SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD TURNS INTO A CYCLING TRACK
More than 20,000 people participated in Dubai Ride today. To every single rider, thank you for your positive energy and passion. This truly is the dynamic heart of Dubai that makes us proud and optimistic for our future. — Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, rides alongside Dubai residents on bicycles on the Sheikh Zayed Road during the Dubai Ride organised as part of Dubai Fitness Challenge 2020 on Friday. Both sides of the iconic highway were blocked for normal traffic and opened exclusively for cyclists —
dubai — Sheikh Zayed Road was unusually busy this Friday morning albeit there were no vehicles on it. Instead, over 20,000 cycling enthusiasts pedalled on the arterial road as early as 5am participating in the Dubai Ride, held as part of Dubai Fitness Challenge 2020.
The ride kicked off at around 5.30am and the first batch of cyclists was escorted by a cavalcade of police vehicles that were cheered on by the crowd. This year, due to Covid-19 pandemic, authorities ensured that all cyclists brought their own bikes and apart from wearing the regular biking gear such as helmet, all cyclists had to don an additional accessory — face mask.
Enthusiasts were excited to ride the 14km Sheikh Zayed Road route with both directions of the highway opened exclusively for cyclists. International athletes, as well as the city’s leading cycling clubs and communities, joined the riders for a once-in-alifetime experience of cycling around Dubai’s iconic landmarks including Emirates Towers, The Museum of the Future, and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Families and children as young as five joined the 4km bike ride around Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Opera, The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. The event also featured high participation from people of determination, who joined the cycling tour around Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.
The ride was a non-competitive, free-to-enter community event where participants could cycle at their own pace, and register for either of the two routes at their nominated check-in time.