DUBAI // Cyclists should not use the emirate’s roads because they are not designed to accommodate them, Dubai Police’s traffic chief warned yesterday.
Cycling in the emirate can be dangerous, Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zaffin said in a series of posts on Twitter on Friday.
“Riding bicycles on the roads, for the time being and because [of] reasons I mentioned, is unsafe and extremely dangerous,” Maj Gen Al Zaffin wrote.
His comments followed the death of Roy Nasr, an Arab triathlete who died after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle near Safa Park.
Nasr, 49, a Lebanese expatriate, was cycling with two friends on September 5 when he was hit. He died on impact.
The driver of the car had been drinking and was arrested.
Maj Gen Al Zaffin outlined several reasons why cycling in Dubai is dangerous.
He said the roads did not have dedicated bike lanes, forcing cyclists to use the same lanes as motorists.
Maj Gen Al Zaffin called for dedicated bike lanes in the emirate to guarantee the safety of cyclists.
“I am not against those who ride bicycles but there needs to be dedicated lanes for them and clear safety signs for them,” he said.
wissa@thenational.ae