Cyclists in Dubai need safer environment

Readers call for more safety for cyclists. Other topics: Indian mindset, gold, US airlines

Readers welcome Dubai’s decision to expand cycle paths as they call for safety of cyclists. Reem Mohammed / The National

I can't personally imagine cycling in Dubai's summer temperatures (Providing a safe place for cyclists, May 24). Still, this is a good plan. I'm not a cyclist myself, but I think the best way to encourage cycling as a mode of transport is to provide safe, attractive routes for cyclists to use. It's much better and safer for them, and for drivers too.

Ben Adamson, Dubai

We used to cycle as a family in Jumeirah Beach until they took the cycle track away. I can’t let the children out on the roads here. So now no cycling.

Victoria Maybury, Dubai

Mindset at heart of India’s woes

Aruna Shanbaug's tragedy highlights the plight of women in India (Indian nurse Aruna Shanbaug dies 42 years after rape, May 19). It's another tragedy that the culprit got away with only seven years' imprisonment. Today no one knows where he is. There is no picture of him anywhere. It's disturbing to imagine that he is living among us under a different identity. However, Shanbaug's death highlights that fact that almost every legislation for women in India was passed after the death of a woman in such tragic circumstances.

Consider the Delhi bus incident in 2012. The protest after the murder of the young woman led to the amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act, as one of the culprits was a juvenile. This amendment allowed children aged of 16 to 18 to be tried as adults for heinous crimes.

In 2011, the gang rape of a social worker led to guidelines that now defines sexual harassment in workplace.

In 1979, Satya Rani Chadha launched a movement against dowry following the death of her daughter in a dowry incident. The law shifted the burden of proof to the husband and his family.

Despite all this, the condition for women is worsening in India. That’s is because no law can change the mindset.

Aditi Kashyap, India

US airlines must raise standards

I am so glad to see people from the USA not jump on the side of American carriers just because of a fear of competition (Airline choice includes being free from abuse, May 24). I actually avoid using US carriers in my overseas flights because of the poor service I have had to endure. US airlines should raise their game if they want to compete internationally.

Matthew Volz, Abu Dhabi

Is gold a good investment?

With reference to your article Follow the golden rules to make money (May 23), it is completely irresponsible to suggest that gold is an investment. Precisely because it provides no return, it is not (by definition) an investment. It is merely a bet just like going to the casino.

How can you quote people in the gold trade in your article without quoting the best investors in the world, such as Warren Buffett, who says that the approximate percentage of gold that should be in anyone’s portfolio is “zero”. There is absolutely no intrinsic value in gold, merely a mystical and ignorant belief in it having some “safe haven” status.

Every time the economy slows or goes down, the unregulated gold traders push gold as a safe haven. But, of course, the economy always works in waves and so when the economy gets better the price of gold goes down and the poor people who invested in the repeated and false “gold as a safe haven” story lose money.

Clearly, gold is not a safe haven and usually it is simply a bad and uninformed bet (except for the gold traders who make their money on the buying and selling).

Donald Moore, Dubai

I think gold is always a good investment, because it steadily grows in value. The reason people choose gold is because they don’t have to continuously monitor its performance. One doesn’t have to sell gold when inflation is high and then dump it if inflation goes down. It is a stress-free investment in the sense that the money is safe.

I think a person should invest in gold rather than keep money in a savings account. It is because gold is an imperishable investment which will only grow higher in demand. If one is in a dilemma whether to keep one’s money in a savings account or buy gold, then I would suggest gold. It is smart to always keep some cash for unforeseen events, but one should buy as much gold as possible, especially when the prices are low. Don’t panic if the metal has lost its lustre. It’s a temporary phase.

Sukumar S. Sharjah