HOW CAR FREE DAY MADE A DIFFERENCE
The 9th Car Free Day, a Dubai Municipality initiative which this year saw the participation of three other emirates, was a big success with residents, ministers, officials and delegates commuting on the Dubai Metro. The highlight of Sunday’s event was the higher number of residents participating on their own, not through their organisations
Increasing participation shows that there’s more awareness among the community regarding keeping cars off the road. The participation this year saw various society segments from youth to people of determination. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality
dubai — Over 5,000 people ditched their vehicles in favour of more environment friendly modes of transport in response to Dubai’s Car-Free Day, a senior official said on Sunday.
Leading the crowd on the day marked on February 4, ministers, officials and delegates commuted through Dubai Metro from Etisalat station to Union Station to inaugurate the activities of the 9th Car-Free Day aimed to raise awareness on climate change and reduce the carbon footprint.
Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, accompanied Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, along with Abdullah Al Basti, secretary Ggeneral of the Executive Council in Dubai; Major General Mohammed Al Marri, director general of Residency and Foreigners Affairs; and Ahmed Julfar, director general of Community Development Authority, among other delegates.
Three other emirates of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Al Ain announced their collaboration with the municipality on this year’s car free day.
Lootah said 173 organisations joined this year, with over 5,000 residents leaving their cars behind. Last year, 2,444 individuals and nearly 200 organisations joined the popular environmental initiative.
Lootah noted that this year witnessed an increased number of residents participating through their own efforts, not through their organisations. “It shows that there’s more awareness among the community regarding keeping cars off the road. The participation this year saw various society segments from youth to people of determination,” said Lootah.
At Union Metro Park, an exhibition showcasing different types of environment-friendly transport along with other activities aimed showing the public the different alternatives to cars in efforts in reduce carbon footprint as per the country’s goal of 2021.
Dubai Municipality held a soc-ial media competition in which three lucky participants will win Apple watch, iPad mini and prize coupons.
Several government entities and institutions announced their support for the car-free day initiative. The ministry of community development, for example, provided its employees with buses to and from work at several locations including Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Sharjah.
Meanwhile, Dubai Media City is offering free parking and different prizes to those who choose to carpool and share their rides with friends.
Since its inception, the initiative has seen an increasing participation from residents and governmental and private entities that helped reduce 437 tonnes of carbon emissions. Just last year, about 60,000 vehicles were off the road, collectively reducing about 174 tonnes of carbon emissions that may necessitate the cultivation of 1,218 trees to dispose it off.
Figures were 33 per cent higher than the number of vehicles stopped during the initiative in 2016, estimated at 43,000 vehicles of 1,070 organisations.
The municipality had started the initiative in 2010 with just 1000 vehicles kept away from the streets by the officials and employees of the civic body.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com