More bicycle lanes, please

Readers call for more cycle lanes across Abu Dhabi. Other topics: electric cars, Kenya, concert, taxi drivers

A reader calls for more cycle lanes across Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National

I am happy to know that the culture of cycling is picking up in Abu Dhabi (Expansion call for Abu Dhabi cycle scheme, April 1), but we need more bike lanes. Riding in the city and on Saadiyat Island is treacherous. It's practically impossible even to ride on sidewalks because of all the bus stop construction and similar obstructions.

Suzanne Shanks, Abu Dhabi

I can see many bike lanes being built in Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Khalifa City. This is an interesting development.

Bike stations should be set up and bike lanes created in the Mafraq and Sharq Mall areas.

Yousuf Yasir, Abu Dhabi

Electric cars would surely be popular here

When I visited the UAE recently I wondered why we saw no hybrids on the road? (Banning of 4x4s is not so foolish, April 2). I learnt that Toyota doesn't even sell the Prius here, nor Chevrolet their plug-in Volt.

The popular Nissan Leaf was also not to be found, except for the lone vehicle we saw at Masdar City.

I would imagine that the cutting-edge Tesla sedans would go over well in Dubai, but we only saw one and it was parked outside a luxury hotel. I think that given a chance, Emiratis would love electric vehicles and hybrids, especially the Tesla.

This is an extremely fast and luxurious car, and is practically silent while being driven. Plus, if electric recharging costs less than fuel, I am sure everyone would like that.

Name withheld by request

Kenya needs to be bolder

The attacks by Al Shabaab militants, targeting innocent university students in Kenya, indicate the worsening security situation in that region (Al Shabab gunmen kill 147 as troops move to end Kenya siege, April 3).

After the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, the Kenyan security forces should have beefed up their defences.

The government of Uhuru Kenyatta should adopt a bolder approach to the terrorist menace in Kenya. It should draw a lesson from Nigeria, where Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to tackle Boko Haram resulted in electoral defeat.

AR Modak, South Africa

Concert was not that important

I find it a bit odd to see entertainment news, such as Zayn leaving the group One Direction, taking major space on the front page. It should have had just a small heading or perhaps a photograph referring to an inside page or to the entertainment section (All roads lead to One Direction, April 5).

This is a time when real events are taking centre-stage in the region and these are on everyone’s mind.

Khalil Amrikani, Abu Dhabi

Time to give taxi drivers their due

Taxi companies should make a conscious effort to prevent drivers from working long hours and putting their lives and those of other people at stake (Tired taxi drivers pose a risk to us all, April 1). Driving when fatigued or deprived of sleep is clearly dangerous and can lead to dire consequences for the taxi drivers, as well as other road users.

Taxi companies and the drivers need to understand that human lives are far more valuable than meeting daily targets and earning commission. Driving is not an easy task. It demands focus, attention and caution. It can be mentally draining for drivers to be on the roads for such long durations.

The drastic decline in the level of customer service and the impatient and aggressive behaviour of taxi drivers is the result of them being overworked.

It is sad that instead of sympathising with them, most of us complain about them at the earliest opportunity. It is even worse that these drivers toil so hard each day for a salary that does not compensate them fairly.

We cannot hold drivers accountable for accidents or bad attitudes unless we give them their due and treat them humanely.

The issue of people being made to work longer hours than is standard across companies and not being paid decently is something that needs to be urgently addressed.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah