RAS AL KHAIMAH // A telling number of employees from RAKBank branches across the UAE teamed up to support The National's #cycletoworkuae campaign.
And the bank's chief executive, who led the 17-kilometre ride to the bank's headquarters, said many may not have been lured into the saddle without The National's campaign.
Fourteen RAKBank employees cycled from the Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort to the head office on Emirates Road.
"A number of our staff got into cycling as a result of The National's initiative and we encourage them to keep cycling," said Australian chief executive Peter England, 53.
Mr England said he started cycling when he was 17 and had enjoyed it since moving to the UAE.
Before starting their ride at 7.30am under a clear sky and with a cool breeze blowing, they listened to safety instructions and agreed on the route.
Sultan Khalifeh, the branch manager for Al Quoz in Dubai, is a keen cyclist and said he would love to pedal to work, but the distance between his home and work was too far.
“Every week, me and my friends ride our bikes in Al Qudra in Dubai. We ride for a distance of 50km,” Mr Khalifeh said.
Riding in pairs on Tuesday, the cyclists enjoyed the scenery as they cycled, chatting and laughing throughout the trip.
RAKBank eChannels manager Jai Komar, 38, has been cycling the 21km from his home to work for the past year in a trip that takes him about an hour. “This was the first time I had ridden in a group,” Mr Komar said. “It was nice to be riding with my colleagues.
“It really was a good feeling to ride with others and I hope that more people in RAK will start riding their bikes to work.”
Motorists slowed down to watch the cyclists in their matching red shirts.
Shalini Hayes, who works in the wealth management department of the bank, travelled from Abu Dhabi to join her co-workers in #cycletoworkuae.
“It was the first time for me in RAK and it felt really nice,” Ms Hayes said. “And it was the first time I had ridden a long distance without taking a single break.”
The journey took the group about an hour, after which they celebrated by taking photos before enjoying a healthy breakfast together in the cafeteria.
Inspired by The National's campaign, RAKBank is going to hold a cycling event on March 6.
This week an awareness campaign was launched in RAK to warn cyclists of dangers on the road. Police officers distributed brochures that included safety information such as the need to wear a helmet and a high-visibility vest.
tzriqat@thenational.ae