Don’t misuse public facilities

Dubai

Being a frequent user of the Dubai Metro, I found it really convenient to park my bicycle at the station prior to my Metro ride. But lately, the space designated for parking bicycles for the Metro users have been occupied by nearby residents.

There was a time, when we could see bicycles parked carelessly around the streets of Dubai. Tied on to trees and sign boards, cycles had truly hampered the beauty of the city.

The concerned authorities then put in a lot of effort to install bicycle racks and create designated parking spaces for them close to many Metro stations. The cycles could now be parked in a more aesthetic fashion. Not only did this encourage more people to use bicycles as an alternative to the smoke-emitting vehicles, but also dealt with the issue of obesity.

But, people are now misusing these spaces, especially close to the Dubai Airport Freezone Metro Station. Majority of the bicycles that are parked here almost all the time belong to children or to grocery delivery people.

This act of negligence is causing a lot of trouble, especially for the people who approach the station with their cycles and are forced to go back due to a lack of space.

As residents, we must understand that these parking utilities are for Metro commuters, and not meant to be used as a private parking space. Cycle spaces that are often full wouldn’t encourage people to follow the healthy cycling practices.

Thus, I urge all the residents to not misuse the facilities that we are provided with by the authorities in Dubai.

— The reader is a student based in Dubai.

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