AJMAN // Police are warning cyclists that the rules of the road apply to them, too, and not just to motorists.
After impounding 115 bicycles in the first six months of this year, police yesterday started a one-week campaign to force all cyclists to obey traffic signals as well as fitting front and rear lights on their bikes.
Col Abdullah al Nuaimi, the deputy director general of Ajman Police, said accidents involving cyclists in the emirate were on the increase; many cyclists did not consider themselves bound by traffic rules.
He said that since the start of this year more than five cyclists had died in accidents.
"It's a common thing to see a cyclist going through the red lights," he said. "Most of them do not realise how dangerous it is while others have no knowledge of traffic rules at all."
Most cyclists breaking the law were illiterate labourers whose companies did not provide them with transport to work, or delivery boys for small cafeterias and restaurants, he said.
During the campaign police will confiscate all bicycles that are too old to be on the roads while cyclists violating safety rules will lose their bikes for a week. This includes riding bicycles with worn tyres.
Uniformed and plain-clothes officers will be watching spots such as roundabouts and traffic lights.
Mr al Nuaimi said cyclists would not be fined, as most were poor, and struggling to make ends meet.
"We believe our presence on the roads to warn them and seizing their cycles would be enough."
In a similar campaign in Sharjah last month police impounded more than 500 cycles.
ykakande@thenational.ae
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
SPECS
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Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
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