Tell us about Dubai Municipality’s Car Free Day initiative on February 19.
It is a day when we encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead. This is the fifth year of the initiative. We are expecting over 7,000 people to take part this time.
Who are these people?
They are mostly from public and private organisations. As many as 61 such entities will take part in the Car Free Day. They will be given free Nol cards which they will pass on to their employees. The idea is to encourage them to use public transport more regularly. We are also giving away 100 sports bicycles to those who register online.
You have been holding the Car Free Day since 2010. What progress have you made so far?
When we started in 2010, we could enlist only 1,000 people. The numbers have since gone up substantially and this time we are expecting over 7,000. participants. That’s a reduction of about 20 tonnes of carbon emissions. Every year more and more organisations are coming forward to take part in car-free days. The response is very heartening.
A lot of people are still averse to the idea of ditching their cars as they find it more convenient than public transport. How do you hope to change their perception?
Of late, Dubai has made a lot of progress in public transport. Today, it is easily accessible in all key areas. Plans are on to reach out to more people and extend point-to-point transport network in other areas. If people cannot leave their cars at home, they can at least change the way they use it. They can park the car midway to their destination and use a bicycle, train, bus or abra.
How many of your own employees use public transport?
At least 200, including senior officials. On February 19, for instance, all our employees including Director General Hussain Nasser Lootah will use the Metro. Our parking lots will be shut for the day.
But what can you possibly achieve in one day?
Certainly one day is not enough to solve the problem of congestion and pollution in Dubai. But that one day can change attitudes. Instances abound where people participating in car-free days have ditched their cars after realising that public transport spares them from traffic woes and also helps them save on fuel costs.
