More cycleways and walking trails for schoolkids, please
I am a working mother and a special needs teacher by profession. I live in Sharjah and work in Jumeirah, Dubai, however, travel time doesn’t matter to me as much as it does to my son. His bus comes at 5.58am, which means he has to get up at 5am and reach his school in Juweiza — an industrial area in Sharjah — by 7.30am. He comes home by 3pm, leaving him with no time to play as he would still have to work on his assignments. By 7.30pm, he has to be in bed to get ready for the next school day.
I am never able to drop him off or pick him up because of the distance. Should there be an emergency, I would have to take a cab and pay the fare that could go as high as Dh150.
As UAE residents who travel from one emirate to another to earn our living, we sometimes complain about the traffic. But, remember, our children also have to deal with the challenges, and they cannot even understand why they have to get up so early, while some other kids their age get more sleep and play time.
It’s a good school. When we moved to the UAE from India, it was one of the new schools and the admission process was a breeze. It is not possible for my son to ride a bike or walk to school because the route is too dangerous. There are construction works, large trucks, and no proper infrastructure for walking or cycling.
Most countries have special tracks built for students, so they can travel to school safely using their bicycles. Here, driving on roads can be scary, sometimes. I can’t imagine my child riding his bicycle to school.
It would be great if, one day, we can see our son grab his bag and leave for school by walking or cycling, as it’ll help him get his daily dose of exercise.
In India, we used to walk him to school, which was only 10 to 15 minutes away. A lot of schoolkids use their bicycles, too. Here, we have to pay Dh4,000 annually for the bus. Hopefully, one day, there will be dedicated tracks for students who want to go to school by walking or cycling.
It would be great if, one day, we can see our son grab his bag and leave for school by walking or cycling, as it’ll help him get his daily dose of exercise.”