Roads and Transport Authority reveals Carpooling

The initiative cites two or more commuters from the same workplace or adjacent workplaces will carpool using one car or rotating to use a number of cars to and from their residences.

This step will effectively contribute to diminish the number of private cars, which will undoubtedly lead to alleviate the traffic congestion on the roads and streets of Dubai.

This was told in a press conference held at the main office of the Public Transport Agency in Al Muhaisina yesterday morning.

The event was attended by Engineer Abdulaziz Malik CEO of Dubai Taxi Agency and Acting CEO of the Public Transport Agency and a number of directors and managers of Public Transport and Dubai Taxi Agencies, in addition to scores of journalists and media representatives in the UAE.

'The RTA is pursuing to launch a number of strategic initiatives to solve the problem of traffic jams. One of these initiatives is 'Sharikni' (Carpooling), which we are revealing today after extensive field studies carried out by the specialized work team in the Public Transport Agency in collaboration with a global consulting firm where they had found out that the number of car occupancy is (1.6) person per one private car and this is one of the factors that is worsening the problem of traffic jams on the streets and roads of Dubai,'

said Engineer Abdul Aziz Malik.

'Today, we are announcing in this press conference the launching of 'Sharikni' initiative through the registration in this initiative's website, which will be allotted for those interested in benefiting from this service. They can do so by registering in the website to submit their entries and the entries of the 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.

Mohammed bin Fahad, Acting Director of Planning and Business Development at the Public Transport Agency said that this strategic initiative will bring about many benefits for individuals, society, environment and organizations.

It will lower the costs the commuter incurs by transporting in one car such as the expenses of gas and vehicle maintenance because of the frequent daily use, in addition to reduce stressfulness caused by the traffic jam especially at peak hours.

Among the benefits for the society and environment, this initiative will contribute to reducing the emissions from the large numbers of private cars, which means the reduction of environmental pollution and improve the standard of public health.

This will significantly contribute to upgrading the productivity of individuals and society on all fronts, in addition to introduce an alternative transport at reasonable cost, as well as it would effectively contribute to reduce the phenomenon of illegal taxis.

As for the benefits the organizations will reap through the application of this initiative, Bin Fahad added: 'this initiative would reduce the proportion of parking lots occupancy and would promote and strengthen the social ties between the staff of a company or several companies through enjoying the chatting and exchanging the ideas, adding to the trip an atmosphere of fun and smoothness.'

It is noteworthy that the RTA introduced late last year the Mobility Management and Transport Policies Section relating to the Planning and Business Development of the Public Transport Agency.

This section is in charge of many tasks including those are focused on meeting the requirements of the improvement and development of mobility of the public transport in Dubai through encouraging the people to use public transport modes and reduce the use of private cars after submitting the appropriate alternatives to achieve this goal.

The Public Transport Agency is motivating the organizations operating in Dubai to improve the mobility of their staff in a way that will efficiently contribute to alleviating the traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

This will certainly be consistent with the population growth in Dubai thanks to the urban development in various sectors and fields.