Dubai to launch e-scooter path in 10 districts from 2022

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are launching dedicated electric scooter lanes as part of phase one of a shared mobility project.

As e-scooters complete more than 500,000 trips in the city, RTA will start operating dedicated lanes in the first quarter of 2022.

Initially, the paths would cover ten districts in Dubai, which will expand into 23 districts as the shared mobility plan progresses.

Authorities from the RTA said in a statement that trial runs in five key areas began in 2020, which helped gauge the population density, check the areas served by metro stations and public transport, the availability of integrated infrastructure, and places that can maintain high levels of traffic safety.

To ensure optimal safety guidelines, RTA and Dubai Police conducted various benchmarking studies in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, and Singapore.

The reports claim a customer satisfaction rate of 82 per cent.

This initiative marks the city's "shift towards sustainable transport," according to the same statement. 

Areas covered in the initial phase include:

1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard
2. Jumeirah Lakes Towers
3. Dubai Internet City
4. Al Rigga
5. 2nd of December Street (in specified zones)
6. Palm Jumeirah
7. City Walk
8. Al Qusais
9. Al Mankhool
10. Al Karama

The authorities also urged e-scooter users to avoid unfinished stretches of track in some areas.

Also, in these lanes, the e-scooters must be operated with helmets and parked in designated spots. The complete set of rules will be available on the e-scooter operator's mobile application.