Dubai residents pitch in their bit for a greener world

Dubai - The civic body urges officials and employees of government and private sectors to leave their cars

As the Dubai Municipality is welcoming its 8th Car-Free Day, residents are ready to swap their cars for different modes of public transport to get to work for the day.
Through the initiative launched in 2010, the civic body urges officials and employees of government and private sectors to leave their cars, in an attempt to reduce carbon emission and environmental pollution.
Tariq Rajbut said he will take the public bus to Union Metro Station and walk five minutes to his office in Al Masraf Building.
"I want to become part of efforts that aims to reduce greenhouse gases emissions," said Rajbut.
The municipality will make ?donations corresponding to the number of participants the initiative will record this year to mark the Year of Giving. Khalid Badri, Director of Corporate Marketing and Relations at the municipality, said part of the donations will go ?to charity organisations and the other part will go for planting trees in town.
Rajbut said he usually takes one car with his four colleagues to contribute as much as possible to reducing cars on the road.
"It is important to raise awareness towards protecting the environment and natural sources. Car-Free Day is definitely doing that," he noted.
It will be the first time for Rashid Shaikh to join the environmental awareness campaign through taking Metro from Al Rashidiya Metro Station to UAE Exchange Metro Station to get to his office in Jebel Ali. Shaikh said the charity part motivated him than ever before.
"I would love to take part in the charity initiative the municipality is making this year. Not only will I save the environment, but I will also help the needy," said Shaikh.
Since Mohammed Mudassir resides in Sharjah, he said he will drive to Al Rashidiya Metro Station and move around Dubai using public transport. "Cycling from Sharjah to Dubai is unsafe, which is why I'll be driving to leave the emirate. It starts with small steps for me," said Mudassir.
Shankar Venkat used to cycle to work everyday until he had three operations in his knees that hamper the cycling. For Car-Free Day, he will carpool with nine other coll-eagues to their offices in media city.
"Carpooling allows us to get at least nine off the road. Any small effort counts in saving the environment from air pollution," said Venkat.
Leaving cars behind on Fridays, Venkat said he joins the World ?Car-Free Day, marked on September 22, making him a participant of such initiatives twice a year.
He added that while the public transport might require more effort than driving, it is important for commuters to help in saving the environment through reducing carbon emissions.
Ganesan Kaliyaperumal said he will be joining his colleagues at the metro from Al Rashidiya to Union Metro Station and walk to work. "The UAE has a driving culture due to its hot weather and wealthy economy. So having a day where we get to leave our cars behind is a good break of the daily routine," he said. Kaliyaperumal noted that taking public transport will allow him to enjoy the pleasant weather.
The Dubai Municipality has recoded the registration of 1,700 private and public entities so far, reaching out to over 241,000 employees. Last year, 43,000 vehicles were kept at home by employees from 1,070 organisations.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

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