Dubai
I have had the opportunity to accompany my parents to various malls for shopping, and have been observing a phenomenon for a long time, which is a cause for concern.
Generally, department stores and supermarkets provide trolleys to their customers to facilitate the shopping process. The trolleys are supposed to be used only inside the shopping areas or till the car parking areas. Unfortunately, these trolleys are taken out of the area’s parameters and are abandoned on roadsides, in residential buildings, parking areas and other inappropriate places.
Shoppers must understand that trolleys belong to the store and are only for their convenience. They should have basic shopping etiquette and must not misuse the trolleys. Abandoning trolleys, as a practice, is dangerous and can lead to accidents and mishaps. Vehicles can crash into the trolleys that are left about randomly.
At times, I have even seen certain children using the trolleys to play. They do this for fun, but they don’t realise that it can prove to be extremely dangerous due to accidents and injuries, especially for children who are sitting in the trolleys.
Not only do the trolleys look unsightly but also prove to be an obstacle for people walking by. I have spotted these abandoned trolleys in different areas in Bur Dubai, where people have simply left the trolleys without any care or concern for fellow residents and visitors.
Swati Nagpal, a homemaker based in Bur Dubai, has come across this practice, too, and feels it is a disturbance to the community.
She said: “I feel abandoned trolleys are a real hazard as it could become the cause of small accidents and could also damage cars. Many people leave them in parking areas, blocking the parking spaces and causing an inconvenience to the drivers.
“It creates a bad image when trollies are left unattended in parking lots, buildings or roads. Many supermarket attendants keep moving around, unauthorised, in the buildings, on the pretext of searching for or collecting these trolleys, and it could cause a safety risk for children and women.”
Gautam Kapur, a banker based in Dubai, has also come across this issue.
He said: “I have seen many abandoned trolleys in public areas, which prove to be a disturbance to the community. As responsible residents, we should consciously move the trolleys away when spotted, or ideally return them to the concerned supermarket, instead of dumping them in various places. We all should take the effort to keep our community safe and free of accidents.”
As a concerned resident, what I don’t understand is how can people be so lazy, careless and socially irresponsible? Abandoned trolleys remain an issue to be dealt with urgently and I would like to spread awareness about this malpractice through this community report.
I sincerely request the public not to indulge in this practice and it is essential that all of us shun this bad habit to ensure general safety and well-being.
— The reader is a pupil based in Dubai.
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