RTA, Dubai Police step up coordination to boost safety of cycling and scooter track users

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) held a coordinative meeting with His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

The meeting discussed the cooperation between RTA and Dubai Police in operating the E-scooter and enacting legislation and laws to boost the safety of cycling tracks users. The meeting reviewed RTA’s plans to build more cycling tracks. The two parties also discussed the Trucks Rest Stops project undertaken by RTA with the private sector and other projects relating to improving the quality of life in the city.

The meeting is part of the periodic meetings held by the two parties to promote their cooperation in common fields relating to the security and safety of roads and public transport systems in the Emirate. These meetings aim to live up to the set strategic performance indicators and fulfil the strategic targets of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2017-2021.

Cycling Tracks

The delegation of the Dubai Police GHQ reviewed RTA’s plan for constructing cycling tracks in implementation of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to improve the quality of life of the city, enhance the happiness of residents, and assist the migration to sustainable transport. It also responds to the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Chairman of the Executive Council, to make Dubai bicycle-friendly city. Achieving these goals requires providing suitable options for residents to practice cycling in line with Dubai Vision 2021 of transforming the city into the favourite and safest destination for business, living and visiting. So far, cycling tracks constructed in Dubai extend 425 km and the plan is to extend them further to 647 km by 2025. Through constructing cycling tracks RTA aims to facilitate the link of Dubai’s hotspots with various public transit means.

 RTA plans to operate the e-scooter at five zones in Dubai early next week.

E-Scooter

The two parties reviewed the trial-run of the E-Scooter, an individual means of transport that is increasingly being used worldwide as a solution to the first and last-mile challenge. RTA plans to operate the e-scooter at five zones in Dubai early next week, namely the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai Internet City, 2nd of December St, Al-Rigga and Jumeirah Lake Towers. These zones have been selected according to specific criteria such as the population density, private developments, availability of public transport services, integrated infrastructure, and high traffic safety records.

Trucks Rest Stops

The meeting discussed the movement of trucks which make more than 145 thousand trips lifting about 3 million tonnes of cargo around Dubai every day. They also discussed the projected traffic of trucks in future. RTA reviewed the Integrated Trucks Rest Stop at Dubailand, nearby the Emirates Road, constructed in partnership with the private sector. It is the first integrated trucks rest stop that meets the basic daily needs of heavy vehicles in Dubai. Construction works have exceeded 60% in the project which spans an area of 5 hectares and provides 100 parking slots for trucks and several other facilities and services for both trucks and drivers including a specialist heavy vehicle testing centre.

RTA constructed 18 temporary truck rest areas on the right-of-way with a total capacity of 538 parking slots. These rest areas spread all over Dubai’s key roads to provide a safe and convenient parking area for trucks during the movement ban. The two parties discussed challenges facing car rental companies and how to support the sector through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coordinative Meetings

The two parties reviewed the common 13 traffic projects during the period 2017-2021 highlighted by the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2017-2021. The implementation of this strategy contributed to reducing traffic fatalities from 2.5 cases per 100,000 of the population in 2017 to 2.3 cases in 2019. Discussions also covered updating the enforcement of speed control systems, crossing the red signal, Oyoon project, and the joint camp for testing trucks and promoting traffic awareness.

Al Tayer praised the deliverables of periodic meetings held with the Dubai Police and their role in cementing the partnerships between the two parties and stepping up cooperation in various fields, especially those relating to the road traffic safety. He noted that such coordination would be of benefit to citizens and residents of the Emirate.

His Excellency General Lieutenant Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri paid tribute to the cooperation between Dubai Police General HQ and RTA in improving their joint business. He noted that such a cooperative spirit would contribute to the public safety and security and spread tranquillity and happiness amongst citizens, residents and tourists in UAE. He commended the efforts of the joint teams that contributed to making such coordination a reality in improved traffic safety and transport security in Dubai.

Attendees of the meeting from RTA included Eng. Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Rail Agency, Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, and Abdullah Yousef, CEO of Licensing Agency. From Dubai Police General HQ attended Colonel Juma Salem Bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director of Traffic Department, and Colonel Harib Al Shamsi, from the Criminal Investigations Department, in addition to directors from both parties.