By Nadeem Hanif www.thenational.ae
DUBAI // Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in the annual Car-Free Day campaign, riding bikes or public transport to work.
On February 21, Dubai residents will be urged to use buses and the Metro to cut carbon emissions and for a healthier lifestyle. The National will run a week of special reports in the lead-up to the big day.
“It’s a good idea and I think more people would end up using the Metro, for example, but I think they should provide more trains to cope with demand,” said Louis McMillan, 26, from Australia.
“The Metro is always packed whenever I use it and sometimes it can be very difficult to find a seat, but it shows how popular it has become.”
Sarah Fernandes, 30, from the Philippines, said more streamlined bus routes would help to make them more popular.
“I’ve gone on a few buses but the problem is that it takes too long to get to the destination,” Ms Fernandes said.“The drivers always take very convoluted routes around side streets and I think that puts many people off.”
She uses the Metro more often on the weekends but still prefers to drive her car to and from work, as it is more convenient.
“We have office parking where I work in Business Bay so I don’t have to worry about all that, but I would think about using my car less in future,” Ms Fernandes said.
Lower petrol prices mean many motorists do not have a financial incentive to switch to public transport, she said.
“I’ve noticed that the there tends to be much more congestion on the roads now, which makes the commute to and from work longer,” she said.
“If people opt for public transport they will see how much quicker it is, and maybe that will encourage them to use their cars less often.” More info
