Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has begun civil site works for the infrastructure of Electric Scooter in preparation for the launch of Phase I of the project, which will include 10 Dubai districts and start operation in the first quarter of 2022.
The move follows the Executive Council’s endorsement of the shared mobility strategy and the supporting e-scooter policy. It culminates the huge success of the trial run phase of the e-scooter, which started in October 2020 in 5 key areas of Dubai.
E-scooters have done roughly half a million trips by the end of September. RTA plans to expand the use and tracks of e-scooters to include specific residential areas, and 23 new districts later on.
The initial phase covers Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Internet City, Al Rigga, 2nd of December Street (specified track and zone), The Palm Jumeirah, and City Walk. It will also cover safe roads in Al Qusais, Al Mankhool, and Al Karama communities as well as cycling tracks except for the cycling tracks of Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra, and Meydan.
The selection of these districts was driven by specific criteria, such as high population density, special development areas, regions served by metro stations and mass transportation, the availability of integrated infrastructure, and areas with a high level of traffic safety.
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer Director-General Chairman Board of Executive Directors RTA
“The operation of the e-scooter is part of Dubai Government’s efforts to improve the quality of life and make residents happier, shift towards sustainable transport and make Dubai the preferred place to live and work as well as the preferred and the safest destination for visitors. RTA calls for adopting a healthy and active lifestyle through providing for an integrated and efficient transportation network in the Emirate. It also seeks to provide multiple transportation options for users, in accordance with top international practices that place Dubai among the leading countries in this field.”
RTA has undertaken various benchmarking studies of e-scooter operations in international cities such as London, Paris, New York, Berlin, and Singapore based on four main aspects, the user, the electric scooter, the road and the business model with the operating companies.
The e-scooter is permitted to operate under strict guidelines and designated tracks. The rider and the renter must comply with the rules and regulations set by RTA, which are aligned with the traffic rules law.
According to RTA’s rules, the e-scooter must be parked at designated places and must not be left in places that trigger traffic bottlenecks, Riders must ride cautiously and avoid causing traffic risks to other road users, they must comply with all instructions and regulations relating to the areas where e-scooter riding is permitted, as mentioned in the apps designed for operators.
