My trusty red bicycle and I have just arrived in town and were wondering if you have any wisdom to pass on for cyclists. Is Abu Dhabi as bike-friendly as most big cities?
At first glance, the capital’s heaving carriageways may seem like an intimidating, unforgiving death-trap for two-wheeled commuters. And that’s because, for the most part, that’s precisely what they are. Head out onto the streets unprepared and you can practically guarantee you’ll end your first day on the road as a sticky paste, but follow these pointers, stick to the right routes and you should manage to avoid wearing your handlebars as a headband.
With rapidly swerving between lanes, horn-honking and fiddling with the radio to worry about, the majority of the city’s motorists don’t have time to worry about looking out for cyclists, meaning a helmet, lights and the loudest bell you can find are all essential investments. Thankfully, riding on pavements is legal, meaning you’ve a handy escape road should things get too hairy, which from time to time they undoubtedly will. So while Abu Dhabi isn’t exactly a cyclist’s paradise, the good news is, with theft figures in the city still remarkably low, you at least needn’t worry about some scumbag with a pair of bolt-cutters coming along, lopping your lock off and making away with your pride and joy while you stop for a coffee on your way to the office.
But if you’re more concerned about simply feeling the wind whip your luscious hair than you are getting from A to B, there are plenty of places in town to enjoy a leisurely ride. The Corniche, which has its own cycle lane, is a popular spot and as such can get incredibly busy at the weekend. Therefore, if it’s open road you’re craving, head over to Yas Marina Circuit on a Tuesday night, which opens up its 5.5km track to runners and cyclists for free, between 6pm-8pm. It should go without saying, though, that no form of outdoor exertion, bike-related or otherwise, is advisable between the months of May-October. Unless of course you fancy your chances of passing out from heat exhaustion half-way down Salaam Street and waking up in one piece. Also, we’ve heard that a lot of serious cyclists, of the Lycra-preferring type, use 34th Street in Al Bateen for some pedal practise, as it’s relatively traffic free, especially early in the mornings and at weekends.
