Job Discussion Forums

DesertStar · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 80 Location: UAE Oasis

Dear Ghost,

You can survive using a bike, however, you want to make sure you live close to where you work (can ride your bike to work and back without having to cross major streets and roundabouts).

The weather is extremely hot late April and thru October.. extremely nice otherwise. Al Ain is definitely less humid and also cooler compared to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, etc. There're over 70 parks in Al Ain! You'll enjoy biking, that's for sure.

As someone suggested, you might need to take taxis occasionally- they are available and dirt cheap.

I agree with what's mentioned earlier, people here drive like maniacs... many of those on the road are teens driving powerful 4x4s. Racing competitions take place all the time... anywhere..

I'm impressed with how frugal Ghost is! .... I wish I could exert such self -discipline... Very Happy

.... (the mere thought of parting with my fine 4x4 makes me Sad

)

Good luck!

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:42 am Post subject:

The bike thing will depend not only on how far Ghost lives from work but on where Ghost works too. e.g. the dress code in some places might make cycling impractical - you're unlikely to find a decent place to spruce up in many workplaces. There are quite a few cyclists in Al Ain, and they aren't all people for whom a bike is an economic necessity - I know a group who cycle every morning around 5.30 or 6 a.m. and then go home, change, go to work in a more conventional (less ecological) way. During the working day the roads are dangerous, and many motorists drive as if 2 wheeled vehicles are simply not there.
There are runners too, most go out after dark as it's cooler (and you can't see the hairy legs so well!) but the Hilton-Intercon circuit is used by all sorts of people in all sorts of clothing at any time of day. And of course there's the Hash.
Taxis are cheap - but does anyone know if the fare increases announced for Abu Dhabi will apply to Al Ain? It is the same Emirate after all.

wildfire · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

if u are male u can do anything

female no way. no bike never ever unless in a group.

u will need to shower and i doubt they have one avail to u

be normal take a taxi

okay this is TEFL
what has normal got to do with it

be abnormal buy a scooter
have an UAE flag waving off the back off it
and
be sure the lights dont work

helmut optional

and expect the whole town to talk about you if you do any of these things

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

So driving around in Al Ain on a bicycle sounds daring and life-threatening. What's this about the riverbeds. Hmmmm...sounds fun on a mountain bike.

In Al Ain, does anyone have first hand experience driving a bicycle as a daily commute option? Or are they in a hospital and unable to respond. My colleague is curious about the situation. I will live in Hail in KSA, but he might accept a post here. The weather seems pleasant enough.

We drove to Al Ain in a rental car and thought it looked very suburban. I can see approaching the roundabouts defensively as the best solution.

Driving against the traffic? Why not get on the sidewalks....or is this not allowed? Are they ramps going down the sidewalks the the road or is it a 15cm jump each time one crosses the road....?

Regards,
mytrunkshow

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

Ghost,

I have known over the past few years about 4 lads who rode bikes to work. Two were living up north and were in a very rural area. Two were in Abu Dhabi. I thought they were nuts, but they stayed safe despite the insanity.

The one took many off road paths besides the road. Lots of broken bottle and thorn bushes took about 2 tires a week. Not fun to change tires in the dust hot 120 degree afternoon sun. But, he was a sick, tough, stubborn dude.

The other 2 were in Abu Dhabi. Safe enough but choking fumes from the traffic.

Two things to consider.
1. Sanitation: the place where you work might not have any showers for men. You'll be kinda wet at work much of the day. Nor will you find many employers happy about one of their "teachers" showing up in a tang-top or shorts. At a girls campus it' might end you ether fired or in jail for indecent exposure.

2. Safety: Al Ain is a city of huge roundabout and ten million and one land cruisers driving at ridiculous speeds with fully tinted window and drivers who are constantly on the phone while they drive. Taking a roundabout here on a bike is insane. Many drive especially close to the sub-continental workers who must ply the roundabouts as a kind of sport. I wouldn't want my enemy riding on those roundabout at busy times of the day. That said, myself and some neighbors do ride around on the roads here (usually Friday morning or on small local streets).

Either way..... Good luck!

tmac-100 · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 137

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Back to the OP's original question.

Can you ride a bike in the emirates as a form of transportation? The answer is yes you can.

Will you want to? That is up to how determined the person is. WE have a neighbor who has been riding his mountain bike to and from work for the last 2 months. Only time will tell if he will continue to (now that it has gotten hot).

The major issues are
1. Road Safety. If you have a mountain bike and are willing to go off road then most of the way is pretty much safe. Just worry about popping tires and keep hydrated
2. Hygiene. Will you be able to change and shower at work. If not, then you will be hot and sticky all day.
3. And there is always the time factor. How long does it take you to ride your bike to work.

While I applaud anyone who wants to keep their impact on the environment minimal by riding to work, i also know that this is not exactly the most "biker" friendly place in the world.

So can you? Yes. Just keep your eyes open, and be very careful.

Takahiwai · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Libya

To all who have posted useful information here recently:
1. Ghost posted this two years ago
2. Two years ago Ghost had the slightly unnerving habit of referring to him/herself in the third person.
3. A scroll through Ghost's previous posts seems to reveal that Ghost is a Canadian female.
4. Ghost delights in asking questions on forums where he/she does not work/has no intention of working
5. Ghost, currently claiming to be working in Korea, is to be found on the Saudi forum, asking questions and claiming to be coming to work in that country shortly.
6. Ghost seems like a bit of a troll to me, so I wouldn't waste my time on his/her queries.
Best regards

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You're right that this is an old thread and though ghost can be... a bit much at times... I don't think I would call him a troll. I too was glad that he finally stopped talking about himself in the third person but I never spent much time worrying about what sex he or she is, I always just assumed male. Cool

I think ghost really may end up in Saudi this time... we shall see.

VS

johnslat · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:08 am Post subject:

ghost is a ghost not a ghostess.

007 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 8:43 am Post subject:

lall · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358

Takahiwai · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Libya

johnslat · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

Dear Takahiwai,

"Johnslat - this was from ghost way back when. How can you be so sure he is a ghost and not a ghostess??!!"

I cheated - ghost and I carried on a PM correspondence a while back when he was thinking of going to the IPA in Saudi Arabia.
I'm curious, though - why would you think having a bf (best friend in text talk) would indicate that ghost is a ghostess? Can't we guys have BFs?
Regards,
John