It has not taken very long for electric scooters to move into the mainstream in the UAE.
Neighbourhoods across the country are full with people making short journeys on near silent scooters. As with several other aspects of our prototypical post-pandemic life, the pace of change has been remarkable and almost unstoppable.
A little over two years ago, when Abu Dhabi began trialling e-scooters for rent in certain areas of the city, most of us could only imagine a day when battery bikes might become commonplace on our roads. That day arrived very quickly, with privately owned electric scooters now a ubiquitous presence on streets around the nation.
E-scooters bring many advantages with them, potentially reducing congestion and pollution by getting motorists to stop using their cars for short journeys, but they also raise safety issues that demand further attention.
Last year, The National reported that hospitals have treated a number of people after e-scooter accidents.
Medics said that typical injuries ranged from scrapes and bruises to broken bones and that some people had been treated for head traumas. One doctor told us that these injuries were “mostly the result of the rider falling but there have been several cases involving collisions with vehicles.”
Greater care should be taken in mixed use environments, where pedestrians may be using the same streets
Tragically, a child died two weeks after an accident in the Northern Emirates last year involving an e-scooter and another vehicle. Another young person was seriously injured in a similar incident around the same time.
As shocking as these fatal and near-fatal accidents are, the vast majority of journeys undertaken by riders pass without incident, but that should not stop the regulations governing e-scooter usage being assessed.
Earlier this year, the Federal Traffic Council set up a task force to look at safe e-scooter use. The council will act in an advisory capacity and cannot introduce mandatory regulation – that is up to individual emirates – but clearly it is an area that would benefit from regular discussion.
To move forwards, it may help to look back.
Almost a decade ago, when there was a rapid increase in the amount of recreational and commuter cyclists using the roads, we found ourselves at a similar junction, driven by twin tragedies.
Two deaths of cyclists in three months in 2013 prompted a great deal of soul searching about our roads, how we used them and what was the best way ahead.
Ray Nasr was killed by a drunk driver while out on a training ride in September that year, and Medhi Karasane died from head injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle while out cycling with three friends in November 2013.
At the time of the deaths, another cyclist told The National that car users often did not “see us or respect us”.
Looking back to that time now, it was a febrile, tense period and one that only changed through a combination of education, awareness and development of infrastructure to support cyclists. More cycle paths have been built over the years and the network of lanes and facilities continues to expand and those “them and us” observations have dissipated slowly.
Now, e-scooters need to undertake a similar journey and just as with the presence of more cyclists on the road ten years ago, the more e-scooters that are on the streets, the better, because it forces all road users to actively think about and moderate their behaviour. Familiarity must breed respect rather contempt in this case, too.
There are a few basic measures e-scooter riders should take: helmets should be worn and, preferably, high-visibility clothing. Greater care should be taken in mixed use environments, where pedestrians may be using the same streets. The likelihood of accidents – and again, mercifully, collisions and injuries are the exception rather than the norm – is reduced if e-scooter users are also able to access dedicated paths.
From a regulatory point of view, mandatory speed limits could be set for e-scooters, especially in areas where pedestrians are commonplace – this is happening already in some neighbourhoods – and further awareness campaigns should be initiated to inculcate better habits by every user of the road. Education often proves more effective than regulation and can eventually lead to generational changes in behaviour.
For car drivers, too, the road to safety is a long one and one that often rests with better driver behaviour and a greater sense of personal responsibility. Teaching defensive driving skills may also prove beneficial in initiating long-term change.
But there are, in truth, few instant solutions to develop roads that are as safe as possible. As with other areas of our lives, mitigation and adaptation represent the best way forward for all of us. We can all play a part in creating a safer environment.
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eamana%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Farra%20and%20Ziad%20Aboujeb%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERegulator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDFSA%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinancial%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E85%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf-funded%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
Racecard
7pm: Abu Dhabi - Conditions (PA) Dh 80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.30pm: Dubai - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
8pm: Sharjah - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.30pm: Ajman - Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,200m
9pm: Umm Al Quwain - The Entisar - Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.30pm: Ras Al Khaimah - Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Fujairah - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
