I have another confession to make. I can't ride a bike! Do I sound weird? My husband thinks that my childhood is abnormal. I grew up with dolls and plastic cooking sets... and it seemed normal for me. Actually, I tried to balance myself in the two-wheeled vehicle in one point of my life. Year 1995, I was quite inspired to learn after I watched the movie Now and Then, but it never worked for me. Playing in the streets was never my thing, so I am now 31 and still learning the basics of childhood life! Hashtag late bloomer here! Hehehe.
I have been eyeing the Nextbike's Byky at Downtown Dubai since summer. Whenever we passed by the rental stations, I'd always tell Ed that we should rent one, and he'd say "but you don't know how to bike!" Then last weekend night, due to the 'convincing prowess' of my husband's cousin (Thanks, Ciel), Ed finally agreed that we'd rent and share a byky for 30 minutes.
We went crazy over our rented Byky! We took our turns like little children playing and giggling in the street. Some passerby even gave us weird glances, most probably because I needed my husband's support while I was on my bike. If he let go, I might have fell... and that's even more embarrassing!
My 15-second IG video:
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The bicycles for rent at Downtown Dubai are owned by a public bike sharing company, Nextbike. It started in Leipzig in 2004 and now has 15000 rental bikes in 80 cities of 10 countries, in 4 continents! At Downtown Dubai, Nextbike's Byky can be rented at 5 stations; beside Burj Khalifa Metro Station, in front Burj Khalifa's entrance, at the Burj Park, at Souk Al Bahar and near The Address Hotel.
To rent a bike, you must register at Nextbike's website first. Then, you can either call the hotline or access the smartphone app or use the automated rental station if you have the RFID customer card. You will be asked for the bike's number and your credit card. After registering, you will receive a code on your mobile phone to open the combination lock of your chosen bike.
To return the bike, access Nextbike's website again and click on the "return bike" option. Lock the bike at the designated rental station. Then, the final rental bill will appear on your phone!
So, if you want to see Downtown Dubai in a fun and different way, rent a Byky and pedal your way around the world's tallest tower! I'll be doing this again soon, and hopefully without my husband's support! :)
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| Burj Khalifa: standing tall in front Nextbike's rental station |
Rental Price: 15 AED for 30 minutes
Location:
Nextbike Byky Rental Station
in front Burj Khalifa's main entrance
Boulevard Mohammed Bin Rashed (formerly Emaar Boulevard)
Downtown Dubai
19 Blogger Comments
it's been ages since i last rode a bike too! i learned how to bike at age 12 and mind you, the body pains i went through were worth it. hehe.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why I failed to learn... because I was to scared to get hurt! :)
DeleteI don't know how to ride a BIKE either hahaha. I always got this feeling of getting hurt and not knowing to balance myself, and we don't have any bike when I was a kid. I think its cool that you tried it.:)
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm not alone. :)
DeleteLady, I can relate haha. I grew up here in Baguio and over at the parks, there are biking places and skating rinks. I never learned to bike (but I do skate) hehe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to know that I'm not weird after all. Ang dami natin d marunong mag bike! Hahahah! :)
DeleteI don't know how to bike! HAHA. That's so cool ah. If we have that type here in the province, siguradong suki na ko. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteYeyyy. marami na tayo. :) hahahah!
DeleteI learned how to bike when I was a kid. I even have a picture as proof but now I don't know how to bike anymore. I have fear of falling and bruise my legs. (Vain! hahaha) Hope we learn how to bike soon! Btw, glad you are blogging again.
ReplyDeleteHi Kat. I'm back to blogging for a good cause. :)
DeleteI learned how to bike when I was 11 yo. I learned it by myself for 2 days, hihi! After school, I would always get my lolo's bike, yes it's a big bike and I can't even sit on the bike's seat because if I do, I wouldn't be able to reach the pedal, I was so tiny. I had bruises and minor accidents but it was all worth it. My brother learned how to bike in one day only and he already knew how to balance it na after a whole day's practice. Ang bilis. And he was even younger than me when he learned how. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's been ages too since I last rode a bike but as they always say, once you learned how to do it, you'll never forget how. :-)
It's not yet too late sis. I know you'll be able to ride a bike on your own, too. It's so much fun! :-) Goodluck and enjoy!
Yah, never too late! ;)
DeleteI tried my best to learn how to ride bike during elementary days, as in to the point na na dislocate yung knee ko hehe paano ba kc nawalan ako ng brake going downhill ayun binanga ko ang puno ng saging. buti na lang saging lang hehehe...
ReplyDeleteOMG! Dislocated knee? Nyaay! Bruises pa nga lang naloloka na ako.
Deletethat is a very convenient way of renting a bike and a fun way to explore the place. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very convenient! The rental stations are strategically located at top tourist spots.
DeleteI miss biking. We used to roam around our subdivision when I was still young and free chos hahaha!
ReplyDeleteOh, those young and free days! Ano nga ginawa ko nun? Ahhh, I was stuck indoor and I loved it. Hahaha! :)
DeleteThis is nice ah, a different perspective for sightseeing in Dubai!
ReplyDelete