Dubai’s 31 Planned Crossings: Why the Other Side of the Road Matters

“It is just across the road” can mean very different things depending on how you travel. For a person walking or cycling, a nearby destination may still require a substantial detour to reach an appropriate crossing. The distance between two points tells only part of the story.

At Ecoride Bicycles, we pay attention to the connections that make everyday movement more practical. Dubai’s plan for additional bridges and tunnels is relevant because crossing a road is often the moment that determines whether a local journey feels straightforward. The details matter as much as the headline number.

What has been announced?

RTA announced on 15 June 2026 a programme for 31 pedestrian bridges and tunnels through 2030. Its stated aims include safer crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, with locations selected using factors such as population, destinations and public transport connections. The release says selected bridges include dedicated cycling provision; it does not establish that all 31 facilities will be rideable cycling bridges. Read RTA’s crossing programme.

We see the announcement as a reason to discuss access carefully. A crossing can improve connectivity, but its usefulness to a particular rider depends on its design, operating arrangements and connection to the surrounding routes.

Why the approach matters as much as the crossing

A bridge may be easy to identify from a distance, yet reaching its entrance can be less obvious. A tunnel may create a useful link, but you still need to understand what happens at either end. The complete journey includes all of those pieces.

When assessing a new facility, ask how you arrive at it, how you use it and where you continue afterwards. Those questions are particularly useful for someone considering a regular trip. A crossing that looks impressive is not automatically the most convenient option for every destination nearby.

Follow the actual access arrangements

Different facilities can have different layouts and rules. Do not assume that a crossing is intended for riding simply because it is described broadly as supporting pedestrians and cyclists. Read the signs and confirm the arrangements for your bicycle and intended use.

If dismounting or another specific action is required, follow that instruction. A route plan should account for those moments. They are part of the journey rather than an unexpected interruption to a riding-time estimate.

Check the last few metres

Look at where the crossing leads in relation to the actual entrance you need. A destination might be visible from the exit yet still require another permitted route to reach it. Avoid filling gaps in your plan with an assumption that a direct shortcut will be available.

This small check can save frustration. It is especially valuable when you are going somewhere unfamiliar or meeting someone at a fixed time.

Useful crossings support ordinary destinations

We often describe cycling in terms of scenic rides, but everyday destinations matter too. A crossing may make a local visit, an appointment or a connection to public transport more practical. The value can be in making a short journey less awkward rather than enabling a long adventure.

Imagine two buildings separated by a major road. Their closeness does not tell you whether a bike journey is convenient. A suitable crossing and a sensible approach could change the answer. This is an illustration of the planning question, not a claim about a specific pair of Dubai buildings.

Think about who will use the connection

A confident regular rider and a newcomer may experience the same route differently. Someone pushing a bicycle may notice details that are less apparent while riding. A group may need more space and coordination than an individual. These perspectives help explain why access should be considered broadly.

For your own planning, be honest about what makes you comfortable. You do not need to select a route because another rider describes it as easy. The useful route is one that is appropriate and manageable for you.

A crossing is a shared space

Where different users meet, predictable behaviour matters. Follow the designated arrangement, leave room for others and avoid stopping where you block movement. Someone walking, carrying belongings or helping a child may need time and space that are not obvious from behind.

If you are riding with friends, agree on where you will regroup before entering a constrained section. It is easier to keep the connection clear when everyone knows that the next conversation or photograph can wait until an appropriate stopping place.

Reduce distractions before entering

Check navigation while stationary in a suitable location. Put away anything that competes for your attention and give yourself time to understand the layout. The unfamiliarity of a first visit is a reason to be deliberate.

For an e-bike, familiarity with the controls helps too. Know how the bicycle responds at a gentle pace and how you manage assistance. Those skills are useful in ordinary city riding, particularly when your route includes transitions between different spaces.

What to check before making a crossing part of your commute

First, confirm that it is open and suitable for your intended use. Then assess the approach from home and the continuation to your destination. Look at the return direction as well. A route that works neatly one way may involve a different arrangement coming back.

Next, consider timing and storage. Can you leave the bike appropriately at the destination? Does the full journey fit your routine once you include any walking, parking and building access? A realistic trial will answer more than a distance calculation alone.

Keep the first trial low-pressure

Try a new route when you have flexibility. Note the places where you hesitate, the signs you need to understand and the practical details you want to confirm. You can refine the plan after the ride rather than trying to solve everything while moving.

If it does not feel suitable, identify why. The issue might be temporary, or the route may simply be a poor match for your current needs. Both are valid conclusions. A trial is useful even when it changes your mind.

Why planned facilities need careful reporting

An infrastructure programme contains intentions and timelines. It does not mean every facility is available immediately, nor that every location has the same design. When we write about these plans, we want readers to understand what is confirmed and what still depends on later delivery.

For this programme, the distinction between pedestrian facilities and dedicated cycling provision is especially important. Treat each opening as its own information check. Look for the location, access instructions and relevant user guidance before adding it to a route you intend to follow.

Useful updates answer practical questions

The most helpful information tells you where the entrance is, which routes connect to it and how different users should move through the facility. If there are restrictions or temporary arrangements, those details belong in the journey plan too.

We would welcome clear maps and operating information as individual projects progress. That is our rider-focused preference, rather than a claim that every detail has already been published. Good information makes physical infrastructure easier to use.

Explain a meeting point precisely

When arranging to meet someone near a crossing, name the side and the accessible landmark rather than saying only “by the bridge”. A large road can make two people who appear close on a map inconveniently far apart. Agree on a location where waiting is allowed and does not obstruct movement, and check how each person will reach it.

This is especially useful for a mixed group of people walking and cycling. Their approaches may differ, even when the destination is shared. A clear meeting plan respects those differences and avoids last-minute pressure to cross somewhere unsuitable. If someone is delayed, stay with the agreed arrangement or communicate a specific change while stationary. Good local mobility is partly physical infrastructure and partly the small decisions people make around it. A precise meeting point is a simple example of how better information can make the same place easier to use.

Choose equipment that fits city movement

If these connections have you considering an e-bike, think about all the moments between rides. Can you move it comfortably where you need to? Does it fit your storage? Are you confident with its controls? The answers help determine whether the bicycle suits your daily surroundings.

A test ride is a chance to explore those practical questions. Take time with starting, stopping and getting on and off. Ask about the exact model’s requirements and explain the routes and facilities you intend to use. Avoid assuming every electric bicycle is interchangeable.

At Ecoride, we are interested in making cycling feel useful in your life. Dubai’s planned crossings are part of a wider conversation about access, but your next step can be specific: one destination, one suitable route and a bicycle you understand. Contact us or book a test ride to explore that decision with your everyday needs in mind.

Image: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). View original source.