Assessing the Non-Motorized Modes as a Sustainable Transportation Option in the Industrial Area of Al Ain City, UAE

It is vital to consider the main actor of the urban scene, which is the pedestrian citizen, and therefore to plan a city around the pedestrian needs. Non-Motorized Transportation (NMT) includes all forms of travel that do not rely on an engine or motor for movement, which includes walking, bicycle and using small-wheeled transport such as skates, skateboards, push scooters and handcarts. While designing the sustainable modes of non-motorized transportation system, it is important to consider all pedestrians, whose interests vary according to their age, physical and sensorial abilities, psychological and cultural personal approaches to make them able to use public spaces and to have safe, easy, and pleasant pathways. The industrial area, which is located on the eastern side of AL Ain city, at United Arab Emirates is considered as one of the most crowded parts of the city due to the concentration of the main industrial services imposing huge burdens on the existing infrastructure. This study evaluates the existing condition of the non-motorized mode as a sustainable transportation system in one of the most crowded areas of Al Ain City, taking into consideration the new vision of Al Ain Master plan 2030. The study recommends possible improvements to non- motorized transport system, which would accelerate the development of the industrial area on one hand and improve the safety on the other hand. To fulfil the aim, the study attempts to identify the main problems facing the pedestrian movements within the industrial area of Al Ain City. The investigations carry out qualitative analysis to provide clear descriptions and illustrations by observing the occupants' interactions with the surrounding environment to record the pattern of the movement in a specific condensed zone in the industrial area. A literature review to disclose the lessons, which may be drawn from experiences in similar areas with similar problems. Based on the assessment of the existing pattern of the non-motorized movement, the study also recommends possible standards and guidelines to improve the non-motorized transport modes and user safety within the industrial area of Al Ain.