Pedestrian safety

Pedestrian infrastructure is the backbone of a city like Abu Dhabi – and it is time to fix it

Safer footpaths and more attention to the needs of pedestrians will make our cities happier and healthier places. Reem Mohammed / The National 

We have all faced the daunting prospect of crossing a busy road or scaling one of the large kerbs that line our streets. While our summer climate can keep regular outdoor strolls at bay, we are blessed with ideal winter temperatures that beckon evening walks around the neighbourhood. However, adequate footpaths are often seen as irrelevancies in new communities as opposed to integral components of healthy cities. As The National reported yesterday, residents of Al Bandar and Al Muneera in Al Raha Beach have faced particular difficulty finding safe places to walk around their new communities.

The UAE has enjoyed rapid urbanisation since the original city plan and often the pedestrian’s needs have been set aside. To encourage walking and healthier living, we need to ensure that proper pedestrian infrastructure is more quickly introduced in both new communities and established neighbourhoods.