Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem, a vehicle for hire company, has launched Phase II of bike rental service by adding 950 pedal-assisted e-bikes, and 95 stations, which will bring the total number of bikes in Dubai to 1,750 bikes at 175 stations.
Thus, it has become the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world. The step is part of a multi-stage scheme to deploy 3,500 bikes at 350 docking stations across Dubai.
The new stations will be introduced across Dubai, including the new cycling track at Jumeirah Beach, Al Safa, Dubai Canal, Dubai Marina, Al Mamzar, Al Satwa, Jumeirah 1, Al Khwaneej, Al Jaffliya, Business Bay, Dubai Internet City, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. More stations will be added in various districts during the upcoming expansion. Careem Bikes completed 1,592 million trips as of February 2022.
Mr. Matar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, expressed his delight with the huge success of the joint venture between RTA and Careem for rolling out Dubai’s bike-share service and also noted the growing habit of cycling as a sport and using bikes as an alternative and sustainable mean of mobility, which contributes in realizing the first and last-mile journey strategy.
Matar Mohammed Al Tayer Director-General, Chairman – RTA
“The initiative supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the best city for living and to make people happier. It also supports the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, to transform Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city, which requires uplifting the infrastructure and adopting the top international practices.”
This step will support the Dubai Government’s efforts to reduce the consumption of energy and pollution, and provide a healthier and happier environment as well as short-haul services, first and last mile, that helps public transport riders reach their final destinations, added Mr. Al Tayer.
Mr. Bassel Al-Nahlaoui, Managing Director of Mobility at Careem, said that “We are expanding Careem BIKE in response to the incredible demand we have seen for micro-mobility transport across the UAE. More and more people are choosing to travel by bike, for work or leisure, and we are incredibly proud that Careem BIKE is doubling in size to become the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world.”
