BAHRAIN could soon set up dedicated tracks for bikers in a landmark move to ensure their safety.
Talks have been initiated in this regard while a technical committee has been formed to develop and operate tracks for bikes in Bahrain.
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry Municipal Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa met Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry Land Transportation and Post Under-Secratary Sami Abdulla Buhazza to discuss the issue.
The new committee will deal with the process of developing, managing and operating tracks for bicycle and electric two-wheelers in Bahrain, a statement issued yesterday said.
It will also study project proposals and procedures, and interact with ministries and other related government agencies.
“The initiative follows increasing demand to provide paths and lanes for bicycles and electric bikes in Bahrain, and this will address what is required to unify the visions and efforts made by all government agencies,” said Shaikh Mohammed in a statement.
Shaikh Mohammed
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf had earlier told the GDN that a dedicated lane for cyclists would be constructed on the Bahrain South Ring Road project – the 10km lane will stretch from the Gulf of Bahrain (near Al Jazayer beach) down south.
The move comes as the country witnessed the deaths of two cyclists within 72 hours last week.
The GDN reported that a 26-year-old Bahraini lost his life in a collision with a car on the first day of Eid Al Adha – July 20 - in an incident on Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway towards Zallaq. The deceased was identified as Bahrain Defence Force employee Salah Al Dossari, who lived in Hamad Town.
On July 18, a 54-year-old Indian identified as Raj Kumar Jiyani died after he was involved in a collision with a car on Shaikh Hamad Bridge near Muharraq.
Meanwhile, Mr Buhazza also said that his ministry has licensed companies to rent out bicycles and e-bikes, in an effort to strengthen the country’s road transport network.
The move also follows ministries of Interior and Industry, Commerce and Tourism warning public on the risk that electric scooters pose to the users and the general public.
“The land transport directorate in the ministry has licensed a number of companies operating bicycle and electric rental services, in order to provide advanced and new facilities to users,” he said.
“This comes in line with the ministry’s vision to provide sustainable and alternative modes of transportation, which we believe play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s transport network.
“This will help us create an integrated transportation network connecting all regions of Bahrain.”
Mr Buhazza
Deaths of bikers had repeatedly brought into spotlight ongoing appeals for action by Bahrain’s cycling community.
According to Bahrain Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Sciences statistics, 51 cyclists died on Bahrain’s roads from 2011 until last year, while 331 sustained serious injuries and 299 minor bruises.
Last year, BCA organised a cycling festival at Bahrain Bay and launched Cycle Safe Bahrain, an initiative to promote safe road sharing practices, especially after a series of biking tragedies struck the island.
In November last year, Scottish expatriate banker Allan Sword was killed while cycling with friends on the Wali Al Ahad road near Hamala after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident (READ HERE) and more recently, Indian cyclist Mohammed Haneen, 19, died in a collision with a car on the Dry Dock Highway in Hidd.
Mr Khalaf had earlier said that Bahrain had updated its roads design manual in a bid to cut the number of fatalities.
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