UAE | Traffic and Transport

Dubai allows car pools to reduce traffic

Companies in Dubai are urged to adopt strategies to reduce the use of private cars by their employees.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
  • Published: 18:32 May 19, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Public and private companies in Dubai are urged to adopt strategies to reduce the use of private cars by their employees.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai: The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has allowed car pooling to reduce the use of cars by individuals.

"Now people can drive their friends and colleagues to and from their homes and workplaces without fear of getting fines if they get approval from the RTA," said Khalid Mohammad Hashim, Director of Planning and Business Development Department at the RTA.

A motorist who intends to share his or her car with friends or colleagues must register the car with the RTA. Online registration on RTA's website will open within a month.

After registration, motorists will be given certificates allowing them to share their cars. But the names of the persons sharing the car should be furnished at the time of registration to avoid a fine. A maximum of four people will be allowed to share a car, Hashim said.

Currently, RTA inspectors issue a Dh5,000 fine to a motorist for car pooling or running an illegal taxi. The fine is aimed at stopping people from using their cars as illegal taxis. But there have been numerous complaints of motorists being fined while sharing cars with friends and colleagues.

The RTA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with eight public and private sector companies urging them to transport their employees in buses to reduce the use of cars.

"The RTA is also working closely with companies to help them introduce flexible working hours for their employees as it will help reduce traffic congestion by 30 per cent," said Eisa Al Dossari, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA's Public Transport Agency.

The move comes as public and private companies in Dubai are urged to adopt strategies to reduce the use of private cars by their employees.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will work closely with companies to meet the transport needs of their employees as part of its Mobility Management Programme (MMP) to reduce the use of private cars and encourage people to use buses.

"It is one of the initiatives to reduce congestion on Dubai roads in addition to improving the road infrastructure and improving public transport facilities," said Essa Al Dossari, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA's Public Transport Agency. He said that everyone would have to play a role to solve traffic congestion on roads.

Memorandum of Understanding

The RTA on Monday signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with eight public and private sector organisations to implement solutions to transport employees in company buses to and from their homes.

"The transport solutions for companies include programmes such as car-pooling, flexible working hours and company bus services. They also include the option of working from home for employees whose presence in the office is not necessary," said Al Dossari.

"We expect more companies to work closely with the RTA and play their roles in reducing traffic congestion in the city," he added.

Several benefits

Al Dossari said that there were several benefits for employers and employees if they start using buses instead of private cars. They can save time and money and their productivity in the workplace will also increase as they will not have any tension because of driving through heavy traffic.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the RTA said the average occupancy of a car is just 1.7 passengers.

"By implementing our mobility management plans, we want people to share their cars and also use buses to go to the workplace," he added.

The RTA has also announced a Sustainable Transport Award for companies who will effectively implement the mobility management programme.

Flexible working hours

Meanwhile, the RTA is also conducting studies about implementing flexible working hours plans in public and private companies.

Ibrahim said the system would not only benefit the companies but would also dramatically alleviate traffic congestion on the roads.

"We expect up to a 30 per cent decrease in traffic congestion, especially during peak hours if flexible working hours are adopted by both the private and public sectors," he said.

The General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council has already sent a letter to all government departments urging them to apply flexible working hours.

The system is in line with Dubai's strategic plan 2015 launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, calling for the creation of an ideal work environment.

"Based on our studies, we have categorised three sectors for flexible working hours. They are public and private sectors and schools. In addition to having flexible workings hours within the private and public sectors, we want to have a "window" between the timings of these categories," Ibrahim explained.

Earlier, Al Dossari said that school transport constituted around 18 per cent of peak hour traffic. "By having different working hours we will help reduce congestion," he said.

Companies

Organisations which have signed Memorandum of Understandings with the RTA to implement the mobility management plans to transport their employees in buses include: Dubai Cargo Village, Emirates airline, Emaar, Al Baraha Hospital, Zayed University, Standard Chartered Bank, Bustan Rotana Hotel and BurJuman Centre.

Do you think these moves help ease road congestion? Would you consider car-pooling with the new rules in place? Why? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below to send your comments.


Your comments


The logistics of issuing certificates seems to contradict the purpose of the carpool. Yes, it surely seems a joke as they will have more excuses to fine now.
Joan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 15:44

Registration is OK. But why do they need the names of passengers? It is not practical, not encouraging and will be difficult to enforce. Car, taxi and bus pooling/sharing has to be encouraged. Why not encourage small 2 and 4 seater eco-safe cars? Such resource-friendly cars are well proven and occupy less road and parking spaces.
Sushama
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 15:41

The move would be a nice one if we could close our eyes and rely on public transport! Taxis/buses are very comfortable here in Dubai, but waiting to see even one pass or stop for you is the most uncomfortable experience one could have!
Jovit
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 15:14

Well, I suppose it's a step in the right direction. But still, having to submit the names of your potential passengers ? it's still a joke. I had friends come over to visit and I picked them up from the airport. Does that mean I was breaking the law? Oh well, I guess I'll just break the law again the next time they come.
Kevin
Abu dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 15:10

My husband's company is already adopting the flexible working hours method for the employees to avoid the peak traffic hours and it is working great for the company and the employees. Public transport is great but please show us where are the buses and do they ever stop? I have tried to use public transport during the winter months and it was a nightmare, I pity the people using them during the summer months. Please RTA, you've got to act and act fast.
Pearl
Dubai.,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:45

I just hopes this works, and if it does, I hope other UAE states follow as it is very difficult to commute from Sharjah to Dubai and vice versa.
Sonny
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:42

Funny, I did not know I had to get permission to decide who I should let in my car! Now, I wonder whether I should take someone's permission to go to the toilet too!
Prasanth
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:42

The idea of pooling is good, but again a question is arising - why did the RTA fine people for the same thing a few weeks back.
Mujeeb
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:39

Car pooling should be allowed and registered by the RTA, this will help to avoid illegal taxis.
Zafar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:39

The RTA needs to stop their talk and get some action done. They come up with new ideas and plans that make no logical sense. Regarding car pooling - let's say, one day a friend or colleague doesn't turn up and I pick up another friend because I have one free seat, so that 'entitles' me to an Dh5000 fine?! Who comes up with these bright ideas?
Bobby
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:22

It is an excellent move from the RTA. In fact, it should have been taken much earlier. But getting the passengers registered at the RTA does not support this move at all. It shows that someone is keeping a close vigil on the people for no valid reason. If you want to catch people who are insulting this move and hence using their vehicles for the sake of making money and running illegal taxis, then you may find other ways to stop them.
Faizan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:17

I lost faith in the RTA. They are born to harass people. They don't allow alternatives and they don't provide the right solutions. So no comments ... it's a waste of time to talk about them
Rajesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 14:15

This is one of the best methods to reduce the congestion. Also, increase the public transport buses and sharing taxis for the places where lots of commuters are. People will appreciate this move.
Basyal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 10:05

It's a good idea. As long as you believe in people mobility instead of personal mobility it will work, subject to an increase in the frequency of public transport according to the demand.
Akbar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 09:41

An RTA bus every two minutes is the only solution. Car pooling and air conditioned bus stops are out of the question and a waste of power and energy.
Felix
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:59

The best way is to provide a proper network of public transport, reserving exclusive lanes. There should be a small number of taxis to commute from the nearest bus station to residences. Then people will automatically start to use public transport.
George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:56

This move was long awaited. Also two-wheelers should be encouraged and separate lanes planned for it. If this becomes a reality, most of us would love to drive on two-wheelers to the office. The only reason to avoid it in the current situation is the fast-moving cars on almost all the roads. This would definitely reduce traffic congestion by 15 to 20 per cent.
Kasim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:55

Those who had carried out this wise task in the recent years and were heavily fined and punished; are they going to be compensated for this noble cause - I wonder!
Le' Cancy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:40

It is a good move. Big companies like Dewa also do not have sufficient buses for employees so they have to use their cars to reach offices at remote places.
Preyus
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:38

This is very appreciable action being taken by the RTA, but I would like to say that still sufficient public transport service is not available, especially at peak hours. Two days back I was trying to go to Deira with my family, leaving my car in Ghusais. Only one bus has came after waiting half an hour, and it was also carrying excess passengers. As long as public transport is not increased according the public demand, the alternative arrangements would be in vain.
Zayan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 07:34

What a joke! Wasn't it only recently you reported that the RTA/police gave huge fines to people that car pooled?
Andrew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 20, 2008, 01:15

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