On the one hand, delivery riders came to a flashpoint and resorted to a strike in Dubai over wages and working conditions. On the other Abu Dhabi Police has issues new guidelines to the delivery riders operating in the emirate for their own safety.
The move to step in and reinforce some of the existing rules while updating some others come after statistics revealed an increase in accidents involving the delivery riders by 23 percent. The rules were enforced in December, but Abu Dhabi Police has chosen to remind of the same while listing out seven requirements for the riders, as below:
Delivery riders, please note
- The box must have a front hatch to open.
- Its edges must be covered with reflective stripe material. This will enhance its visibility on the roads.
- The box must be made of fibreglass.
- It must not have sharp edges.
- It must be fixed to the bike saddle or the back seat.
- The text on the box must be visible from 20 metres away
In Dubai also, riders were told to adhere to a maximum speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour and not use the left lane which has maximum speeds of 130-140 kph.
Despite the risks, riders are paid a pittance while serving expectations of quick delivery. The rising fuel costs has hit them hard. The onus of factors such as bike rental costs and maintenance is also on them. And all this for long hours on a 24×7 basis.
And all those issues have come to a boil for delivery riders to resort to a rare protest in the region.