Pedestrians: Know Your Place!

Dubai as a city is not overly pedestrian-friendly.

A fast highway runs through downtown with crossing points for walkers kilometres apart. There are so-called ‘crosswalks’ between traffic signals in residential areas, but I never once in seven years saw a driver stop at one when a pedestrian was waiting to cross.  

Pedestrians are the lowest form of life in Dubai and cyclists rate marginally
higher. Cars have the right of way, full stop. And the bigger your car, the more right your way is.

You take your life in your hands when you cross the street on foot. As a pedestrian you do not saunter across the road when a car is approaching. You run. Quickly. And hope the driver doesn’t put their foot any harder on the gas. Pedestrians  are killed regularly crossing busy roads in Dubai.

Canada is completely the opposite.  I can’t get over the absolute arrogance of pedestrians here. Not only do they not seem to think they are part of the movement of people around a city, but they act like they are superior beings. I wish I could describe the glares I’ve had from people crossing the street as I wait to turn left or right at a light. And then they walk even slower. I’m sorry Self-righteous Biped, I didn't realise one can attain a state of moral and human superiority simply by crossing the road.

I get that pedestrians have the right of way – when person and car collide it is obvious which will sustain the most damage. However, pedestrians are easily able to adjust their speed and turn with more agility than cars. You’re not a better person for walking instead of driving and you are a part of a society which is on the move. I don’t see why the pedestrian shouldn’t see themselves as part of traffic. There’s no need to make other people’s journey purposely longer because you don’t feel like walking any faster than a snail’s pace (and no, I’m not referring to people with mobility issues, but young, healthy people with attitudes).

And another thing - the amount of people who walk out into the street without looking to see what is coming is tragic. It’s almost anti-Darwinian. If you don't care enough about your own life to look where you're going…well you can imagine how that story ends.

I think a happy medium would be where it is safe to walk around the city but people are aware that everyone is trying to get somewhere and isn’t any more important because they are in a car or because they’re not in a car.

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