Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a contract with Careem to operate 3,500 bicycles across 350 smart docking stations in Dubai. This is the the first bicycle-pool phased program of its kind in the region.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, and Mudassir Sheikha, Co-Founder and CEO of Careem.
Careem will operate 1,750 bikes and instal 175 docking stations in the first two years of the fifteen year contract, and in the five years after will increase to a total of 3,500 bikes and 350 docking stations.
Speaking on the new agreement, HE Mattar Al Tayer said, “This agreement is made in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Chairman of the Executive Council, and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, to provide suitable options to encourage residents, tourists and cycling amateurs to practice cycling. It helps people to pursue an active lifestyle and enhance mobility options. It also contributes to RTA’s efforts to enhance the integration of different transit modes and provide solutions for the First and Last-Mile challenge enabling public transport riders to reach their final destinations. Over the past years, RTA had constructed cycling tracks extending 274 km in several places like Saih Assalam, Bab Ashams, Al Qudra, Mushrif, Mirdif, Al Khawaneej and Dubai Water Canal as well as several streets such as Jumeirah, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Mankhool Streets. The total length of cycling tracks in Dubai is expected to reach about 631.7 km by 2023.”
Careem will use a smart system to track bicycles, predict high occupancy areas, and connect all bicycles through GPS. It will implement environmental sustainability methods through operating solar-powered bicycle racks and connecting them to a wireless network. Customers can hire and pay for bike rides through Careem Bike app.
The service covers several Dubai hotspots such as the Marina, Jumeirah, Dubai Water Canal, Deira, Al Khawaneej and Al Qudra. It will also be available at safe roads of four districts namely Al Qusais, Al Mankhoul, Al Karama, and Al Barsha.