Cycling in Dubai #1

I've recently been out to Dubai to do some filming and one of the things I wanted to look at was how good cycling infrastructure is for commuting.
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[@mikewade777]

Of all the places I would consider cycling, holidaying or just visiting Dubai would be close to the bottom of the list.

[@dalemr2]

Yep, could think of a few worse places, but Dubai has to be down there with them.

[@shm5547]

It looks like a dystopian version of Milton Keynes! Compulsory knee & arm pads - WTF!

[@WarrenF]

Dubai is cool place, don’t knock it until you try it

[@mikewade777]

@@WarrenF no thanks that place is a fake an Soul less (much like Las Vegas)' , i'd rather a couple of weeks in Acapulco.

[@deanwaller1029]

Unless you're gay 😐

[@OddGamerCA]

You should consider visiting the Netherlands, they have the world’s best cycling infrastructure

[@symonlibera7011]

Its closer to UK plus the weather will make Ash and uk viewers feel like at home

[@andrewnorris5415]

Hey Ash. A car passed me safely the other day giving lots of room. When we both stopped at a junction I noticed the brake light was out. So I went up to tell the driver and thank them for a safe pass. He was on his phone! Said he knew about the light. He was friendly. I thanked him for the safe pass. I did not feel feel like doing a CyclingMikey, not my style. I was just glad he gave tons of room when passing which not all did on that stretch! That bothers me far more than phone use when stopped. Thanking him might make him keep it up. We parted on good terms.

[@smilerbob]

A few minutes in and not much of push biking but plenty of pushing a bike 😉 I understand they are strict on the rules out there and sometimes we need to be over here as well when it comes to pavement riding with speed, but honestly, as long as the speed is slow and safe and your are respectful of pedestrians already using the pavement I see no issue with sharing on a non shared path. Those pavements look wider than most we have over here as well

[@smilerbob]

I completely agree that trying things without navigation, preparing (except finding out about laws and bylaws) or planning is a great way to learn in general. Taking a planned route or following a navigation device doesn’t highlight everything about the area or the infrastructure. This goes for driving, riding or walking Many of my early years of driving involved heading in the general direction of where I needed to go. If roads got closed or I was diverted away from where I thought I needed to be going, the good ol’ AA Map of Great Britain (others are available) used to come out for a little guidance…when I was safely stopped of course. Looking forward to part 2 as long as that doesn’t have footablge of the glass floor. If so, I shall be skipping over that!

[@wrightwoodwork]

I've being abroad a few times cycling abroad. Spain is fairly good and the drivers are generally patient but will toot if following for a while to say I'm here. Italy is completely nuts with the drives have the attitude to overtake everything in site be it on a bike or car. France is OK Belgium was ok and Thailand is pretty good . The main roads have like a hard shoulder that slow vehicles use and cars use center lanes. Everyone as soon as they can walk learn to drive a moped. So everyone is used to looking for vulnerable road users . The only thing I generally worry about is getting on the motorway ad it can be easily done. The first time in Italy I just about ended up on the autostrada when a local come rushing waving his hands to tell me I couldn't use. Then in Spain a road changed from an A road to the motorway. Then all the cars started tooting. As soon as we realised we turned around a got ourselves back on the main road before the police turned up.

[@SamsonLifa]

Yes i have and it was very different at how the local people saw it from a foreigner perspective.

[@th5841]

Just had a lunsh discussion the other day about which hand should break which wheel. One argument was that the right hand should break the front wheel because it is stronger. My argument was that the right hand should break the back wheel because it has a better «ABS» , it is more sensible to wheel locking.

[@leedorney]

Me arse went with that glass floor 🤪🤣🤣

[@24pavlo]

Next you should review cycling infrastructure in Chechnya.

[@dushfly19]

nice video! having cycled a lot in the middle east and walked a lot around these kinds of streets in dubai there were definitely moments where i would just mount on the pavement and just bike. also the roads right next to the major roads called service roads can definitely be biked upon (around 18:00). if you notice at 9:52 and 28:52 the pavement is actually a bit darker because people constantly bike over these. while there are strict rules on not to bike on pavements, they were never enforced in my experience. but i mostly stuck to areas with lower footfall as those were the places in my city (Doha) with a lot of cycling infra. the only times i've been asked to not bike was in a park, on a busy ramadan evening when families usually get together to break their fast. it's only during the busy days since i've biked through the same park during other days when it wasn't as crowded. most projects such as the 200km cycle lane are just vanity projects built to attract tourists, and usually have no real value to the people living there. but i do know that scooters recently have been causing a lot of issues in dubai in regards to dangerously driving at high speeds, which explains the signage.

[@ibs5080]

Yes, be very careful swearing in Dubai, amongst other things. Never been there even though I was born in Cairo, Egypt but I know that in Dubai, there are all sorts things that can get you into great trouble with the law and yet perfectly normal in the UK. Not to detract from your visit though and hope you have / had a great time there. Ma Salama, Sheik Ibrahim 😊

[@smilerbob]

Indeed you do need to be careful. Someone I know went out there and got into a little bit of trouble for wiping sweat off his forehead using his t-shirt. Not a problem in itself but it was tge act of raising the t-shirt up which exposed the abdomen which was the issue. As you say, something perfectly normal over here is a big no no over there. Thankfully it was the proverbial slap on the wrist and don’t do it again but they could’ve easily been fined. Hope all is well with you in Canterbury and you are managing to keepnwarm with this little cold spell of weather

[@ibs5080]

@@smilerbob Hello there Bob. Yes all well in Canterbury, though it's around freezing outside if the outside temperature sensor is accurate. Got home from Blenheim Palace at a little after 11pm last night. My ice warning symbol was on for the entire journey home, either yellow when between 4C & 1C and red for 0C and below. Every time it turns red, it also gives an audible bing and I keep wondering what's happened but then quickly realize. Given the lower temperature,I took it easier a d more gentle than usual, but still plenty of drivers out there doing well over 70 mph and driving too close together. I honestly cannot ever imagine driving in this manner, even in the best summer conditions in daylight. Let alone on a freezing cold winter night.

[@thomaselliot2257]

I have the same concern. After 10 months I forget, then when I turn on the ignition, I get 4 loud warning gongs that it's below 4°C and I'm thinking for a split second , there is something major wrong with the engine or electrics. 🙄

[@smilerbob]

@@ibs5080 Glad all is good and you are well. The temperature is a little low here in the Midlands as well where the light has either been amber or red for a few days now. No chime for me when it activates or changes as I disabled that feature. It can be rather frustrating in the weeks where the temperature fluctuates between 4 and 4.5…every two minutes there is a loud beep so I rely upon visual checking these days

[@smilerbob]

@@thomaselliot2257 I know that feeling. I had the all to common Ford Focus “Engine System Malfunction” a few years ago in the month of March. For a few days it was constant beeping and the car going into a weird limp mode…not the usual one. I had full power but it would take 1 second to change gear in a manual otherwise your would lose speed. Hard to explain, something you need to experience to understand but I hope nobody ever does. I digress slightly. I got that fixed but then the temperature was fluctuating between 4 and 4.5 so every time it went back to 4 tge car would beep. Not good when you have just had trouble with the car so I disabled the warning chimes and rely upon visual. Plus when it is really cold the chime doesn’t sound too happy, almost like it has had a hard life and just wants to retire now 🤣

[@MattyBrad]

Brilliant Ashley. I think this is how most people feel at the start. Definitely too many rules, shouldn't be complicated to ride your bike.

[@ToeJam161]

Well the fact you uploaded this means you never got 5 years in prison for cycling in the wrong place. Should be a good watch 🤭

[@andrewnorris5415]

Cameraman never getsa long jail term!

[@shm5547]

6:15 "If I get pulled and fined by the police, so be it" that's my attitude when it comes to cycling on the pavement in the UK. Been ok so far!

[@AUaudits]

Roadrage of any kind is a criminal offence in Dubai. We need same laws in uk, because UK has serious road rage issues.

[@leenevin8451]

I can’t help the road rage. Let me do 30mph on a main road pls

[@paddymallory4080]

Well it certainly looks nicer than my cycle commute between Kirkby and skelmersdale!

[@nigelhughes2947]

Most travel insurance excludes anything other than leisure riding and will usually exclude all cycling if that is the primary reason for your trip. A thought for all these activity holidays which include bikes etc

[@TRP-ATPS]

Wow nice enjoy your ride 👍

[@ibs5080]

Goodness Ash, you are in / have visited Dubai! Not too far from my birthplace of Cairo, Egypt. Will watch this with great interest. I speak and understand Arabic but never learned to read or write it. Haven't been back to Egypt since 1987. Ashley you are full of surprises. Now I'm wondering if you will also do a Dubai driving video! Shokran, Sheik Ibrahim 😊

[@thomaselliot2257]

Ahhh! So you were born in Cairo ! Now I know , especially when you kept me guessing 😅. Spent a day in Cairo and visited the museum back in 1999 🙂

[@ibs5080]

@@thomaselliot2257 Interesting to hear of your Cairo visit. You've been there a lot more recently than I have. But yes, I was indeed born there, though left at age 18 months. I am British, Canadian and Egyptian. Haven't renewed my Egyptian passport in ages and prefer not to, as I feel it may cause issues entering the USA at the land border with Canada, even though I'm a member of what's known as the NEXUS trusted traveller program for low risk travellers. It cost $50 for 5 years and both Canada and the USA do a very thorough background check on you, fingerprints and iris scan taken, as well as details about you kept on record such as employment and address history, passport details for all your passports etc. Once in a while, even as a low risk NEXUS member, I get asked about Egypt when entering the US and I've noticed their line of questioning is designed to try and trip me up. But I have nothing to hide and hence, there is nothing to trip me up over.

[@thomaselliot2257]

​@@ibs5080your reply did not get blocked or deleted , it was merely hidden ,for some technical reason, from the "top" category, but is there in the "newest category " 🙂

[@ibs5080]

@@thomaselliot2257 I see that now and deleted my comment about my reply getting deleted, if you see what I mean!

[@thomaselliot2257]

@@ibs5080 I only spent ONE day in Egypt. I was in a 2 week holiday in Cyprus, and it was a 2 night cruise to Egypt excursion, berthing in Port Said , coach travel to Cairo museum, then onto Giza and the pyramids .🙂

[@mattwardman]

On where to go, I want Ash cycling in Beijing, and also Leicester (which is reportedly very good, and very changed)..

[@tobfos]

I have a feeling those red strips actually have a bike with a cross through them, saying you can't ride. What a poor network haha

[@darrenthomas9928]

Ive done the tour of Oman , enjoyed it a lot , also cost a lot

[@thomaselliot2257]

Remember the time you announced you were going over. Did not know you were going to be cycling over there . Maybe cop 28 will recommend it and follow your example 😉

[@ibs5080]

Oh I missed Ashley's Dubai announcement.

[@thomaselliot2257]

​@@ibs5080 now you got me thinking, maybe he mentioned it after he came back . Can't remember . Either way he did mention Dubai , at some point, a month or two ago 🙂

[@Jonc25]

It's totally opposite in the uk, we will soon all be pushing our cars around.😂

[@andrewnorris5415]

Next time I bet you bring a set of allen keys if planning on renting a bike. Hopefully they come with tools?

[@smilerbob]

It had to be a BMW parked on a crossing 🤣

[@andrewnorris5415]

Try Sheffield out if want an idea for a future vid. Assuming not yet done. I found the drivers worse than Liverpool! And a few crazy kids on super fast ebikes. The hills make it challenging, watch your speeds going down. I even recognised a place where a cyclist captured a bad driver on video! The exact same spot. I totally got why, drivers there are a little mad!

[@ToeJam161]

15 mins in. Imagine being that on edge in the UK 🤣. Particularly after that latest nutter on the EV motorbike. That nutter would be locked up in Dubai!

[@johnwick1483]

this should be walking in Dubai🤣

[@andrewnorris5415]

It did not seem that bad to cycle in I personally thought. A bit confusing, could be bc you are new? You were kept away from traffic. I reckon you were allowed to use the bit at the start near the main road. Agreed it needed a sign to confirm it, but maybe their rules state you can use the paths at the side of the main roads so they see no need for signs? Lots of other areas with cycle signs in the road that seemed free of traffic. Elbow and knee pads seemed a bit odd, especially in a warm country!

[@AKAMustang]

I'd be gloving up way before breaking out the elbow and knee pads!

[@ilikechickensausages2075]

How hot was it Ash

[@hamshackleton]

As you uploaded, you didn't get lost, or your collar felt!

[@djburland]

Today I was in London, around Westminster twice I crossed on green and almost got run over by cyclist going through red lights !!!

[@leenevin8451]

Dubai wants people to cycle hahaha

[@grahambonner508]

First impression - rubbish, very car centric, virtually no cycling infrastructure and poor signage. Would be interesting to see what the city centre is like. I have cycled in several countries (from best to worst) Netherlands - excellent. (complete transport infrastructure is on another level) Germany - very good. France - Good Austria, Italy, Ireland, Spain. UK - Although we do have some good infrastructure in some cities we are very car centric, and all things considered, the overall transport infrastructure is very poor. The way your doing this is fine but I think you need to explore inner city, suburbs and the wider countryside or inter city areas. I am surprised the hire shop did not give you more advise and they did not do a very good job setting the bike up.

[@gerrymcbride6429]

😂

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

Retro fitting cycling infrastructure in a city designed for cars is very difficult. I've seen examples of that on videos from NA. Imagine an artirial high speed three lane road and the right lane exits like it typically does on a highway. The cycle lane has to cross over the exiting lane to continue straight, and there is no clear indication of who has to give way to who. Obviously it's terrible cycling infrastructure because cyclists were never meant to be there. You'd have to tear everything down to make it better. Combine it with the fact that the demand and efficiency are low, and you can see that the benefits often times don't outweigh the cost. This is why it is hard to justify heavy investment into cycling infrastructure economically and from the perspective of efficiency of the transportation network. In regards to what you had said about environment and "moving away from cars", Arabs just have different values compared to Westerners. I know you were talking in general terms and used Dubai as an axample, but if I had to guess they couldn't care less if they could save 4.5% of CO2 emissions. 200 km of cycling paths in the desert, it just goes to show that they view bikes as a leisure activity as opposed to a transportation method. Anyway, excuse the ramble, and thanks for the upload. It was an unexpected one for sure. You know the cycling infrastructure is rubbish when 70% of the way you had to walk. 😂 Did you get a chance to drive in Dubai? I'm sure it would have been more eventful. Anyway, cheers, Ash!

[@AshleyNeal-JustCycling]

Thanks Artem! Driving videos are scheduled!! 👊

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

@@AshleyNeal-JustCycling oh, class!

[@mattwardman]

Refitting *can* work very well - that's what has been done in most cycling cities in Europe. There is quite a lot of material around showing Amsterdam or German cities in the 1960s, which were just as motor-choked as places like Leeds or Manchester have been. It's a matter of making a decision to change, then doing it, then sticking to it. London 1990 vs London 2040 will make an interesting comparison. The USA is interesting comparing places in say 1910 to 1960 to 2010. Even some change has happened in some places there. But overall that is a challenge because it has been setup to be impossible to do things without a motor. Dubai is perhaps different in that they have started from - by comparison - scratch.

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

@@mattwardman cycling infrastructure has been evolving for decades in the Netherlands and many solutions are possible because they redesigned streets completely when it is time for a major road repair and such. As far as I'm aware anyway. By retrofitting I mean taking a piece of car infrastructure and painting a bike lane and putting plastic bollards. Better than nothing I suppose, but typically it doesn't integrate with the rest of the network well. Take the example with the lane becoming an effective off ramp. A slow moving cyclist would have to cross a fast moving lane to continue up the road. So a bike lane like that is not very useful because you can travel along it, sure, but if you need to actually get somewhere it becomes a problem. And in terms of space, there could be loads, and if you were to redesign the road from scratch, I'm sure it's possible to fit a separated bike path which wouldn't come into conflict with the cars. And it comes with massive costs and lost economic opportunities, delays and so on for a small number of people for whom cycling to work is a lifestyle choice. There are loads of bike lanes like that in my city. You ride along a boulevard and then the bike lane just ends and becomes pavement and legally you have to dismount. I'm just trying to think economically about these things. This is what I mean by retrofitting. Cycling infrastructure is hardly retrofitted in the NL since most roads have been completely redesigned since the 1960s for example.

[@mattwardman]

Very illuminating, but what a complete tragedy that Dubai is tipping hundreds of billions into building a future that is already nearly a century out of date. It's what was done to LA in the 1920s/1930s, and NY in the 1930s-1950s. And I don't just mean cycling - what about wheelchair users with the lack of drop kerbs or ramps, or women, or autonomy for children. For me that is not thought through; cycles are not even on the radar. To test it, consider a harder case - a disabled person who can cycle miles, but can only walk a few metres. Or look at academic research - compare to the USA road safety research focuses on how people can survive in a dangerous environment with dangerous actors, rather than how to make the environment safe and the actors responsible. It looks to be modelled on North America or Australia - riding a cycle is a leisure or spare time activity. The designers suffer from car brain, and other types will be tolerated if they get in the gutter (which will be full of road signs or street lamps), or get out of the way. Mandatory helmets and possible turbo-police-enforcement of trivia - Australian silliness, again. I can see that the climate may have implications, but that says options for E-Scooters or E-Cycles not put everyone in motors. On your approach, I think winging it risks just sampling non-representative bits, rather than something that reflects the whole. I'd argue for finding a local guide who can show the good, the bad and the ugly.

[@herefordiancammer]

terrible. Would never go there, even before I saw this disaster of a cycling infrastructure. Cyclling is half the holiday wherever I go