Taking advantage
Taxi drivers in Sharjah do not seem to realise that they are supposed to be providing a service for residents ("Sharjah residents say taxis unwilling to enter Dubai", Gulf News, June 18).
It is very difficult to hail a taxi, as drivers are usually not courteous. In fact, even if they do not have passengers, they refuse to stop.
I think the great demand for taxis has given them too much of an advantage. Some taxi drivers take the longest route in order to make more money, especially if their passengers do not know the way to their destination.
Additionally, some deny knowledge of important landmarks, while others say they do not understand our language and fail to stop at the correct location.
From Mr M. Imthiaz
Sharjah
Catch-22 situation
One of the main causes for frustration among taxi drivers is because they are underpaid and barely able to make ends meet.
To add to their financial burdens, they often have to support dependents back home and make enough money to pay off their debts.
This would obviously translate into poor customer service on their part. Additionally, most drivers complain that their employers levy heavy fines and deduct the amount from their meagre earnings.
I feel most taxi drivers are in a Catch-22 situation. With no one to hear their woes, they can only hope for some empathy from their passengers.
From Mr Jayanth
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Not amusing
Apart from not taking passengers from Sharjah to Dubai, taxi drivers also do not stop when we try to flag down one of them and this can be very annoying.
It seems they are keener on taking passengers from Sharjah to Ajman. If we tell them we will file a complaint against them, they confidently reply that we would first have to get through to the customer service hotline!
From Mr Jason
Sharjah
Nightmare
Convincing a taxi driver to go to a particular location within Sharjah is a nightmare, so I can imagine how horrible it must be trying to hail a taxi to Dubai.
The worst scenario is during the morning rush hour when passengers are trying to get to work on time.
I recently took a taxi to my son's school, which is just about 10-15 minutes away from my residence. However, it took me an hour and a half to reach there and cost about Dh63.
The customer service hotline is of no help because even taxi drivers cannot do anything about traffic congestion.
From Ms Loraine
Sharjah
Other side
We have all vented our frustration over the shortage of taxis but there is another side to the coin. There is nobody to air the concerns of the taxi drivers who are usually compelled to meet their daily targets.
The drivers frantically drive around looking for passengers who would help them achieve this goal. Transporting passengers from Sharjah to Dubai would leave them with no clients on their trip back.
I urge the authorities to provide a solution to the problems of both passengers and taxi drivers.
From Ms Tina
Dubai
Wasted time
Several taxi drivers stopped taking passengers to Dubai when construction work began at the interchanges and on the new Al Garhoud Bridge.
But even after the bridge was built and several interchanges took shape, taxis still refused to take passengers to Dubai.
Several people wait for hours for taxis every day, and they are often forced to go to Sharjah's central taxi station to find a driver who will take them to other cities.
Passengers waste about two hours trying to cover a journey of just 10 kilometres. It is intolerable. I hope the authorities do something about the situation.
From Mr Pardeep Kumar
Sharjah
Just spreading fear!
I don’t understand why the UK announces such warnings without any proof (“UK’s terror warning a ‘routine’ advice”, Gulf News, June 18).
I don’t know from where they got their information. They’re scaring people. Now we have to think twice before going out shopping or dining, as we have to think about this threat.
From Mr Roberto Roy
Philippines
Ulterior motive?
This terror threat warning from the UK is just part of the plan to hit the UAE’s rapid growth.
Just a few days’ ago, I was reading in Gulf News that think-tanks in the UK are worried about the pace of growth in the financial sector of the UAE, which is by all means hitting UK’s growth plans.
Such statements will hit share prices in the UAE and the UK would achieve its goal.
From Mr Mohammad Ali
UAE
Do not ignore
I think that we are all under threat from terror groups. If my country has put the alert to a high state, I believe they would have done this for a reason.
To say it is linked to July 7 is rubbish. I was down the road from the bus, which got blown up and saw firsthand the effect it had.
I do think Dubai will do all to protect us, but terrorists are cunning and callous. I would say to all - watch out and be careful.
The UAE has more to lose from an attack as it does bill itself as a safe country. But, alas, in these times nowhere is safe.
If a government is issuing warnings, I believe it is foolhardy to ignore them.
From Mr Gerome Atkin
UAE
Inspiring confidence
As a regular visitor to the UAE, we were disappointed to hear of the raised threat level, especially as we will be in the country in a few weeks for our summer holiday.
British intelligence output is usually quite accurate and is certainly based on something quite specific. Realistically I believe this will happen every now and then, and we will just have to live with it as the new normal.
There may well be some incidents and we will have to adjust our lives accordingly. However, the increased security at Dubai airport does instil confidence in us, travellers.
From Mr Roger Ferguson
UK
Missing the point
I was shocked to read the letter by Mr Brandon, who said readers should not complain and should in fact leave if they do not like the UAE ("Stop complaining",Gulf News,June 16). I think the point he seems to be missing is that the complaint is not to find fault, but to shed some light on problems that exist so that the necessary steps can be taken to improve the system.
From Mr Nanjundanathan Manoharan
Dubai
Forced to wait
It is very unfortunate that etisalat still continues with the same delayed and inefficient response as reported by its customers ("Anger mounts as etisalat puts complaints on hold",Gulf News,May 6). I would like to thank Gulf News for sharing the experiences of unfortunate customers and bringing the issue to the forefront. We are forced to wait for the telecommunications provider to have some mercy on its users and improve its services.
From Mr Mohammad Abdul Rahman
UAE
Summer hygiene
With summer upon us, I think we are all required to keep fresh, even if it takes extra effort. I therefore request taxi companies to train their drivers on how to maintain good hygiene. It is extremely difficult to sit through traffic in a taxi when the foul smell of socks or sweat hits you so strongly. It often becomes hard to breathe. This subject is worth considering, as we must also realise that we should leave a good impression on visitors who are touring the country.
From Ms Aleeze Nasser
Dubai
No-brainer
I was absolutely astonished to read in Gulf News that Bur Juman has begun a Dh20 per hour car parking charge ("Bur Juman implements parking charges on hourly basis",Gulf News,June 1). It may be a very useful exercise for the newspaper to carry out a consumer survey on this subject and send the results to the management of the mall in question, because this is a no-brainer. Many shoppers enjoy window-shopping and often purchase goods impulsively, without necessarily intending to buy products in the first place. Additionally, people who frequent shopping malls will no longer do so if a greeting card, a cup of coffee, a pack of Aspirin or some replacement batteries is going to cost them an extra Dh20 — it would be completely uneconomical. I will now have to plan my visits to Bur Juman and go only when I know for sure that I will spend at least Dh100 on miscellaneous items in order to avail of the 'free' parking. It is ridiculous. I am sure many shops will lose business because of this inappropriate and uncalled-for charge.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Unfair charge
I recently came across Gulf News report on the new parking fees at Bur Juman ("Bur Juman implements parking charges on hourly basis",Gulf News,June 1). I think the extra charge is unfair for shoppers,as they are already spending their money at the mall.Several shopping centres in Thailand also charge for parking and shoppers usually have to show their shopping receipts at the customer service counter in order to get their parking validated. Charging customers when they are trying to enjoy spending their time and money at the mall is truly not the right solution. I hope malls in the region come up with other options as well.
From Ms Asha Kamthorn
Dubai
A blind eye
I am appalled by the fact that everyone is turning a blind eye to the exorbitant increase in school bus fees ("We need time to air our worries on school transport", Gulf News, June 19). A majority of expatriates are working parents who are dependant on school transport alone.
From Ms Sindhu Pramod Pillai
Sharjah
No accountability
I was appalled to learn that Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) has raised bus fees by such a great margin. At a time when everyone is becoming environmentally conscious and trying to avoid using vehicles, this unparalleled increase leaves parents with no option but to use cars more often. The management of GEMS should behave more responsibly towards the environment and should be more accountable to parents.
From Mr Haque M.
Dubai
Better alternative
I recently read Gulf News’ report regarding bus transport for school children. The increase in bus transport fees is more than twice the current charge. As a parent, I feel the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should be responsible for the transport of school children. If the RTA can provide several buses and designated routes for school districts, it would be extremely beneficial for both parents and pupils.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Car-pools please
Following the recent bus transport fee hike by Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) schools, I believe the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should encourage car-pooling. I request RTA to allow parents to use their own vehicles to transport their children, along with two or three more children from the same locality. It will help parents that cannot afford this hike to continue educating their children.
From Mr K. E. Mathew
Dubai
Not acceptable
School bus fees for Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) schools have risen tremendously and the reason provided for this exorbitant increase is a change in the transport company. If the transport has been outsourced, why are the bus drivers and supervisors still the same? I understand that fuel prices have increased greatly, but this does not give school authorities a reason to increase bus fees by twice or thrice the amount it originally was. This is not acceptable. School transport should be at a reasonable charge so that we as parents can afford to pay for it.
From Mr Anil M.
Dubai
