Drive less, use public transport as much as you can and traffic jams and pollution in Abu Dhabi will soon be a thing of the past. This was the message from the Department of Transport when it launched the Park and Ride initiative on Saturday. As The National reported, shuttle buses will be available from Zayed Sports City to all parts of the capital, which means drivers can park their cars at a designated area for free and pick up their bus tickets to their destinations.
Since public buses were launched in Abu Dhabi in 2008, services have been consistently enhanced to cover all parts of the city at more frequent intervals. With the emirate’s transport network being overhauled, the day is not far when we will have many other alternatives to driving, including high-speed trains, trams and metro. Unfortunately, the country’s dominant car culture encourages most of us to avoid public transportation altogether, even though it is cheaper, safer and often more convenient than scouring for a parking spot.
The question is how to get people out of their cars. The answer must be in changing their attitude. By using public transport, we can also help to conserve our precious natural resources.
