DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — For a short while on Sunday, bicycles took over Dubai’s busiest highway as part of an annual ride marking the city’s yearly fitness challenge. Thousands of cyclists rode down the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Road during the weekend morning.
Authorities shut down a portion of the expressway for the Dubai 30×30, a challenge encouraging residents of this sheikhdom in the United Arab Emirates to get 30 minutes of exercise each day throughout November.
The road, also known as the E11, offers drivers a view of some of Dubai’s iconic landmarks, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, as well as the silver, doughnut-shaped Museum of the Future and other notable sites. However, few have the time to enjoy these sights regularly, as the expressway is typically jammed with traffic.
This heavy congestion is mainly due to Dubai’s rapid population growth, which has fueled its booming real estate market but also placed strains on local residents and infrastructure. Sunday’s cycling event provided a rare and welcome opportunity for the city to experience the expressway in a different way—on two wheels.
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