Abu Dhabi Municipality constructing more running, cycling tracks

The Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities – Abu Dhabi City Municipality, is progressing with a plan to broaden the scope of running and cycling tracks, bringing the total length of these routes in Abu Dhabi to 86,996 longitudinal meters.

These projects are undertaken in implementation of the directives of the government aimed at providing all means of decent and happy living for residents and nurturing a recreational and sports environment matching to the needs and expectations of the community. Such projects will obviously contribute to the sweeping sustainable development drive across Abu Dhabi.

The Municipality has charted out plans for providing running and cycling lanes across Abu Dhabi city. Part of the plan has been completed and the rest will be completed over the next five years.

The Municipality is keen on providing the highest standards of safety and security for users of walks and cycling lanes. Specialists overseeing the plan for constructing running and cycling tracks have examined several practices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and neighbouring countries. Consideration was also given to the specifications and standards to be addressed in the design and construction of these tracks to enhance the safety.

These aspects include the material used as footing which has to be of the best types of rubber. It has to be easy to use and cause no injury to users in case of falling on the ground. Lanes traffic has to run smoothly with no overlapping with vehicles on surrounding roads. There have to be safe crossing areas in areas intersecting with entry/exit points of roads, and ground signage has to be erected to show the priority of using lanes at the points of intersection along with safe buffer zones between lanes and surrounding roads.  

The Municipality is keen to decorate running tracks with landscaped areas running parallel to the walks in a bid to enhance the gorgeous appearance of the area, and encourage individuals to practice the sports of walking, running and cycling. Realising this objective is part of the commitment of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities with regards to its social responsibility, and reflects the importance of providing recreational and service facilities for all visitors, and accordingly make them happier.

The running and cycling spread in the Mainland and Abu Dhabi Island. Abu Dhabi Island hosts 22 walks and cycling tracks in different areas such as the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, Arabian Gulf Street, and King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Street. In the Mainland, there are five walks and cycling lanes in Khalifa City, Mohammed bin Zayed City, Shakhbout City, Al Raha Beach, and Al Falah City.