It would appear the days of motorists being fined in Dubai for operating as an illegal taxi simply for carrying a friend to work are over.
Carpooling -- announced the Roads and Transport Authority early Tuesday -- is now legal.
At a press conference, Abdulaziz Malik, Acting CEO of the RTA's Public Transport Agency, said a new initiative dubbed “Sharekni'' will actually encourage motorists to share their personal vehicles to cut back on the number of cars on city streets.
The chief thrust behind Sharekni is to “solve the problem of traffic jams,'' he said.
Malik said the latest programme comes “after extensive field studies (were) carried out by the specialised work team in the Public Transport Agency in collaboration with a global consulting firm''.
Study found that car occupancy is about 1.6 persons per car in Dubai.
Research also found that there are 541 cars per 1,000 resident in Dubai and that only seven per cent of city residents use group or public transport.
With Dubai's population expected to increase 296% by 2020, the existing number of cars is forecast to jump to 1.5m car in the same period.
The RTA believes this will “have a direct impact on traffic congestion in Dubai.''
To help people pool their resources through the sharing of private cars, the RTA has established a new website www.sharekni.ae
Malik said those who want to reduce their car expenses and help reduce Dubai's traffic can log on to the new website and register their names “to submit their entries and the entries of commuters who would be transiting with them.''
"The Public Transport Agency would maintain a database of the subscribers, car owners searching for subscribers and the commuters who search for car owners with whom they may travel to and from their residences.
The RTA would match the data and guide those who wish to register and take advantage of this service," added Malik.
When a registry list of carpool subscribers grows, it will help car owners work together to share trips to work or for leisure trips across the emirate, he said.
“The RTA would match the data and guide those who wish to register and take advantage of the service,'' Mailk said.
The 10 objectives of carpooling:
1. Reduce overall traffic congestion on the roads of Dubai
2. Reduce peak-hour congestion
3. Reduce single occupancy car trips in Dubai
4. Promote alternative modes of transport
5. Improve parking in areas that are experiencing parking congestion
6. Save money by sharing the cost of driving one car
7. Reduce number of cars in the road.
8. Reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions
9. Reduces driving-related stress for participants
10. Provide social connections in the society.
SOURCE: www.sharekni.ae
