I remember when growing up how my bike was the gateway to freedom and independence. I had wheels so I could go anywhere! Not only did I enjoy the feel of the wind blowing through my hair and lifting my feet off the pedals as I coasted down a hill but also the bike helped keep me in good shape. My friends and I would cycle several miles easily to meet with each other and just to take those long rides enjoying each others company. It was typical to have a little basket or bike bag so we could carry snacks and drinks.
Prior to leaving in the Kingdom I can also say bikes and bike trails were very popular in the Washington DC area. Families and singles alike would go on biking outings after work and on the weekends. Many individuals would also use their bikes to travel to and from work. It was cheaper than a car and paying gas, easier to get around via bike than being stuck in rush hour traffic and again, so many obvious health benefits.
However here in the Kingdom the only individuals one will usually see riding a bike are the foreigner laborers who cannot afford a car of their own. Few Saudis have bikes or would consider going bike riding as a pleasurable pastime. I was speaking to several different groups of Saudis on this subject and all concurred that bike riding has not caught on in popularity as compared to the States or elsewhere. Sadly, not as many children will ride a bike as a playtime pastime either. Most prefer staying indoors or rather than bikes, have ATV’s or scooters which have electric engines.
So unless there is some kind of awareness campaign promoting the joys and pleasure and benefits of bike riding, I guess I’ll continue to see all the foreign laborers at various times of day pedaling around the city.
Filed under: culture, gender, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, Uncategorized
I can hardly imagine that anyone would want to ride a bike anywhere in KSA, except maybe the Diplomatic Quarter, and then only for a few days during the change of seasons. I, for one, found the weather so severe that outdoor activities would not have been attractive, even had they been available to women.
Bike riding would be a physical challenge, indeed. I, too, grew up on a bike, and can’t imagine a childhood without one. I bought my daughter her first bike at age ten, when she started coming to the States more often. She was ecstatic. Once she knew how to ride, she was upset that she could not have a bike in Saudi Arabia.
It’s way too hot for me to ride a bike in the summer, but maybe in the winter.
Carol,
Bikes were quite popular when I was growing up in Saudi. I used to ride my bike with friends all afternoon when everybody was having their after lunch siesta. The temperature was well above a hundred and we did not care. The bike was a prized position for kids in these days. We used to decorate them with multi colored plastic wraps and the like.
We also rode them dangerously fast down the steep hills of Mecca and raced on the back streets. I ended up breaking my arm on a bad fall during one of those races when I was 11. I rode my bike until I was 16, that is when I switched to a car.
I think the tradition of riding bikes started to fade away in Mecca at the end of the 70′s. It is unfortunate that kids do not ride bikes as much as we used to.
My brothers and I used to ride a bike in our garden, which runs around the hosue with a brick track that allows for smooth ridings. Our best time to go would be around 4 p.m., when the sun is just about to set, and the garden sprayers recently finished freshning up the air. Before the boys learned how to drive, they would often use the bike for a quick trip to the mosque or market. There are many dangers I guess to taking a bike seriously right now.
1) Nasty road conditions and unlawful drivers.
2) Terrible weather conditions.
3) Bad urban planning, causing the city not to have slef-sufficient towns and quarters, creating a necessity for criss-crossing tens of miles to reach a specific destination then go on to the next.
Salams
Here’s a couple reasons why i think you shouldnt ride a bike in Riyadh:
1-The weather (as aysha mentioned). The problem with the weather is not so much the heat (believe it or not but you kinda get used to 100+ degree tempurature) but rather the dust that some how finds its way into every pore of your skin as well as settles deep inside your lungs. I grew up in Los Angeles where clouds were replaced by smog generations ago so im used to bad air quality but i’ve never experienced anything like the air in Riyadh. Once (note how i said “once”) i went for a jog outside with a couple of friends and after about 15 minutes we all started coughing up brown phloem from all the dust that gathered in our lungs. As you all can guess i never did that again. The only time i’ll participate in any outdoor sports is a monthly football game (thats american football) we have with a bunch of americans and canadians here in riyadh. The british proved to be pretty useless and therefore dont show up to these games. Other than that the only real way to combat the slow encroachment of “love-handles” is to join a gym.
2- Safety. The roads are pretty empty after sunrise but at around 6:30 am everyone starts groggily trudging to work or school. So your chances of being hit by a sleepy driver increase dramatically.
3- You’ll look stupid. Literally people will just stop their cars and stare at you. I’m not joking. If you’re an adult and not from the “labor class” you have no reason to be on a bike. One of two things will happen: 1) you will get stared at and in turn will be the center piece of dinner conversations all around Riyadh. 2) Cars passing by will honk at you….all the cars…yes ALL the cars. So unless you’re a “labor class” adult dont ride a bike.
I can relate and agree with the comments that the weather and dust making riding a bike prohobitive in the Kingdom but there would be times from October – April when it would be ideal conditions. I think it is sad that the culture here has not adapted or accepted the practice of bike-riding. I’d never suggest riding on the Riyadh streets per se but do miss that there are no bike riding trails when other conditions are permissible.
But going beyond the general aspect of riding a bike as an adult, I’m saddened that bike riding does not appear popular among young kids, although most of the boys will indeed play soccer anywhere!
Yes the Diplomatic Quarter (and private compounds) are probably the best locations in Riyadh to try to ride a bike.
Ironically while one does not see bike riding (for pleasure or exercise) one will see LOTS (and I mean LOTS) of kids in the grocery stores or shopping malls with their roller skates on…and if they are coming in your direction, be sure to get out of their way!
Bike riding does conjure up wonderful memories of childhood when the thrill of taking my bike and pedalling away would be in comparison with nothing. Of course in the West it is a much more famous activity, it may have reduced considerably over the past years owing to the traffic and hectic lifestyle but is not null like in Saudi Arabia certainly.
However when on my trip to Germany, I had a watching entire families taking their bikes and going places- the corner grocery stop, the library or just riding. I mean the best part was to see bikes of all sizes riden by people of all ages- surely a beautiful family time. Moreover I did there what I couldn’t possibly think of doing here or even back home in my country. I used to rent a bike every morning and explore the little village (Liemen) where we stayed. I mean there were no stares or comments or anything although I used to be wearing the abaya (not the Saudi type but more of a coat type) and scarf to cover my hair. Now i don’t know what it would be like to wear the face covering but that is not the point here. The point is bike riding should be encouraged as it gives such a feeling of pure joy not to mention the excercise!!
I used to love riding my bike back in the states too. Aren’t women actually forbidden from doing so here? I just heard the other day that women are not supposed to even wear seatbelts in the car because the nasty minded Muttawwa say it would press against the body revealing too much of the female form! I was shocked to hear this – forgoing safety for fear of showing the shape of a woman’s bust? Who is looking inside the dark filmed windows anyway? I just don’t get these dirty minded men who are unable to control themselves here. Protecting women from injury in a car crash should be utmost. Riding a bicycle would be impossible in an abaya, plus the Muttawwa would be able to see the shape of the woman’s derriere! And in this heat – I just couldn’t do it.
Who ever told you aboout women not being allowed to wear seat belts? I do want to know your source since it is such a weird thing to say- if at all the religious police says that! I always wear it and nobody stopped our car yeah if I don’t my very concerned husband would never take me anywhere.
I wonder if at all the many things attributed to the muttawahs are actually experienced by real people
Sabah – you capture the joy and feeling of bike riding well. Where I am from in the States there are many bike trails and bike riding would be a wekeend pasttime for families.
Susie – I have also never heard of anything about women being prohibited from wearing seat belts! I’m not a fan of the muttawah at all but I do think in this case a finger may be unfairly pointed in their direction.
What can I say, what is life without a bicycle?
Like a broken pencil. Pointless.
I’m Dutch offcourse, and do most things on my bike.
I can not imagine being a kid and not knowing how or not wanting to ride a bike! Boy,those were the days! It didn’t matter how hot or cold it was,as long as there wasn’t snow on the ground, we were on our bikes. I believe we even tried to ride them in the snow but didn’t get too far! I understand the conditions in Saudia are much more severe than here in the States but you did mention quite a few months in the year that would be sufficient for riding. These kids have no idea what a great experience they’re missing out on. You have to check out Aafkes blog, she has some great bikes!!
I agree with both Aafke and Tina too. I do remember trying to ride my bike in the snow too and see if I could take it down a hill instead of a sled…don’t do it! But yes, those were great times.
I have finally recently met many ex-pat women here in Jeddah (after virtually spending my first 6 months here only with my husband’s family). Several of them told me about the Muttawwa actually harassing one of the ex-pat women for wearing her seatbelt. I don’t know what city this was in or whom specifically this happened to, but this is what at least four of them told me. I was shocked, but they were adamant about it. I asked my husband about it and he said if I ever got harassed here for wearing my seatbelt, he would call the police and have them fight it out with the Muttawwa. I will continue to wear my seatbelt as I have always done.
That is very disconcerting indeed!
I’ve been grown up on riding bicycles
. I still remember that the best ever Eid gift I got in my childhood was a bicycle from my parents. I can trace the first time I was on a bicycle; I was about 3 / 4 years. It was a bicycle with 3 wheels. When I was in my first year at primary school , I got a bicycle with 2 wheels 
. When the weather was nice , Nov to March , our family (my aunts and my cousins ) used to go in the early morning (at around dawn time ) to “Kornish Jeddah” and all of us (males & females ) used to ride our bicycles and race. Also , when it’s holiday, we used to rent for a week or so a Chalet on the beach, and our mean of transportation inside these group of chalets / villas (which I guess, are called tourist villages — which are on the sea) was the bicycles.. These villas are rented to Saudis — I’m not talking about a place that is for Americans and expats.
I guess introducing Sony Playstation and other computer games to the world
has affected the interest for some people to do outdoor activities. I can see it in the dorms of American and Canadian universities that I’ve lived in . Freshmen and other undergraduate students whom I’ve seen here in the US, usually they bring their videogames with them and stay till late at night competing at the lounge of the dorm. They celebrate if a friend of theirs wins or a team of their friends wins …
I know one thing though
my little cute niece who is 4 years old 
has her own bicycle. She lives in KSA. That doesn’t mean that riding bicycles is popular in the Kingdom nowadays. Yeah, I’ve just recalled something 
my cousin’s friend who is a Saudi guy , used to ride his bicycle everyday from his home to King Abdul-Aziz Univ because he couldn’t offer buying a car. I was really proud of the guy.
P.S. my bro-in-law doesn’t allow my sis to sit next to him without wearing the seatbelt. No one stopped them — I’m sure if someone stopped them my bro-in-law will not keep quiet — and the policeman will lose his job because there is no rule that forbid women from wearing seatbelt. So in such case the law is with the seatbelt
We used to ride bikes all the time with our children in Orlando, Florida. Our kids also rode bikes in KSA, with their friends, at the private beach that we belonged. We even used to rollerblade there before they put in the needed speed bumps. It’s a shame that there are not large parks here with sidewalks for such things.
It would be nice to have family parks in the various cities of the Kingdoms which among other items would include a BMX trail for the adventurous; bike trails with rentals to include bikes for two or with baby seats for families; batting cages; mini-golf courses; roller bladding and roller skating; indoor ice skating for the families; and separate area with similar facilities for the single guys to enjoy too.
Yeah, I feel more should be done to make parks famous- as a form of evening entertainment. The few parks that I see around are deserted, I guess everyone takes off to the malls instead judjing by the maddening crowd there. Your idea Carol is great and there should be a real thing like that!!!
Thanks, Sabah.
Sometimes my husband and I like to go to the Al Maather Cave Park which is inside the King Faisal Specialist Hospital grounds. We enjoy this park as it has walking trails, small lake, benches, BBQ grills, playgrounds, outdoor amphitheater and I can choose to stroll with him without have to wear an abaya. It’s a nice relaxing place in Riyadh.
Interestingly some of the family parks in the Thamamah area will not allow a Saudi man to enter if he is not in Saudi dress even when he is with his family.
I realize that the climate would not allow family parks to be fully utilized year round but I agree Sabah, that I wish there were more of them and that less people would be in the malls just because that’s a place to go.
I’m pleased to say Reuters picked up this post:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/domestic?bbPostId=CzCso0daZ4bnXBEZgr4vZTMqJCz7iMbcFUfsgdCz3nFpG5657wo
Perhaps you should leave this, and tell us which of your posts have nót been picked up by some lazy, stingy, news agency.
Less work…