ABU DHABI // The emirate is looking to embark on a public transport revolution, but the big step is convincing commuters that they need to change the way they think about it, a senior official says.
The best way to do that is through the young, said Saeed Al Hameli, acting director of organisation at the Department of Transport.
Mr Al Hameli said reliance on cars must be reduced and easy access to public transport created.
“We are targeting the younger generation of road users,” he said. “The perception that public transport is not for rich people is wrong.
“About 11 per cent of the UAE population is Emirati. To put locals in public transport, you need to change their mindset and encourage them to use public transport at a young age.
“We see the high accident rates among children aged between 18 and 23. It would really make a difference if they delay car purchases for five years. It would ease congestion, reduce the amount of pollution and environmental damage, and reduce the risk of accidents.”
The department on Tuesday announced that Mr Al Hameli has been elected vice chairman of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Mena, a non-profit group for all parties involved in public transport.
It has 3,200 members from 92 states and aims to support and promote sustainable transport.
The post gives Mr Al Hameli a permanent seat on the policy board.
“When we sit on the policy board, we look at the developments, funding, policies, land use, infrastructure and choosing the best combination of transport modes,” he said.
“My position in the UITP Mena will give a chance for people in Abu Dhabi to learn more about public transport, the best expertise and international best practice to the sector.
“Although there have been a lot of developments here, there is a need for us to make the right decisions about what’s best for Abu Dhabi.”
The Department of Transport has been a member of UITP since 2007.
Among the problems the emirate has to face is its weather, Mr Al Hameli said.
“The heat and blowing sand and dust pose a big challenge in public transport use in the Gulf countries,” he said. “How can you expect people to leave their homes and reach the bus station?
“It’s highly unlikely for people to walk 100 metres to the bus station, and no one will walk from Bein Al Jessrain for half a kilometre to reach the metro station on Airport Road.
“This is a challenge for us in the Government, for the public transport systems to reach out to the residents.
“We need to come up with a solution that best suits the region but it also requires some level of commitment from the road users.”
The emirate’s transport sector is growing rapidly. To keep pace, authorities, service providers and public transport operators should seek ways to manage the future challenges of transport, its sustainability and the preservation of the environment, Mr Al Hameli said.
Other challenges include the UAE’s car culture and the pollution too many cars on the roads is producing.
“Public transport saves nearly five times the energy consumed by private vehicles and an efficient system contributes to the reduction by half of air pollution caused by private vehicles,” Mr Al Hameli said.
“There is a need for greater social responsibility. This doesn’t mean ditching our cars in favour of public transport.”
He suggested limiting the use of private cars to twice weekly, pooling in a household with more than one car, or walking or cycling.
In April, the department unveiled a walking and cycling master plan to make Abu Dhabi safer by doubling the number of dedicated paths by 2020.
Mr Al Hameli said at the time that encouraging people to think about alternatives to cars from a young age was the most important aspect of the plan.
rruiz@thenational.ae
