Passengers want smoke-free Abu Dhabi buses

Abu Dhabi: As anti-smoking legislation and debates rage worldwide and more studies prove the harmful effects of passive smoking, regular users of the capital's recently-launched public bus service say that buses must be smoke-free zones.

Shushant Naik, an Indian employed as an auditor, boards a bus twice every day. Inconsiderate smokers who take pleasure smoking within the air-conditioned buses brought Naik to the point of lodging a complaint to the Department of Transport.

"Last Monday, I took a bus from Electra Street to Khalidiya and noticed a gang of 10 to 12 young boys smoking. They were also throwing butts and used tissues on other passengers," he said.

Complaints

When his complaints to the driver fell on deaf ears, Naik called the transport department's toll free number and filed a formal complaint.

However, a week after the incident was reported he is yet to hear from the authorities, he said. The department spokesman could not be reached for comment.

"A strict smoking ban must be implemented and bus drivers must be trained to deal with such complaints from passengers," said Helen Carlos, a receptionist, as she waited to board a bus.

"It's true that the buses are a boon to ordinary people but there still is a lot of room for improvement", said Brenda H, another regular commuter, who works as a sales executive at a private hospital.

"Smoking and a lack of reserved seating for women are the major issues," she says.

"Although a few seats in the front have been set apart for women on a first come first served basis, many male travellers are not courteous and do not move from their seat even when a woman is standing," she added.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Municipality is expected to enforce a smoking ban in all closed public areas very soon.

The decision will help save lives as per a new study from Scotland which established a connection between a smoking ban in confined areas and an improvement in quality of health.