Remove all hurdles for walkers

Readers offer suggestions on how to make Abu Dhabi more pedestrian friendly. Other topics: shawarma, Brexit

Readers offer suggestions to make Abu Dhabi more walkable. Ravindranath K / The National

Regarding your editorial, Make our city more walkable (November 2), I would suggest removing the steps up and down around kerbs and driveways to provide a continuous flat surface for walkers, like they do in Australia.

This makes it much easier for families with children in prams or a child on a wheeled toy. It will also make it much easier for people with mobility issues or in wheelchairs to move around.

Michal Teague, Abu Dhabi

I can imagine how cool it would be to have an interlocking matrix of air-conditioned raised walkways that connect into the mezzanine level of all buildings so people can comfortably choose to walk in the summer months.

Name withheld by request

Sometimes huge lights in the middle of a narrow pavement force pedestrians to move on to the road. This isn’t helpful or safe. Having more pavements would also be helpful.

Aiysha Hurley, Abu Dhabi

The one downside is the hot weather conditions most of the year, which we really can’t change. Unfortunately, people have to resort to mall walking or confine themselves to the gym in those sweltering summer months.

Tanya Milbourne, Abu Dhabi

Shawarma is our life

Shawarma is our life (Save the shawarma, November 3). I can't imagine Dubai without shawarma. It's like a desert without sand. I have been eating shawarmas here for many years and I was never taken ill. Please give shawarma stalls another chance to live.

Name withheld by request

I do not remember falling ill after having a shawarma at a roadside stall, but I was disappointed to witness some people prepare them with bare hands. They have no regard for hygiene. This was particularly a common sight in Deira where most cafeterias prepare shawarmas in crammed corners or near the main road. To come across meat being handled without gloves and sweat dripping on to the workstation as people queued outside was a terrible sight.

In my opinion, this is a good move by the authorities. Health and hygiene should be of utmost concern and must not be compromised.

Customers are better off paying a bit higher price and eating at a good restaurant than making rounds to the hospital. Quality should be the top priority in any food business.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

This would only mean an increase in the price of shawarma everywhere else.

Mohamed Abushaker, Dubai

I had food poisoning from sharwarma twice, but it doesn’t stop me eating them.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

Confusion over UK referendum

I refer to the news item Brexit not possible unless UK parliament approves, court rules (November 4).

In that case, prime minister Theresa May clearly hasn’t bothered to read the UK Referendum Act of 2015, which clearly states that in a legal context the EU referendum would only be advisory.

Either that, or she doesn’t understand the difference between a political mandate and a legal mandate. Those are some pretty disturbing levels of ignorance for a political leader.

Toby Masson, Dubai

The referendum was only ever to gauge support for continued membership of EU.

Obviously legislators still need to vote on the matter. The mind boggles why Mrs May would think otherwise.

Matthew Penney, Dubai

This has nothing to do with parliament. Britons voted for Brexit in a democratic referendum.

Julian Cartwright, Spain