The Jeddah Municipality plans to build several walkways across the city for citizens and expatriates to exercise and relax.

Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamdi, spokesman of the municipality, told Arab News that a process is under way to select the areas. The municipality has received proposals from the residents of the Al-Muhammadiya, Al-Marwah and Al-Haramain neighborhoods.

“The municipality’s project management department is preparing the budget to build the walkways and necessary facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, people who exercise on the Al-Tahliyah walkway have called on the municipality to provide bathrooms, and construct speed barriers to control motorists in the area.

Muhammad Al-Khouly, 60, a diabetic and a regular on the walkway, said his condition requires him to go to the bathroom frequently.

“Once I needed to go to the bathroom quite badly. So I had to stop walking and drive home.” He hopes the municipality would build bathrooms soon, even if it charges the public for using them.

He said the municipality should also construct speed barriers to force “reckless” drivers to slow down in the area.

However, he praised the municipality for building the walkway because the area has proper signage and provides access to people with disabilities. However, there should also be mosques and restaurants established in the area, he said.

Muhammad Al-Jaber, another regular on the walkway, called on the authorities to build bathrooms, provide other public amenities and crack down on speeding drivers.

Abdul Hadi Al-Mutairi, also a regular, agreed and called for more lighting in the area. Ibrahim Al-Juhani, who regularly exercises in the area, echoed their views.