Abu Dhabi needs a better bus service

Reders applaud Abu Dhabi's plan to improve the city's bus service. Other topics: child abuse, terrorism, telecommunications

Readers hail Abu Dhabi’s plan to deal with concerns about public transport. Lauren Lancaster / The National

In reference to your editorial Buses should offer more (November 25), Abu Dhabi needs bus stops at frequent intervals, not just on main streets but in every place. There could be smaller buses to pick up commuters from residential neighbourhoods and drop them at bus depots or main bus stops.

Marina Bhandari, Abu Dhabi

It’s definitely too crowded downtown at rush hour. When two to three buses go by which are too full to admit any more riders, how can they accommodate even more passengers? My morning commute takes Dh10 and maximum 10 minutes by taxi. When I walk to the stop, ride for 2.5 minutes and then walk to work it’s a total of 23 minutes. No contest. But I am very grateful for the bus system anyway.

Suzanne Lamb, Abu Dhabi

Commuters need to be aware about personal hygiene. Unpleasant body odour is a big turn off in public. Even if you spend the day working, if you started off with a proper cleaning routine and fresh clothes, then it won’t be so bad as the day progresses. Then we can all get on the lovely buses and trains without suffocating.

Mj Uy, Abu Dhabi

Keep an eye on your children

The increase in the number of cases of sexual exploitation of young girls around the globe is becoming a worrying concern for all ('Alarming' rise in number of children sexually abused online: Abu Dhabi conference, November 17).

The findings that state one in 10 girls is sexually exploited globally is alarming. I think one major contributing factor that has led to a rise in cybercrimes against children is the lack of parental control. If parents and guardians remain vigilant of what their children do online, these crimes will reduce. Also children, especially young girls, must be educated on the dangers that they can expose themselves to by trusting strangers online or exchanging explicit content.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

The best way to fight terrorism

In reference to your editorial Taking the battle to social media (November 4), I do not agree with the view that the best way to defeat extremists online "is to create positive content that travels quickly throughout the internet from blogs to news sites through to social media platforms".

And I do so from experience of battling ISIL on Twitter. You don’t win this fight by preaching to people who agree with you.

Those who are looking for answers from ISIL aren’t going to seek you out. They are seeking out what ISIL has to say. You have to directly confront ISIL members, their recruiters, supporters and fanboys on their own Twitter and Facebook pages. These people always respond and with great agitation to refutations from other Muslims, while ignoring all others.

Just like in the real world, when you interrupt a liar with the truth, you take away their narrative. Do that and you’ll have a real battle on your hands, because that is the biggest threat to them.

Name withheld by request

Deregulate telecoms sector

I refer to the article UAE telecoms regulator's stance on internet calling 'holding back small businesses' (November 12). You have two companies to choose from, each competing with the other, apparently, not for pricing but for services offered (or lack thereof as you will see many complaints on each one's social media accounts).

The solution is to deregulate the market, allowing VoIP, Skype, new operators and so on. Only then small, medium and large businesses will be able to save money.

When the main focus of a business is profitability and not customer satisfaction, it would hardly want to open the door to others.

John Paravalos, Dubai