists were 6 percent healthier. He noted that encouraging people to use cycling was directly linked to the constructing of cycling lanes and associated facilities.
He said the soaring temperature in Dubai would not be an obstacle for the use of bicycles in summer as frost doesn’t stop the people of Montreal, Canada from cycling.
Nasma Hannawi, researcher in London University College, called on GCC countries to encourage the use of public transport and cycling, rather than the reliance on private vehicles.
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