(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Does walking from Sharjah to Dubai seem like a daunting task? Not according to a 52-year-old Indian resident who fought his physical disability to increase awareness on climate change and show gratitude to the UAE.
Although he lost an arm and had to install steel rods in both his legs after a train accident in Mumbai in 1996, Mohammed Yousuf Javid walked from Sharjah to Dubai on early Sunday morning in line with the .
Javid, who's been a UAE resident for the past 16 years, said his gesture was to encourage others to ditch their vehicles in favor of using public transport, walking or biking to work.
"I fell down from a local train and lost my left arm and both my limbs are fixed by steel rods. I didn't feel pain while walking, it was actually a great experience for me," said the Kerala-born Javid who's currently unemployed.
He started his journey at 6:22am from Al Khan to Union Metro Station to join Car-Free Day celebrations held by Dubai Municipality. The journey took him an hour and 15 minutes in comparison to the drive that sometimes takes him up to two hours to reach his destination.
"The weather in Dubai is currently great, so why not leave our cars at least once a month? It is good for our health and saves us from the road rage and traffic jam," said Javid.
He noted that the walk left him with a "relaxed and fresh" feeling. "When I drive, I deal with the traffic that makes me feel nervous and impatient, but today, I feel very relaxed."
Javid urged residents to leave their cars behind at least once or twice every month to save their energy and health. "You save your fuel, Salik charges and health. When you move, you become more fit and happy."
As Car-Free Day made him notice the difference, Javid said he will be picking more walks over a drive.
Sherouk Zakaria "Born and raised in UAE, Sherouk Zakaria is a Senior Correspondent at Khaleej Times. Joined since May 2016, she covers Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), special events and humanitarian issues. Her choice of journalism as a career stems from her passion of telling people's stories and writing to inspire or make a difference. In her free time, she's an occasional theater and film actress. Sherouk received her BA in Mass Communications from the American University in Sharjah in 2013. Before joining Khaleej Times, she was a senior lifestyle/entertainment editor for a magazine in Dubai."
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