UAE | Traffic and Transport

Did you leave your car at home?

If you didn't, don't worry. Few in UAE know Monday is World Car Free Day.

  • By Adam Flinter, Web Editor
  • Published: 00:37 September 22, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit:

Dubai The chances are you probably walked to work today (Monday).

Perhaps you jumped onto your bike and used pedal power or waited in line and got the bus.

But whether you hopped, skipped or cartwheeled, let's hope you didn't drive, because today is World Car Free Day.

Video: GNTV asked drivers if they would give up their cars for a day

As amazing as it sounds to the auto-centric residents of the UAE, this noble initiative is aimed at getting us out of our vehicles for one day a year (to start with).

Started by the World Carfree Network, they say they want to create a "showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars".

Festivities and mass bike rides are planned, and some cities are taking it very seriously indeed. One region of Brussels is closing to all motorised transport from 9am until 7pm, for example.

In the UAE there is good reason to pay attention. Gridlock is part of the daily experience. There are more than 1.7 million cars registered in the country, with a staggering 854,000 of them in Dubai.

But unless a minor miracle happens this morning, the roads in the UAE will have been jammed as usual.

Happy Car Free day. Hope you enjoyed it (or did you not notice).

Have you heard of the no-car day? Would you participate to help the cause? Do you think this is a good way to encourage people to consider other sources of transport? Tell us about any other unique and environmentally friendly practices.


Your comments


There are no real options other than to drive! I used to cycle to work in the UK, but here there are no showers once I arrive, assuming I can survive the deadly driving and incompetence. Sadly getting around by car is the only real option until public transport is a viable option.
Martin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 09:24

I didn't hear of the no-car day before. I am so interested to participate in such day to help the cause. I am sure that it is a good idea to let people use other transportation source. But I would like to add one thing, the weather in Dubai for more than 7 months is so difficult for the majority of the people to use bikes, and buses are not available everywhere with some delays.
Elias
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:40

If I left the car at home, I wont be reading the news now!!
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:38

Though it sounds well, but practically not suitable for UAE, as the distance to the work place is quite long, the heat and more over it is not safe for walking and pedaling in UAE Roads. I think many people are not even aware of the world car free day, as it is not viable for UAE car users'.
KK.Rajaram
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:34

Frankly in this city you would be more likely to get run over or have heat exhaustion anyway... Give me my car any day and let the rest of the world worry about global warming and this carbon foot print.
Will
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:25

I have left the car at home today. Me and 3 of my colleagues are going in 1 car today. That is 3 cars less today on the roads.
Anand
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:23

Good Idea. But what is the alternative kind of transports in Dubai for people with 1.7 million cars?
Ravi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 08:04

This is one of most lunatic ideas ever heard. Can I paddle a bike through high ways? Can I walk 45km to office? Or how do I get a bus, when the bus stop is 2-3km away from my home? Today also I came through same traffic jam. WhoIdea is this?
Rathna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 07:19

People leave their cars home and walk to offices in Dubai??? This story can easily be the Joke of the day !!
Danushke
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 22, 2008, 07:14

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