Reem would be an ideal place for a cycle path

It was with much delight that I saw an advertisement in The National for your cycle-to-work campaign.

We all know the benefits of exercise, so I was very disappointed when I moved to Reem Island. The master plan does not seem to have allowed for a cycle path that caters to people who work on nearby Maryah Island.

The lack of paths and pavements makes it dangerous for people who have to walk or cycle on the road.

Thousands of people now live on Reem and many walk from their homes to the supermarket or bus stops. So the absence of pavements can no longer be justified by a lack of residents.

I’d also like to see some greenery planted along the roads, and to see the long-promised public beach open. As The National has reported, the designated beach area has been closed for several years and the water has stagnated due to a lack of circulation through the canals.

Quinta Woodward, Abu Dhabi

Arabic lessons should be for all

I am writing in response to Justin Thomas's article, In praise of learning Arabic, even if you don't need to (November 24).

I’m an English teacher in the UAE, and I think Emirati students should first learn Arabic properly. It’s not only about the language, it’s about personal and national identity.

It also makes good linguistic sense to teach a foreign language by building on the foundation of the mother tongue.

I’m totally in favour of developing bilingualism for our students, but the mother tongue should always be the point of departure.

Ahmad Barnard, Abu Dhabi

Arabic should be the main language in the UAE, with English coming second.

Yes, English is important and students should learn it, but we need to be Emirati first. Fatima Toffi, Abu Dhabi

A few of my friends live in the UAE and I know that they are not learning the Arabic language. As Thomas says, without the need or motivation to learn the language they will never master it.

I’d like to know whether the difficult alphabet is the primary reason that Arabic is a level IV language, or if it is the complexity of the sentence structures.

I’m curious to know how much time and effort it takes to learn the written language.

J Thompson, Germany

I think it should be a prerequisite for Cycle 1 (grade 1 to 5) students to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Arabic reading and writing before they start to learn ­science and mathematics in English.

English should be taught by native English speakers.

KarenLangan, Abu Dhabi

Fruit juices have too much sugar

I refer to the results of your Survey Says poll on school meals (November 26).

Schools could contribute significantly to children’s health by withdrawing fruit juice from sale.

Juice is loaded with sugar — even when the label says “no added sugar”. Fructose, found in all fruit, is sugar.

Eating one orange is great, but when you squeeze five oranges into one glass of juice, you’re simply consuming too much sugar.

Name withheld by request

Death highlights danger of sport

Football and rugby each cause their share of fatalities but it comes as a surprise that cricket — one of modern sport’s least brutal games — should see an on-field death.

The passing of a young and bright Test prospect, Australian opener Phillip Hughes, following a freakish inswinger that hit his head, will surely cause cricket administrators to review safety measures.

Hughes’s death will definitely deflate the Australian team’s spirits on the eve of the World Cup, which is to be held early next year.

AR Modak, South Africa

I was saddened by the news of Phillip Hughes’s death.

Even though professional cricket players receive lucrative salary packages, they do take great risk on the playing field.

K Ragavan, India

Podcast has one more subscriber

Before the article Newsmaker: Adnan Syed (November 28) appeared online, I was scrolling through the menu on my computer and decided to subscribe to his Serial podcast.

I guess that makes me the 1,500,001st subscriber.

Name withheld by request