Journalists from The National offer tips for cycling to work

As #cycletoworkUAE approaches, those who commute to work offer advice.

Editorial executives from The National with the winners of our #cycletoworkuae contest. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // We would never urge our readers to do something we don’t do ourselves.

So on the eve of #cycletoworkuae day on Tuesday, meet the staff of The National who do just that every day.

“I’ve been working in different countries and it’s become a habit,” said Alvaro Sanmarti, a graphic artist. “When it’s possible, because of the weather, I cycle to work.”

Sanmarti advised vehicle drivers to understand that cyclists are vulnerable on the road, and said cyclists must always be aware of what was around them.

“Be conscious, I know sometimes I do really crazy things,” Sanmarti said. “Know that you are the first one to be conscious and know that if anything is going to happen, it’s going to happen to you. You have very little protection.”

Wearing helmets and lights are a must for him. Once safety becomes a priority, he said that in terms of practicality it made more sense for him to cycle to work.

“It takes five minutes more but costs Dh15 less each way, and also I’m doing some sport and staying active,” said Sanmarti, from Spain.

His commute, which takes 20 minutes from Reem Island, is a daily ritual in which he uses the same path and methodical movements. He will continue to cycle until the weather gets too hot.

To make the switch from cycling gear to office clothing, Sanmarti carries what is essentially a “package to take a shower” – wet wipes, deodorant and other hygiene products. He also keeps a pair of jeans at his desk to wear after he arrives.

He has been cycling to work for eight years and said the campaign to encourage more people to follow his example could improve safety on the roads.

Sanmarti started cycling at his old job in Madrid in 2007 at a time when many people thought it was too dangerous.

“People were asking me, ‘What are you doing, you are crazy’,” he said. “But you could see the difference in the four or five years, you could see the drivers were not the same.”

He said part of the problem was that drivers in the UAE rarely encountered cyclists, and when they did it presented a new obstacle. The only way to change that was to get more people on bicycles.

“I think it’s very good. The more people who cycle, the more that others will take care of the cyclists.”

Another veteran cyclist at the newspaper, Michael Barnard, commutes even during the hottest months. He said cycling for him was a way he could control the road.

“It’s a little bit crazy,” he said. “I like being the master of my own destiny. When I first came here I would only take cabs.”

He used to spend about Dh600 a month on taxis to work before making the switch. He rides a Fuji roadbike now.

“Initially, it would intimidate me, but once you grow attuned to it, it’s not so challenging any more. You tend to know what’s coming.”

As he has adjusted to the lifestyle in the capital, so too have his ambitions with his bike. Now he feels completely comfortable on two wheels.

Barnard, from the UK, has cycled in some of the world’s busiest cities – London and New York – and said every city had its own set of challenges when it came to cycling.

“You learn what to expect, and develop a kind of sixth sense and anticipation,” he said. “My advice for car drivers is be aware that you are sharing the road.”