Dhaka Opens Safe Cycling Routes Through Ramna Park and Hatirjheel

Dhaka families have started using marked cycling loops in central parks after the Dhaka North City Corporation completed safety upgrades on 8 July 2026.

The upgrades matter now because the city recorded a 35 percent rise in weekend park visits between March and June this year, driven by parents seeking outdoor activity for children during the school break.

Two routes stand out. The 2.8-kilometre loop inside Ramna Park stays inside the park fence and avoids vehicles entirely. The second runs along the western edge of Hatirjheel lake on a 4-metre-wide paved path that the city widened last year and closes to motorbikes after 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Routes that keep beginners off busy streets

Both paths connect to smaller neighbourhood links. From Ramna Park riders can reach the shaded service road inside Suhrawardy Udyan without crossing any major intersection. At Hatirjheel the path links to the flat service lanes of the Bashundhara Residential Area, where speed bumps slow any remaining traffic. Local bike shops on Mirpur Road rent child seats and helmets for 150 taka per hour.

Practical steps for first-time family rides

City records show 1,240 family passes sold for the new park loops in the first week of July. Riders must stay on the marked lanes between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. when temperatures remain below 30 degrees. The Bangladesh Cycling Federation runs free 30-minute beginner sessions every Saturday at the Ramna Park entrance; registration opens at 7 a.m. Parents are advised to carry water, check tyre pressure before leaving home and finish rides before the midday heat builds. Those wanting longer practice can join the twice-weekly group ride that starts at Hatirjheel Gate 3 at 6:30 a.m. and stays on the lakeside path.