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Emiratis' obsession with cars changing

Dubai - Hassan Ibrahim of the Environment Department said he enjoyed the bus ride with his colleagues while reporting to work on Sunday.

Emiratis in Dubai are slowly reducing their obsession with cars and getting used to Metro rides, a group of female employees at the Dubai Municipality said on Sunday, the 7th Car Free Day.
Ghaya Hareb is among the few female employees of the GIS Department in the civic body who ride the Metro to work every day. Living in Oud Al Muteena, she drives her car till Rashidiya or Etisalat Metro stations. "It is good since parking is free in these stations. Also, the municipality gives us some NoL card allowance to use the Metro."
Her colleague Moza Obaid said she loved the experience taking the train to work on the Car Free Day. "I enjoyed it.no traffic.no headache.just sit and enjoy," she said with a smile. She said she rides the Metro with her kids when she goes for shopping at the Deira City Centre.
Another employee Iman Humaid said her family used the Metro to the airport when they flew out for vacation last time.
The women said they would like the government to delegate different departments in Dubai to take turns in observing a Car Free Day every week.
Hassan Ibrahim of the Environment Department said he enjoyed the bus ride with his colleagues while reporting to work on Sunday.
"It was a relaxed morning. It was nice to travel with my colleagues," he said.
The Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council, Abdulla Al Shaibani, said it is still a difficult task for the government to change the habits of the people very fast."We keep having families with a lot of vehicles. We still have issues in that," he told Khaleej Times.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com