Just walking around….

Abu Dhabi is a highly populated city in a relatively small area, primarily on an island.  In general, the set up is similar to Manhattan Island, only in a much smaller scale.  Also similar is that it’s a city of taxis takers and walkers.  With the weather as nice as it is now, I have switched from being almost entirely the former to almost entirely the latter.  Abu Dhabi is designed on a grid system, with separate communities within each grid of primary streets (more on that in the next post).  In a previous post I shared the walk I took in the evenings.  What I did not share is the fact that it is designed to have a separate area for bicyclers (one lane in each direction, separated from the road as well as the walking area) and a runner’s track (padded to lessen shock on the legs).  These 3 options run parallel to what they call the Corniche, which is basically the beach front.  All major east/west-ish roads run from the east/ northeast (within sight of the Grand Mosque) to their end at the Corniche on west/southwest end.  The photos below show the basic design, with the Corniche Road running along the water front.  You see the walkway and bike path on the water side of the road.  There is a continuous public park, with different walkways and the padded jogging path to the city side of the road.  Parking areas run between the park and the buildings. 
To legally cross the major streets, one may choose to take a crosswalk, or one of the couple of pedestrian bridges, OR use one of many pedestrian underpasses.  From where we live, any walk will usually begin along the Corniche.  Along here the pedestrian crossings are primarily via underpasses.  They are usually built at corners of the major roads that come to a ‘T’ intersection with the
Corniche.  The tunnels will go to/from either side of that street as well as under Corniche Road.

The entrances to the underpass tunnels vary in size, but are all quite grand, with water fountains at each entrance, and the option of either stairs or a ramp on most (ramps only at a few of the smaller ones.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each of the underpasses is decorated with a tile motif, and no two are alike (at least none that I’ve seen!)

Some of them have large painted tiles

Some have mosaics of 1 inch tiles.

The tunnels beneath the roads serve as both an easy way to get from one side of the road to the other, but also as a great guarantee of shade during the summer.  They are quite safe (monitored by the ever present Abu Dhabi CCTV system) and kept amazingly clean by the city cleaning crew.

 

 

 

I’m very impressed with both the design and the maintenance of the public areas in this city.  It is so outdoor friendly, and that is a godsend to me.  My initiation into life here was pretty rough.  I arrived at the worst possible time of year and frankly was not at all sure I could pull off living here.  Still, by forcing myself to get out and about I could see that there was a clear invitation created by the designers of this city.  There simply HAD to be life at the end of the tunnel (pun intended).  Heck they even provided extra creature comforts….       …One I haven’t ever noticed in a facility of it’s size in US (or even some much larger).  Seems a reasonable addition to me.

I am going to enjoy the next several months here.  Moving forward, October through April are definitely our home time, and the time for friends and family to come visit us.  You will love it here.