3,000 bicycle parking spaces for Dubai Metro

CW Staff , January 29th, 2012

Dubai authorities plant to have 3,000 bicycle parking spaces for Dubai Metro users up and running by the end of Q1, it has been reported.

Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said the project had been initiated "to avoid unruly parking of bicycles such as tying them to trees, light poles or traffic signals."

“Such practices inflict damage to public property, block visibility for motorists and road users, and distort the general appearance of neighbourhoods, particularly in tourist areas,” said Udai.

Parking spaces for bicycles will be constructed near stations along both Red and Green Lines. The parking spaces have been designed in a way that makes them accessible and easy to use, according to the RTA.

"This project is a step forward in enhancing integrated public transport systems in Dubai," said Udai. She urged residents to use bicycles, particularly for short trips, to help ease congestion and reduce environmental pollution.

Phase 1 of the construction project has already been completed, with 212 stands built at eight stations on the Red Line. These include:

96 parking spaces at Al Rashidiya Station;
16 at Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station;
32 at Jafliyah Station;
16 at Financial Centre;
32 at Mall of the Emirates Station;
16 at Ibn Battuta Station; and
Four stands at Nakheel Station.

Phase 2 of the project, which involves the construction of bases for about 1,100 parking spaces on Green Line stations, is anticipated to commence later.

In future, all Metro stations will be integrated with dedicated cycling tracks, confirmed Nasser Abu Shehab, director of strategic planning at the RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.

Shehab revealed that the RTA has finalised studies for the construction of cycling tracks with an overall length of about 900km.

This project will comprise five phases and is scheduled for completion by 2020. The project’s trial run has started in key spots such as the streets of Jumeirah and Al Mankhool.