If minimizing your carbon footprint whilst helping the environment and doing something good for your body are a few of your 2020 goals, listen up – nailing all three in one go just got simpler, as Dubai announces it’s plan to become the world’s latest cycle-friendly city.
Dubai Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has announced that Dubai will create the infrastructure and legislative framework to transform itself into a bicycle-friendly city – making traveling on two wheels in the Emirate a whole lot easier and safer.
As part of the plan, Dubai will introduce laws to promote cycling both as a sport and a means of environmentally friendly transport, and HH Sheikh Hamdan has directed authorities to adopt global best practices and safety and security measures required to develop a bicycle-friendly environment in the city.
The announcement is in line with the Dubai Vision 2021, which aims to strengthen the city’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, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050’s aim of achieving a 16% reduction in carbon emissions by 2021, and the goal of transforming Dubai into the city with world’s lowest carbon footprint.
The announcement comes after Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was spotted riding a bicycle with a group of friends and family close to the Dubai Canal.
The images, shared widely on social media, showed Sheikh Mohammed and a group of almost 20 friends and family cycling past the waterway, using a dedicated cycling path and wearing helmets.
Riding a bicycle has a direct effect upon reducing the world’s pollution – the more people that choose to leave their cars at home and use bikes instead, the better the air quality in our towns and cities will become. And while cycling on the main roads of Dubai is currently inadvisable, the new initiative intends to make our roads cycle-friendly and safe, impacting not only upon the environment but improving the health of residents who ditch their cars in favour of their bikes too.
And if you’re planning to get back in the saddle once the initiative kicks in, why not make it a two-pronged attack on climate change by buying a second hand or reconditioned bike from a local business?
Poppy Purple, PRP AED 1400, available at charicycles.com
Banana Peel, PRP AED 1700, available at charicycles.com
Dubai-based company Charicycles up-cycle bicycle frames to promote sustainability and a cleaner environment while encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Sourcing vintage Japanese bicycle frames that have been forgotten about, and restoring them into the beautiful bikes they once were right here in Dubai, a percentage of every purchase goes towards funding bicycles for children in refugee camps around the Middle East.
Doing good for the planet, your body and making the lives of underprivileged children better in one bicycle-shaped step – sounds like a wheely good idea to us!
