UAE residents use two wheels to get to work

Residents across the country took their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle on Tuesday as they cycled to work.

The first-of-its-kind #cycletoworkuae campaign, launched by The National, called on people to leave their cars at home and use two wheels instead of four to get to work.

It aims to shift residents’ attitudes towards travel, help change the country’s car culture, reduce traffic on the roads and encourage physical activity.

Sander Van Reijzen, 34, who cycles to work at least once or twice a week, uses the long cycling track that runs alongside the Corniche.

“The dedicated bicycle lane here is a good start,” he said. “There are a few other streets there’s also one on front of my house but you encounter a pavement or something else.”

Mr Reijzen, who is from Holland and works as a general manager at an oil and gas company in Abu Dhabi, said there was a need to build clearly marked, direct and continuous routes that are completely separated from traffic.

“There is no continuous cycle path. This is what I think presents a challenge because when you’re crossing the roads there’s no continuous cycle path.”

In April last year, the Department of Transport unveiled the Walking and Cycling Masterplan to make the emirate safer and encourage residents to walk or cycle by doubling the number of dedicated paths by 2020.

Original article by Naser Al Wasmi and Ramona Ruiz

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UAE residents use two wheels to get to work