Terrified residents of Fujairah are demanding police clamp down on a gang of teenagers on quad bikes who routinely attempt dangerous stunts on the city's main streets.
Mahdi H., an Egyptian father of three children, was surprised recently to see members of the gang driving their bikes on the Fujairah Corniche while a police patrol car drove past.
"Nothing happened," said Mahdi. "The reckless bikers continued their acrobatic stunts with their quad bikes, in full view of pedestrians and the police did not stop them," he said.
Every Friday, the gang's members ride their quad bikes around the Corniche and other key thoroughfares in Fujairah, even though such activities are supposed to be restricted to the desert, he said.
"The Corniche is supposed to be a calm area where families can go with their children to enjoy the nice weather at this time of the year. I cannot understand why police do not take action against these bikers, who come to the Corniche to attempt their dangerous acrobatic stunts, and terrify everyone," he said.
Ruqayah S.D., a Palestinian housewife and a mother of four children, is also a regular visitor to the Corniche. She has also complained against the risky behaviour by the teen-agers. She believes the dangerous way they drive their quad bikes endangers the lives of visitors and pedestrians.
"I don't know why they drive these huge roaring bikes on the main streets. They should drive them on the quad bike course, which is near and which was specially constructed so that teenagers could enjoy a fun drive with such bikes [without endangering others]," said Ruqayah.
Quad bike users can also be seen regularly on most of the main roads linking the cities of the east coast. Every weekend or on holidays, visitors to Fujairah can see them driving on the roads leading to Khor Fakkan and Dibba, and on roads between villages.
"We read in the newspapers the police arrested one group of teenagers who were driving motorcycles [recklessly] and confiscated their bikes. We can still see other teens driving dangerously on the main streets here.
"Apart from endangering the lives of road users, the constant noise and disturbance they inflict on us with their quad bikes every night is unbearable," she added. A police source assured the public the authorities continue to arrest teenagers who ride motorbikes without holding the relevant licence. Police patrols are working to apprehend those who annoy residents at night with stunt driving.
"Driving quad bikes in our city's main streets is absolutely banned.
"We arrest all violators and confiscate their bikes. The same rules apply to those who are caught driving regular motorcycles without holding the correct licence," the source said.
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