06 August, 2007

Give the cyclists a break, please

Just a quick request to all motorists - I know you are in a hurry but while you sit in the comfort of your air-conditioned car, spare a thought for the poor cyclist standing by the side of the road waiting to let the cars through to cross the road. His only hope of being cool is to be on the move!

I saw a poor bloke this morning and though the cars were slowing down to do a turn - not one stopped to give this guy the option to cross the street. And it wasn't a main road like Sheikh Zayed Road either!!

11 comments:

Para Glider said...

The truly powerful are not ashamed to yield passage to the mild, because they know their power is not of their own making. Only the bullies flaunt their moment of power. The roads are just one more example of this.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mita. In a materialistic society like ours, this is very much expected. If only we could be more sensitive to this kind of thing, Dubai would be a much better place. :-(

Humairah Irfan said...

Thanks for this post!
I really feel for the cyclists, having been a long-distance biker myself.
Most drivers also scare the living daylights out of pedestrians, but I'm sure the time is not far when the rules change and put the pedestrians above the cars on the roads.

Anonymous said...

Very good post. We are forgeting to be human. We should show due condideration got pedestrians and cyclists. And they are doing their bit to reduce environmental damage.

The Ego said...

Yeah, cyclists should be allowed to cross the street...
BUT...
They scare the living daylights out of me!!! Especially those driving on the side of the road (not on main roads like SZR... but others) ... they stick to the side, that's true, but they swerve and meander and look like they're about to come onto the "car-path" ...
Just wish there was a separate cyclists area so they don't come under the danger of getting hit by a car ...

Para Glider said...

D -
There is no such thing as a "car-path". But yes, I'm sure cyclists scare you, like lambs scare wolves. Would you be happier with a separate cycling lane that has equal right of way at junctions, or would you expect the cars to have absolute priority, except perhaps for 3% of the time, when cyclists are allowed to cross? Then suppose you are a pedestrian on SZR? You see a friend a mere 20 metres away on the other side. It will take you up to 45 minutes to walk to a bridge or underpass, meet halfway and shake hands. How stupid is that? This is supposed to be a town, not a war zone, but basic freedom of movement of the individual is sacrificed to a sedentary populace in risible tin boxes. Still, we have some big towers...

The Ego said...

Well why can't cyclists have equal right of way at junctions???
Look, I'm not scared of them per se... I'm scared they'll swerve in my way and I don't want to hit them!

ninjacamel said...

They ride without helmets; they ride against the traffic; they ride in the narrowest of spaces at the edge of the road or between the lanes; they ride at night without reflectors or lights; they are a clear and present danger; give them special lanes and make them ride safely or take them off the roads!

Lirun said...

cyclists rock!!

Miti said...

Could we also be considerate towards pedestrians waiting to cross the road. Specially when they are waiting at pedestrian crossings - the least car drivers can do is stop and give them way.

It is not easy to stand under the mid-day sun.

Mme Cyn said...

And cyclists, please -- put reflectors on your bikes, have a lamp on at least the front, and don't wander along the road riding with one hand and texting with the other!! (one of these geniuses nearly ran me down in Mirdif the other day)

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