Muscat Municipality is exploring possibilities to introduce new venues for cycling apart from synthetic cycling tracks in Al Amerat and Ruwi and cycle-friendly tracks in Muttrah Sea Road. The idea is to give a boost to cycling activities in the municipal area.
The civic authority has started placing signage indicating cycling tracks on many public roads to help the cyclists and motorists and ensure safe cycling for the riders.
Implemented in cooperation with the Omani Cycling Federation, these posts are considered the first steps to make Muscat a bicycle-friendly city and pave the way for dedicated cycling tracks in the country.
“Muscat Municipality’s initiative to place signage and directions for the commuters is a great support for cyclists and it will not be too late before it becomes a hobby of the masses,” Rigel Sidhique, an avid cyclist, told the Observer.
Local enthusiasts have enough opportunities to hone their cycling skills in a country that has an event like ‘Tour of Oman’. Rightly, there has been demand to support cycling and extend more facilities for the same.
Tour of Oman attracts cycling enthusiasts and spectators from all over the world. It has succeeded in generating interest in cycling among the young generation.
Cycling and mountain biking has gained popularity in the Sultanate of Oman. With professional cyclists’ praise for the country’s stunningly diverse landscapes and the new riding challenges, cycling becomes an exciting sporting activity in the country.
Recently, a French study has selected the Sultanate of Oman as the best adventure tourism destination in the region for its diverse terrain dominated by the vast ranges of rugged mountains.
The French pro-athletes’ team had explored the country for several weeks and biked across various mountain sites.
This recognition is beside the recent appraisal by the ‘Lonely Planet’, which selected the country among the countries for leisure tourism and included it in the first seven countries to visit the region.
Besides taking cycling as a pastime, health experts call upon people to lead an active lifestyle and recommend cycling as one of the best outdoor activities.
According to lifestyle experts, doing some form of physical activity like 30 minutes brisk walk five times a week or 20 minutes jogging help in reducing weight and keeping people fit to fight diseases like Covid-19. Cycling, according to them, is one of the best exercises. Since awareness for a healthy lifestyle is increasing, cycle lovers are eagerly waiting for dedicated tracks along the major roads in the country.
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