Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced plans to launch e-scooters operations in 11 new residential areas starting from next year.

 

These are Al Tawar 1 and 2, Umm Suqeim 3, Al Garhoud, Muhaisnah 3, Umm Hurair 1, Al Safa 2, Al Barsha South 2, Al Barsha 3, Al Quoz 4, and Nad Al Sheba 1, said RTA in a statement.

 

With this, the total number of districts in which e-scooters are permitted to operate increases to 21, and the total length of tracks dedicated to bikes, e-scooters, as well as safe and shared routes, rises from 185 km to 390 km.

 

These tracks relate to main attractions, 10 mass transport stations, and 18 prominent destinations such as public parks and commercial outlets. Also it will enhance the first and last-mile journeys and reduce the reliance on private vehicles, it added.

 

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, said the selection of areas and tracks is based on technical studies and data analysis of various Dubai districts to assess them in terms of safety, traffic volumes, the readiness of the infrastructure, population density, and the proximity to metro and public transport stations. 

 

"By operating e-scooters in these areas, the total length of the bike and e-scooter tracks will jump to 390 km serving 114,503 residents," he stated. 

 

Al Tayer said expanding the scope of operating bikes and e-scooters to cover new districts will help support the efforts of transforming Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city and the migration to less-polluting sustainable transport. 

 

"It also encourages visitors to use alternative mobility means and supports the first and last-mile strategy," he noted.

 

"Work is up-and-running in those areas to finalise the construction of tracks in line with the top international standards of traffic safety. Improvements currently underway in those districts include ground markings, directional signs, and converting internal roads into safe areas by dropping the speed limit from 40 km/hour to 30 km/hour for the safety of riders," he added.-TradeArabia News Service