Marguarite Jannin, 37, housewife
Surely this can only be a good thing? How can young kids buzzing about on bikes in rush hour, often without helmets, expect to be allowed to keep this up? I’ve lived here 23 years and I’ve seen the damage that can happen. Riders may think they look cool, but that’s not the case when a 16-year-old boy is in intensive care and may not walk again.
Noor Fashwan, 56, tailor
I saw an accident once involving a quad bike and a young girl. The boy on the bike was fine, but the pretty girl was all bloody. It was disgusting and I don’t like the lack of respect these kids have.
Amal Dimash*, 17, student
My friends and I have been riding bikes since we were 13. I got my first bike for my 14th birthday and when I’m on my bike I feel free and like I am escaping things. I am careful and wouldn’t drive against the traffic, or put anyone else at risk. But if we get our bikes taken away, we have no escape from the city. It’s not like London or New York where there’s lots of things to do.
Jane Humphries, 33, teacher
Out of all the things that anger me in the UAE, these kids on quad bikes are the absolute worst. Not only do they take the law into their own hands, but they are so selfish that they’ll happily drive up a busy road the wrong way and risk the lives of hundreds of people around them. I sometimes even find myself hoping they’ll have a bad accident so it will stop others following their lead. If you ask me, the police have been too slow to react to this and should be doing a lot more. If for nothing else, to save these boys before they kill themselves.
Fazal Haran, 18, student
All the Traffic Department needs to do is restrict these bikes to the desert. I grew up in Dubai and my family would take us to the desert at the weekends, so we could safely drive around. It was a great release from the city and it would be sad if kids couldn’t have this anymore.
Hassan Ghaman, 34, administrator
This is all 10 years too late. I’ve seen, heard and read about deaths and accidents because of these kids, and like many things in the UAE it’s taken double the time of anywhere else to do anything. I hope this stops them, but I somehow doubt it will. These kids will just buy another bike. They have the money.
Gazan Hamad*, 16, student
It’s too hot to play in the parks, there’s no real street life and the only opportunity I get to play outside is on my bike. They need to tell us what we can and can’t do, but not take our bikes away. I’m just sad that it’s come to this. Going out on my bike with my cousins and brother was one of my favourite things. We always were careful, wore helmets and never hurt anyone. It’s a handful of stupid kids who are making us all look bad.
* Names have been changed
Crack down
Some 1,056 people were killed in traffic accidents in the UAE in 2007 according to Dubai Police Transport Authority, of which 124 involved unlicenced, speeding or illegal bikes. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council issued the following statement in a bid to stop reckless bikers: ‘The riders of these bikes need to be above 16 years. They are not allowed to drive on paved roads, and in residential and coastal areas.
The riders also need to be well acquainted with the rules of operating these motorbikes. They have to wear the designated clothes and gear, such as helmets, and abide by safety stipulations. It will be the duty of the rental offices to verify that the ones who are hiring the bikes fulfil these conditions. The validity of the licence for using and renting such motorbikes would be for one year and it could be renewed for another year. The application for renewal must be submitted to the department within 30 days of the date of licence expiry.’
