Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued directives to transform Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city. As part of implementing the directives, Dubai will introduce laws and legislations to promote cycling both as a sport and a means of environmentally friendly transport. Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, urged authorities to adopt the global best practices and safety and security measures required to develop a bicycle-friendly infrastructure. "We are transforming Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city, developing laws and a legislative system, while applying world-class best practices, to create an infrastructure that accommodates this eco-friendly and healthy mode of transport," Sheikh Hamdan said in a tweet. The announcement is in line with the objectives of Dubai Vision 2021, which aims to strengthen Dubai's position as the world's most preferred place to live, work and visit. It also supports the objectives of the Dubai Traffic Strategy 2021 that seeks to reduce road fatalities and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050's aims at achieving a 16 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2021 and transforming Dubai into the city with the world's lowest carbon footprint. Sheikh Hamdan's announcement came during Dubai Police's ‘Cycling is a Lifestyle' Innovation Lab organized at the Jumeirah Cycle Hub. Participants at the event recommended the formation of a task force comprising of RTA, Dubai Police, Dubai Sports Council and the Supreme Legislation Committee to steer Dubai's development into a bicycle-friendly city by introducing a suitable infrastructure and legislative system and fostering a bicycle-friendly community culture. They also recommended promoting joint efforts between various stakeholders to achieve these aims. The participants pledged to jointly work towards enhancing safety standards, improving perceptions of bicycle use, promoting the use of cargo bicycles, development of standards and policies, creating dedicated areas for bicycle use and promoting a bicycle renting culture. The participants called for developing an infrastructure that not only ensures safety but also provides cyclists a suitable atmosphere to engage in the activity. They also advocated the creation of safer crossings and more bicycle paths, provision of facilities and services on cycling tracks and organization of events and activities to motivate the public to use bicycles as a mean of transport. Participants stressed on the need to develop a safety guide for cyclists, launch awareness and educational campaigns, and obligate driving institutes to promote bicycling among driving license applicants. They also discussed bicycle insurance and the public's involvement in promoting local cycling events. The attendees also highlighted the need for legislative integration between the UAE Traffic Law and local administrative decisions regarding the use of bicycles and the compatibility of infrastructure. — WAM
