Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police on Sunday introduced that e-scooters can be permitted on cycling tracks in 10 districts throughout Dubai, beginning from Wednesday, April 13.
The step is taken in keeping with Resolution No. 13 for 2022 endorsed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, regulating the usage of e-scooters in Dubai. It helps the efforts to make Dubai a bicycle-friendly metropolis and follows the success of the trial operation of e-scooters that began in October 2020.
What districts are lined?
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, mentioned the preliminary section covers the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Internet City, Al Rigga, 2nd of December Street, The Palm Jumeirah, and City Walk. It additionally covers protected roads and tracks inside particular zones at Al Qusais, Al Mankhool, and Al Karama, as well as to 167km-long tracks designated for bicycles and scooters throughout Dubai (excluding the cycling tracks at Saih Assalam, Al Qudra and Meydan).
Selection standards
The number of these districts was guided by standards resembling excessive inhabitants density, particular improvement areas, areas served by public transport and metro stations, the provision of built-in infrastructure, and areas with a excessive stage of site visitors security, he added.
The joint operation of e-scooters on the required districts is restricted to 4 firms; two worldwide [Tier and Lime] and two native [Arnab and Skurtt], which can deploy a minimum of 2,000 e-scooters. The number of the 4 operators follows their success within the trial section and the achievement of a buyer satisfaction score as excessive as 82 per cent, mentioned Al Tayer
The outcomes of the trial operation proved the suitability of e-scooters as particular person mobility means for brief journeys in addition to first and last-mile journeys.
Image Credit: Supplied
Apply for allow
About 500,000 journeys have been made till the top of 2021. By the top of this month, RTA will launch by its web site a hyperlink enabling people to apply free of charge to acquire permits for using e-scooters on protected roads recognized by RTA. The course of entails attending coaching programs and passing an internet take a look at.
Compliance with stipulations
Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, mentioned: “The Resolution will encourage the use of electric bikes and scooters in mobility. It cements the government drive to rank Dubai as a bicycle-friendly city, considering bikes safe and eco-friendly mobility means over short distances.”
He praised the efforts of the involved departments on the Dubai Police to implement the implementation of security and safety stipulations, and guarantee compliance with the related legal guidelines and laws.
“Dubai Police is keen to ensure the compliance of road users with the applicable rules in line with the policy aimed to make Dubai the ideal place for living and doing business, the favourite and safest destination of visitors, and the city with the least carbon footprint worldwide,” Lt Gen Al Marri mentioned.
“The step also contributes to realising the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. It is our duty in Dubai Police to control the road, and ensure that cyclists, e-scooter riders and users of all other mobility means comply with the safety conditions to protect them as well as others against the risks of roads.”
Required specs
Resolution No. 13 for 2022 of the Executive Council states the technical specs relevant to the e-scooter and bike, which embrace a white headlight, pink and reflective gentle on the rear, horn fastened on the steering arm (T-bar), brakes on the back and front tyres, tyre measurement should be proportional to the scale of the scooter, roadworthy tyres for the tracks specified by RTA, and the scale of the scooter should be proportional to the scale of its rider.
RTA referred to as on the general public to choose “high-quality” e-scooters to keep away from battery burn accidents and technical malfunctions.
Rules for riders
Riding the e-scooter owned by people and firms or rented for private functions is allowed solely throughout the permitted areas and tracks declared by RTA. They should not journey scooters on tracks designated for strolling or working. They haven’t to exceed the pace specified limits fastened by RTA for these tracks, and keep away from using some other sort of scooters specified by RTA on protected roads with out acquiring a driving allow.
They embrace carrying reflective vests and helmets, avoiding carrying riders on bicycles and electrical bikes except the bikes have separate seats for them, avoiding pillion riders or something that causes an imbalance of the e-scooter, and sustaining a protected distance from different autos and pedestrians.
It additionally states that cyclists shouldn’t use their e-bikes on roads with a pace restrict of greater than 60km per hour, and stick to protected driving and public security situations. They have to be cautious and chorus from actions that pose dangers to the life and security of the bike owner or others, resembling hooking to a car whereas biking, zigzag or one-handed cycling, except for hand signalling.
Driving allow
RTA will launch an consciousness marketing campaign to educate scooter riders in regards to the laws, and designated areas to be used in addition to the significance of acquiring driving allow for e-scooter by RTA’s on-line platform. Obtaining this allow shall be a prerequisite for allowing the using of scooters on protected roads within the introduced areas. However, holders of auto driving licenses, worldwide driving licenses or motorbike driving licenses are excluded from acquiring such a allow.
Reporting incidents
The Resolution referred to as for reporting any incident sustained or attributable to the rider that ends in accidents or materials harm by the particular cellphone numbers of the police, ambulance or RTA except proof is offered for the shortcoming to report. Cyclists and bikers ought to at all times journey on the correct facet of the highway. Before altering their lane, they need to give hand indicators and guarantee they will make their transfer safely. They ought to at all times journey in path of site visitors quite than in the other way. They ought to make sure the soundness of pace gears, brakes and tyres. Flashing and regular lighting needs to be used as per RTA’s necessities. Bikes shouldn’t be towed by any car and the bikes themselves shouldn’t be used to tow different objects. Making main modifications to the bike can also be not permitted.
Prohibited classes
According to the Resolution, cyclists under 12 years needs to be accompanied by an grownup bike owner who is eighteen years or older. Riders under 16 years should not permitted to journey an electrical bike or electrical scooter or some other sort of motorcycle specified by RTA. A driving allow is crucial to journey electrical scooters.
Parking of scooters of operators
RTA has offered parking areas for shared electrical scooters alongside the designated tracks and permitted areas. They are primarily in key vacationer sights, and round public transport stations. The goal is to encourage residents and guests to use electrical scooters on first and last-mile journeys, in the meantime sustaining the beautiful outlook of the emirate.
RTA referred to as on cyclists to park the shared electrical scooters of operators within the designated parking areas solely. Parked scooters shouldn’t block the motion of site visitors and pedestrians or the usage of public parking. It urged them to keep away from violating the situations and laws offered for within the Resolution and choices issued thereby. The Resolution states that the parking of the bike or electrical scooter in aside from the designated parking areas in a method that will hinder the motion of autos or pedestrians, or pose danger to highway customers, will end in a effective of Dh200.