The Roads and Transport Authority and Karim Company officially launched the bike rental service, which is the first of its kind in the region, by providing 780 bicycles and 78 bike stations in the first phase, distributed in different areas of Dubai, within a project that includes providing 3500 A bicycle spread across 350 stations in Dubai, which is being implemented in different stages.
The General Manager and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority, Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, the founding partner and managing director of (Karim) Company, Muddath Sheikhah and CEO of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, inaugurated the service at the bicycle station in JLT, in the presence of a number of executives in The Authority and company officials.
Careem employed the latest smart systems to track bicycle locations and link them to the GPS system, to predict areas with high occupancy rates, in addition to operating stations to stop the bikes powered by solar energy, and to provide the ability to rent and pay using the Karim Pike application, which allows customers to unlock Their bike code by scanning the QR code on the bike chassis, or entering the five-digit code from the app at the bike park station.
The service covers many vital areas, such as the Marina, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, The Greens, Al Barsha Heights, Dubai Water Canal, Dubai Media, Downtown Dubai, and Al Qudra.
It also covers the safe streets in Al Karama and Al Mankhool. The maximum speed in all areas, whether those designated for cycling or safe streets, is set at 30 km / h, which is the safe speed for bike users on designated tracks.
According to the contract signed with the authority, which will last for 15 years, Karim will operate 1750 bicycles and 175 stations during the first two years of the contract, which will rise in the next five years to 3,500 bicycles and 350 stations.
Al Tayer stressed that the participation service in bicycles contributes to providing suitable alternatives that encourage residents to exercise and a hobby of cycling.
He said: «The service contributes to enhancing sustainability in Dubai and encouraging residents and tourists to enjoy a healthy and active life, by providing transportation options and improving movement within societies. It also contributes to supporting integration between the system of different modes of transportation, by promoting flexible transportation without vehicles and merging them in safe and comfortable ways with daily transportation, with the aim of reducing the use of private vehicles and switching to the use of more sustainable transportation, which contributes to supporting the efforts of the Dubai government In reducing energy consumption, reducing pollution, providing a healthier and happier environment, and providing short trip service (the first and last mile) that helps mass transportation users reach their final destinations.
In the past years, the authority implemented bicycle paths along a length of 425 km, which included many areas, such as Seeh Al Salam, Bab Al Shams, Al Qudra Street, Dubai Water Canal, Jumeirah Street, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, in addition to the recently completed projects in Al Khawaneej , Al-Warqa, and the common paths in Al-Qusais, Al-Karama and Al-Mankhool, with a length of 32 km. The total length of bike paths in Dubai will reach 647 km by 2023.
Al Tayer Rain:
"The initiative contributes to the development of quality of life and supports (first and last mile) trips."
"Bicycles provide suitable alternatives that encourage people to exercise."
780
A bicycle and 78 stations in the first phase of the project.
Service Regulations
The Roads and Transport Authority has approved the bicycle rental service in the emirate, after conducting extensive studies that are in line with the principle of the first and last inclination and traffic safety strategy to reach zero visibility on the emirate's roads.
The authority called on users of the bicycle rental service, to commit to not using bicycles on specified roads at a speed of 60 km / h, and above, to get off the bike while crossing pedestrian crossings, to wear a helmet and a reflective jacket, and to sit on the seat installed in the bicycle, In addition to driving on the right side of the bike path, not to catch any vehicle or a moving trailer while driving, and not to leave bicycles in a manner that impedes vehicles or pedestrians. The regulation also stipulated leaving a sufficient safety distance between the bike and between vehicles and pedestrians, and not to carry anything that leads to the imbalance of the bicycle, and to adhere to the instructions contained in the road signs and bicycle paths, and not to use dual headphones while driving a bike, and always moving towards traffic , And not unlike traffic, ensuring bike suitability and safety requirements. The regulation also stressed that it is forbidden to rent and drive bicycles to anyone under the age of 15, except with the accompaniment of a person who is at least 18 years old.