Encourage public transport
It is a pain for motorists who work in Dubai and stay in Sharjah or Ajman because of cheaper rents (‘For many, it’s no longer
a smooth ride post-Salik,’ Gulf News, June 10). What should the people with low incomes do? They cannot afford a house closer to the work place due to high rents. So, they spend hours commuting between work and home. Add the Salik cost for these residents? Why? That is no solution. There are two best ways to reduce traffic. There should be a metro link between Al Mullah, Dubai and Al Khan, Sharjah or one of the highways should be designated only for taxis and buses. If one highway is used only by buses and taxis, it means more efficient and punctual public transport as this highway will not be clogged with traffic. Both these solutions will encourage people to use public transport. I hope the concerned authorities consider this suggestion.
From Mr Syed J. Huq
Dubai
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Buses are expensive
Most places in Sharjah don’t have buses going to Dubai. Most buses that go to Dubai start only from the main bus stations and they don’t stop anywhere on the way in Sharjah. People are forced to take a taxi through often congested roads to go to the bus station in order to take a bus. This is just a waste of time and money. Moreover, the buses are not all that cheap. A one-way ticket costs Dh7 and if you add the inconvenience and the taxi cost to reach the bus station, it gets worse. Using a private car seems to be a more affordable option. The public transport system needs to be sorted out.
From Ms Sujatha
Sharjah
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No difference
Firstly, even after the Salik gates, there is no change in traffic on Al Ittihad road during peak hours. Secondly, even though I try to avoid Salik on my way home from Dubai to Sharjah, my fuel expense has increased by Dh200.
From Mr M.S.A.
Sharjah
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More highways
The concerned authorities of Dubai and Sharjah should enhance the link between the two emirates. Presently we have about four or five road links, but we need to increase the number of links for smooth traffic flow. I strongly believe that this is the only way we can reduce the traffic on roads. To start with we can have a link between Dubai and Sharjah corniche with a couple of interchanges.
From Mr Senthil
Dubai
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Efficient public transport
The Salik system is not a proper solution for traffic reduction. We have discussed this same topic so many times earlier. There should be a combined mass transport system between Dubai and Sharjah. The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) must further promote use of public transport. If there is an efficient, punctual and convenient public transport system available, which is reasonably priced, I am sure that the public will choose to use the facility. It will reduce traffic, too.
From Mr Anil
Dubai
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Inconvenient and expensive
Being a Sharjah resident, I use the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed road to and from work in Dubai. However, recently I have started using Al Ittihad road with Salik gates because of the traffic on the other road. For me the Al Ittihad road to work is longer than Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed road. Basically, I am paying Salik when I don’t have to or need to. It is much longer and expensive, but the other road is always clogged.
From A Reader
Sharjah
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Similar situation in Dubai
We face an issue with Salik dodgers in Al Barsha (South). It is a nightmare for us to get to the other side of Al Barsha for daily necessities like grocery shopping. This is because both Hessa Street and Umm Suqeim road are used by people coming from Abu Dhabi to escape Salik gates. Something needs to be done about the situation. Salik, which was meant to control traffic, has, in fact, increased traffic jams in many areas.
From Mr Ahmad
Dubai
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Pointless expense
Since the Salik toll gates have been activated, the traffic is quite smooth until we exit the airport tunnel. Thereafter there is so much traffic. Earlier without paying the Salik toll I would reach home in 20 minutes and now it takes 50 minutes. People like me pay Dh4 and use the toll gate hoping we would avoid traffic, but we do not benefit in any way. Basically, we pay for nothing. Sometimes I cross two toll gates at the Al Safa and the Airport Tunnel but it does not make life easier.
From Mr Fernandes
Dubai
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Poor infrastructure of roads
I think we have to be fair by not blaming the entire problem on the Salik gates. The infrastructure of roads in Sharjah needs improvement. I am a regular user of the Emirates Road (formally known as the Bypass Road) when going to and from Dubai. When you are crossing the Dubai-Sharjah border, the six lanes suddenly become three lanes. This is the same story at the border while using the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road. The Sharjah Ring Road suddenly also shrinks to three lanes, causing bottlenecks in traffic flow. While I totally agree with the article and people’s comments that the Salik tolls are largely relocating the traffic problems from one area to another, I do believe that widening and improving the roads is the main problem. If the authorities could address this issue, inter-emirate traffic congestion would soon be an issue in the past.
From Ms Sarah Louise
Sharjah
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Open the Mamzar exit
The introduction of Salik gates on Al Ittihad Street in Dubai has its own plus and minus points. Apart from the peak hours, this road is not really being used by motorists. Since the motorists are already paying a minimum of Dh8 every day, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) could have opened the Mamzar exit that is reserved only for RTA taxis and buses. I believe this would help with the traffic congestion to an extent. Hope the RTA realises this issue one day and acts on it. But, as the saying goes - a stitch in time saves nine.
From Mr George C. Jolly
Sharjah
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