Dubai - The Car Free day is aimed at raising Dubai's profile among the world's eco-friendly cities.
Published: Sun 24 Feb 2019, 7:07 AM
Last updated: Sun 24 Feb 2019, 11:34 PM
Senior UAE officials ditched their cars and led the 10th UAE Car Free Day on Sunday.
Organised by the Dubai Municipality, the environmental initiative is aimed at encouraging UAE residents to use public transport and reduce the carbon emissions that come from the heavy use of vehicles.
Dawoud Al Hajri, director-general of the Dubai Municipality, along with Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the Roads and Transport Authority's Public Transport Agency; and a number of dignitaries and heads of local and federal government departments, took the Metro from Etisalat station to Union station and inaugurated the activities of the UAE Car Free Day at the Union Metro Park.
"The 2019 Car Free Day witnessed the participation of over 20,000 individuals and institutions, marking a remarkable increase in the number of participants. The number of registrants of the previous year was only 5,270."
Al Hajri said the Car Free Day initiative, which started in 2010, "is one of the most prominent initiatives" in Dubai.
"We are pleased with the exceptional participation. Hence, we decided to launch the 'UAE Car Free Day' starting this year. It is an embodiment of the active participation of the various emirates of the UAE and the transfer of the initiative from the level of its application in Dubai to be an initiative at the level of all emirates of the country," he added.
Some residents joined the cause by walking or cycling to their offices. A group of young Emiratis cycled from Jumeirah to Union Park, while Sharjah residents Mohammed Yusof and Mohd Sanjid walked for almost an hour from Al Nahda to the Union Metro Station in Deira to encourage motorists to ditch their cars and use public transport.
Grade 8 students Ismail MS from New Indian Model School and Ashlyn Baiju from Gulf Indian High School said their parents were happy to leave their cars at home on Sunday.
They added that taking the public transport is not just good for the environment but also for one's health. By walking and commuting, people can benefit from the daily dose of exercise, they said.
The Dubai Municipality also held a social media competition and environmental awareness activities for the children present at the event, while other government agencies presented various initiatives to showcase their achievements in the field of environmental protection.
angel@khaleejtimes.com
Why go public?
For reduced traffic congestion
Public transportation can move more people in less space than individual automobiles, thus easing traffic congestion, which in turn reduces air pollution. It also helps riders avoid the daily stress that comes with driving in highly congested areas. - Layal Charara, Jebel Ali resident
Public transportation is safer for all
Taking the bus, train, light rail, or other transit options is safer than driving a car, not only in terms of the safety of the vehicles — which are maintained much more regularly than a personal car — but also in terms of the driving habits and training of the operators. - Umme Qizra Aleem, PR executive
It encourages healthier habits
People who use public transportation are said to get more than three times the amount of physical activity per day than those who don’t, just from walking to and from their transit stops and their destination. - Wissam Ichtay, Dubai resident
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