Why Doha is not pedestrian-friendly?
I'm saying that after spending about 3 years as a pedestrian. Most of the streets here are not pedestrian-friendly.
Even in the mentality of people, walking is just for poor people who don't have cars. When I walk with my wife everybody start looking at us, as if we are doing something wrong! I can hear them saying: "don't you have a car?". some drivers stop and try to pick us up.
The culture of walking is missing. That’s why many people are obese and have diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol…
Ok, here is a thing I noticed here: Those poor workers (pedestrians) have the best lipid profile.
Now after buying my own car I can imagine the feeling of those "poor" pedestrians fearing a speedy car.
sometimes the wheather here are extremes to the point people prefer to ride in a car only...i agree with doc34, nowadays is more conjusive for walking.goodbye bad cholesterol...:)
Had a similar experience in an intersection along al nasser st in merqab. There was a traffic gridlock and the cars turning left to join al nasser st were blocking the intersection.
So there was I waiting for the blockage to clear when an old guy knocked on my passenger window asking me in an angry manner to move!
I was like WHATTT?...super idiots really...
Talking about not pedestrian-friendly, I was going in to the parking area at Lulu Hypermarket yesterday evening and stopped for a few people crossing the road. This blinking 4WD behind me kept honking and flashing his lights impatiently. What? He was expecting me to run them down? I refused to budge or indicate to the pedestrians to move it. He can jolly well wait.
And serves him right, I got a parking space easily (someone happened to be gong out) and he had to waste more time trying to park. If he got out of the car to yell at me, I'll call the police. All these weak character bullies! Just like bulls, all brawn and no brains!
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The Cookie Monster said it.
I hope they plan to have pedestrian over or underscrossing along with all those road improvement that we see everywhere.
Trying to cross 6 lanes after disembarking a karwa bus at a stop on the wrong side of the road have a suicidal feeling into it.
I ended up having to make a long pedestrian u-turn to the nearest traffic signal (still more than 1 km away). No wonder people here cross the street as bad as driving on them.
Cheers
SK
Plenty of workers did and survived. I did too.
Plenty of people are just plain lazy enough to walk as it may ruin their 'lifestyle'. ;-P
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Walking in Qatar is suicidal, pity though,we are missing out in one of the pleasures of life.
Pavements have had a very low priority here, not for Qataris!
Even when good quality pavements have been installed so often they are blocked by streetlight columns, traffic signs, unexplained holes in the surface etc. It would be hard to navigate a childrens buggy, God help anyone in a wheelchair!
Qatar is not a pedestrian-friendly country because of ill-mannered & idiot drivers.
Qatar: The Desert Land of Gas & Money
Of course I understand that you cannot walk at 45 degree temp, for sure I am not talking about that, but you can walk during winter, you can also walk during summer in the evening or early morning.
Now the climate is good but it is same situation, so I don't think it is a climate problem.
The problem is what many people said, no sideways, and most importnat no respect for peds!
Due to the climate its not possible to make gulf region Pedestrain friendly.....
True Friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.....
walking under 50c crazy or what ?????
I enjoyed walking from places to places within 5 km distance.
However I wouldn't do it here as i can not stand the dust from construction sites everywhere.
I walk regularly. It's the only way to see the inner city. It's not too bad. Just be vigilant.
pedestrian walkways are almost always used for vehicle parking, so where to walk?
If they make it more pedestrian friendly, I am sure a lot more people will be out & about on their feet, atleast when the climate is good.
All that is available here in mall hopping. Ughhhh.
Or a few parks here & there.
who wants to walk in Doha's weather, dust, pollution?
they already know this, and that's why they don't care.
Yalla!
well, we've tried it so many times in corniche (but still you need a car to get there)...
Go there for a picnic, leave the baby with hubby and be gone for an hour :) (leave the mobile too,so he cant call you)
Or if not, bring the baby too...if we meet by chance i'll carry him/her on our way back. Im sure it's ok :)
...listen to the sound of silence....
I miss walking when I'm in Doha too. It's so refreshing having a nice long walk after dinner, but unfortunately it's not possible. It's even more difficult when you have a baby buggy :-(
*****If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all*****
the things I most enjoy. Even when it's cold and snowy outside, walking a dozen city blocks in NYC is pure delight!
I wish Doha were more pedestrian friendly, too...
"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."
- David Sedaris
now car loan owners are rich...even they do private taxi.....
I love walking. But its so difficult here with all these cars either honking at you or stopping & opening their doors for you to "get in"...
The winter months are good for walks, but summer...phew ! !
but not having a car doesnt mean one cant afford it, we just have other priorities in life hence, the refusal to give in to that luxury...they may call it poor if they want.
But personally, im tempted to have a car one of this days just so i can go anywhere i want at anytime :)
...listen to the sound of silence....
health-wise you are right of course....
And, maybe, doha is not pedestrian-friendly mostly because of the weather and the fact that the original dwellers of this country decided to succumb into luxurious ways (since they can afford it) and everybody has followed suit.
...listen to the sound of silence....
Doha is a motor city!
lack of sidewalk ......interior roads are pretty narrow with cars parked on both sides of the road....... which leves very less space for 2 way traffic and pedestrains.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
Doc34..probably because they dont expect people to walk at 45 degree temp...
At leat there is public transport now..until 3 yrs back we didnt have bus service here...its improving.. with the intorduction of public transport system many low paid workers are depending on it.
They are takin it into consideration in the new plans..there will be a covered cyling and pedestrain track along the corniche...
it is not pedestrian freindly bec of that mentality, those who walks are poor. those who drives car are rich.
in a way, these drivers who have no resptect for peds are unknowingly doing good to them, with tepmperature soaring when you see this fast approaching car you have no choice but to run for your life...which means less time at the heat of the sun and a good cardio exercise coz you run...lol
progress
walking is only for poor people? i disagree.. observe the manner of driving on Doha roads, there's your answer..
I have to say, I really miss being able to walk places when I was living elsewhere. It is such a shame it's not pedestrian friendly here, if I'm popping somewhere close by, it's more hassle to take the car and find parking, but I have no choice as people drive so dangerously, there isn't any proper crossings on the roads, or pavements to walk on!