What challenges do Dubai's Skycourts residents face?

Dubai - Dubai have a reason to feel miserable as they go to bed with the thought of travelling the next day again

What happens when you don't own a private vehicle, have limited bus service available and the cabbie charges a hefty amount to reach to the nearest Metro station - 20 minutes away from your home?
Isn't the harrowing daily commute enough to make you shudder in your sleep?
Residents of Skycourts, Dubai have a reason to feel miserable as they go to bed with the thought of travelling the next day again. Blame it on the lack of public transport.
Even though the rents of the locality are affordable here - with facilities of gym, restaurants, parks and recreational amenities for children - everyday commute leaves many of them not just at their wit's end, but with an undefined traumatic stress.
Those who can't own a car or don't have a driving licence are the hardest hit.
"The RTA buses come near the highway - a 10-minute walk from the colony - and that too, just thrice a day. They do not come inside the Skycourts. So in case one has to go out when buses don't come, there is no option but to take a taxi," said Aliza, an Indian expat who has been living in the locality for two years.
The buses come on the other side of the highway and one has to cross it. However, there is no pedestrian bridge for people to go over. "One has to cross the highway and walk through the sand to reach the place," Aliza rued.
The nearest bus station where frequency of buses is more is at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). Residents are forced to take a taxi to reach to the bus stop. "You have to pay Dh20-25 to reach the bus stop at Silicon Oasis and it is the same while coming back to Skycourts," added Aliza.
Another India expat, Rakesh, commutes to his office in Silicon Oasis by his car without any hassle. However, his wife faces a harrowing time in commuting to other parts of Dubai.
"My wife doesn't have a licence. If she has to go for shopping I have to drop her half way. It takes her a whole day to buy even small things. She has to wait till the evening for me to pick her up."
 Whenever there are emergencies, the residents have to take taxi which works out very costly. 
Having no metro link aggravates their problems. "Taking a taxi to the metro station or bus stop is costly. The nearest metro station is Rashidiya which takes around 20 minutes by taxi to reach," said Misbah, another resident.
Some locals voiced concern that the mobility of senior residents has been restricted due to current state of affairs. And it is very frustrating.
"My mother doesn't know driving. She has to wait all week for me in case she needs to go to the doctor or do some shopping," added Misbah, who drives to her workplace every day.
It's not just the residents who are facing ordeal, but those paying visit to the place also are forced to bear the brunt.
"My cousin living in Dubai waits for weekends to come to my place so that her husband can drop her. I have to drop her back home every time as going back by public transport is never an option," added Aliza.
The plight of the residents worsens during the summers when walking even a few meters is a tormenting experience. Braving the scorching heat to walk to the bus stop on the highway is the only way.
Talking to Khaleej Times, Facility Manager at the Skycourts, Mohammed Jabr said that the management is trying to resolve the issue of public transport in the area.
"So far nothing concrete has come up but we are working to resolve the problem," Jabr said.
Does your locality have any such issue?
Send your concerns at sana@khaleejtimes.com
 (Some names have been changed on request)
 

• UAE
• Dubai