Wheelchair Accessibility

It's unfortunate that the facilities invested in here go to waste so often because of people acting selfishly. In this case it causes a wheelchair user to take more than 10 minutes to board an RTA bus.

Taken from the video description... "The challenges that people with special needs face sometimes while commuting in Dubai. We appreciate a lot and thank the government of Dubai and RTA for creating a network of transportation facilities that equality treat the able and the disabled so that now people with special needs can travel around Dubai with ease. However some irresponsible and uncivilised people get into the way and cause a lot of inconvenience to to others."

The Best Advertisement You Will Ever See

Has anyone else come across this advertisement in Dubai by the RTA?







Yes, that's right. The Roads and Transport Authority want to promote people taking taxis in between Emirates Towers and the DIFC Gate.

A whopping distance of 126 meters.

A Secret Tunnel

This article could have been written by The Onion.

So secret is this Dubai traffic tunnel, that an RTA representative didn't know about it.

"We may have announced this already, but I'm not aware of it," said the official. "It sounds like it will save drivers a lot of time."

There's a hardly-used vehicular underground tunnel located between Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Road which, when used, bypasses the shenanigans caused by the roadworks on the Defence Roundabout.

This diagram, courtesy of Gulf News' Xpress, shows the location.

Be quick now - go find it before everyone else does!

Good news

"From November 1, trucks, buses and light vehicles such as pick-up trucks, minibuses and taxis will face severe punishment if they exceed the speed limit by 10km per hour, said Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department."

--read more here

Also according to Gulf News/RTA people will now be able to plan routes using public transportation via Google Maps

RTA 'virtual tour' of Dubai Metro

According to Gulf News the RTA has launched a virtual-reality-portal-metro-tour-website.

You can visit the portal/site directly here: http://www.rta.ae/virtualtransport

It is so virtual that you can actually choose your sex and race:

The simulation/game sets timed targets for how fast you can purchase a ticket:

Here's a video of some of the tour:

RTA Metro v RTA Salik?

Dear readers,

A very important question has tickled my curiously from reading the last blog post on this blog, so I will as you a quick question:

Are you more happy with RTA's Metro today OR with RTA's Salik so far?

When thinking about the RTA's Metro, please consider the early teething problems as well as any potential in the future for it to be a success of sorts or any other factors you think are relevant :)

A simple "Metro" or "Salik" response would be great, but I doubt I'll get that! Everyone can vote, you don't need to have a car or pay your Salik or have tried the metro at all!

Thanks.

New minimum taxi fare of Dh10

"Dubai: The minimum fare for commuting in a taxi in Dubai is now Dh10 with immediate effect, Gulf News has learnt.

The move came after recent complaints from drivers that short trips waste their time and reflect badly on their daily minimum targets. The minimum starting fare, however, has not changed - it is Dh4.

The policy of charging a minimum Dh10 fare took commuters by surprise because it was implemented without any formal announcement by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), which is authorised to approve such decision.

An RTA spokesperson told Gulf News that the final decision was taken on March 31 after consultation with the Dubai Taxi Agency and four other franchise taxi companies in Dubai. The new fare structure was implemented from April 1. However, he failed to give reason why the new policy was not advertised to make commuters aware."

more here

no more salik for taxis

According to Gulf News...

"Dubai: Taxi passengers in Dubai will no longer have to pay the Salik road toll, it has been announced.

The Roads and Transport Authority said the move was part of a series of initiatives aimed at improving taxi services."

more here

New Salik Gate...

Everybody's favorite scapegoat (or pet peeve) in Dubai seems to be the RTA, as well as one of their pet projects, SALIK. The following image was received as a forward and I thought it might amuse many:

Enjoy!

Choose the better option...

• In the US (New Jersey) the government will literally pay you (ableit in petrol money) to carpool. (link found via the consumerist)



• In the UAE, carpooling requires registration in order for it to be legal (I'd say that you have to pay to carpool, but that depends on whether you have to pay to register)

Choose the better option, share your opinion in the comments section...

Car pooling bureaucracy

Dubai and Abu Dhabi say that car pooling will be permitted, but with some mind-boggling red tape.


The Dubai RTA's Director of Planning & Business Development Department is quoted as saying:

"Now people can drive their friends and colleagues to and from their homes and workplaces without fear of getting fines if they get approval from the RTA."

It should never have been a problem, never have been banned, but it looks as though we're getting somewhere in the battle with traffic congestion. Until you read the "but" part of the reports.

To car pool:

The motorist must register the car with the RTA.

Motorists will be given certificates allowing them to share their cars.

The names of the persons sharing the car should be furnished at the time of registration to avoid a fine.

A maximum of four people will be allowed to share a car.

And look at this for the worst Big Brother part:

After they have entered their personal details and information on their vehicles, the authority will conduct background checks on colleagues wishing to carpool before issuing a letter of approval.

They're checking your background before you can sit in someone's car?!!

I can hardly believe these can be true reports.

All over the world people share cars. RTA equivalents and governments encourage and support it. Many cities have special lanes for them, to speed their journey. Singapore has various meeting places where a driver going into the city centre can pick up passengers.

If people want to give others a lift, and to share petrol costs if they choose, that is A Good Thing. And it should also be a personal choice, encouraged by the authorities to reduce traffic congestion, reduce the need for parking space, reduce pollution.

This is a real can of worms. Just a few of the questions:

The car must be registered with the RTA.

So if the car's in for service or repair, the owner can't use his hire car to drive his registered passengers around?

The names of those sharing the car must be pre-registered.

So when one of them leaves the company, his name has to be de-registered and any new passenger registered?

What if your company has an overseas visitor and asks you to drive him to the office - and around town come to that. Do you have to pre-register him as an approved passenger?

A maximum of four people will be allowed to share a car.

So if you have a vehicle suitable for carrying more, like a big 4x4 or a people mover, you can't fill it?


People can drive their friends and colleagues to and from their homes and workplaces.

What about other journeys? A group of friends going to dinner decide that one will drive them all. A friend or colleague is going to the airport and you offer to take him there. Illegal?


And in general, there are the less structured instances of people sharing cars.

What if a neighbour's car won't start and you offer to drive him to his office? Illegal?

A colleague's car is off the road so you offer him a lift until he has it back. Illegal?

You and a colleague are going to business meetings in the same area, so you offer to drop him off. Illegal?

And then there's the enforcement of it all. What's the plan, to stop all cars with more than one person in it? Check who they are, where they're going, if they have a car pooling certificate, if the passengers are registered?

And who will do it, the police? Don't they have enough real work to do?

Time for a petition I think.


The stories I've read are in Gulf News and The National.

carpooling registration

According to Khaleej Times...

"Yes, we have also come across cases when some motorists complain about being fined wrongly by the inspectors. Car-pooling is something which we are encouraging at the moment in a bid to reduce the traffic bottlenecks in the emirate. We plan to set up a link on the RTA web site or create a fully new web site just for registering their names for car pooling," he said."

--more here

I have a question... If a person buys a car with 4 seats and they're only legally allowed to use 1 of those seats, is the RTA going to begin paying a share of the car's value for the other seats which are pretty much illegal to use?

""Right now there is no definite legislation in this connection. We are sure that this new service would solve this problem once and for all. The investigations would be done intensively to ensure that people engaged in the practice of illegally lifting passengers do not take advantage," he pointed out."

Yes, because heaven-forbid anyone 'take advantage' of people waiting several eternities for the RTA to summon taxies

Taking the bus

My car has been in the shop for a week. During that time, I have been getting a ride with one of my co-workers from Dubi Internet City all the way back to the Burjuman area. Last Thursday, he had other plans, so I thought I would just take a taxi. After 40 minutes of waiting, I decided to take the bus. I figured, they got new buses now, preparing for the Metro.. why not?

So, I walked over to the bus stop, saw the first bus, hopped in. Okay, squeezed in. I have to admit that I drive a fully loaded BMW 530, which would make me a lot more susceptible to discomfort. However, this experience is far worse than I had expected.

The A/C was not on. The bus quickly filled up to its maximum (people standing without seats). I started sweating, so I quickly took off my jacket and loosened my tie. Yes, I was an odd-ball in the bus. Then the stink started sinking in. Even if the passengers wouldn't have normally had such strong body odors, the lack of air circulation and cool air would have induced it anyway.

The seats are terribly uncomfortable. My ass was numb within 10 minutes. It could be that I have been spoiled with my leather seats, but I do consider myself a practical man.. I saw the bus is a mode of transport. I was willing to be inconvenienced.

The windows are tinted, thanks to the advertisements on the bus, so I can hardly tell where we are. I didn't get off until the bus reached the central station. I got out, lit up a cigarette.. breathed the fresh air (the weather was spectacular that day).. and hailed the first taxi I saw.

If I could go back in time, would I have waited longer for a taxi or taken the bus? I would have taken the bus. Would I take the bus again, knowing these conditions? Not likely. I really hope that this is not how it's going to be when the Metro arrives. I want to use public transportation. I am tired of driving. RTA, quit your self-congratulatory bull, and increase the buses so we are not packed like sardines. Fix the A/C's in your buses (ironically, that is why my car was in the shop!).

Seven people killed in construction accident at Dubai Marina

News courtesy of Gulf News

"Dubai: Seven people have been killed in a construction accident in Dubai Marina.

20 people have been injured in the accident, which happened at 6.20pm on Thursday evening.

It is believed the accident happened when scaffolding on a bridge under construction on the Al Suffouh Road collapsed.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board of the Roads and Transport Authority told Dubai TV the accident was caused by human error when steel rods were wrongly loaded.

Jamal Al Merri, deputy commandant of Dubai Police told Gulf News: "The accident happened at 6.20pm. The pillar collapsed killing seven people instantly and injuring 24, according to preliminary information.

"There are no workers under the rubble. All other workers have been accounted for."

RTA to be in charge of final Creek Extension Phase 5

Longtime reader, first-time poster here...

The Gulf News tabloid Xpress is reporting here that the RTA will be in charge of the final phase of the Creek Extension project which will extend from it's current place of behind the Metropolitan Hotel under SZR, beside the Safa Park, under Wasl Road and Beach Road, and finally out to the Gulf beside Jumeirah Beach Park. This final phase of construction will start in December of this year to be completed in 3 years.

Up until now Dubai Properties has overseen the project but the leadership will change for this final phase, presumably because the final stretch will disrupt so much traffic on these three major roads.

This is of great interest to me because the projected path of the waterway winds right past my villa. But the project in general should be a concern for all Dubai/Sharjah residents because three new bridges will be built on these ever-so-critical thoroughfares.

Do you think it's a good thing that the RTA will be in charge of the final phase? How do you think this project will affect life in Dubai and your commute to and from work or leisure activities?

RTA's Ramadan Reset

Last year during Ramadan, RTA's Mattar Al Tayer announced a 3 year plan to complete Dubai's major roading infrastructure projects.

At this year's Ramadan Majlis organised by the Dubai Press Club, he's reset the timeline - again to 3 years.

Will this be RTA's ongoing Ramadan gift to Dubai - a 3 year promise for better roading?

Some of the legislation that will be reviewed:
~ Applying restrictions on car ownership and registration
~ Resetting the criteria of certain job holders for applying for driving licence (All over the UAE)
~ Switching some of the congested areas to exclusive pedestrian zones
~ Designating special lanes for cyclists and buses
~ Introducing Mobility Management Policy, including initiatives such as: Mass transport mode for employees; encouraging car pooling; adopting variable working hours (in Dubai)

Read the whole article here.

Slow Down!

RTA is soon lowering the maximum speed limit from 120kph to 100kph:
~ between Interchanges 2 & 5 on Sheikh Zayed Road
~ on the Al Khail Road

The minimum limit of 60kph will remain.

Speed reductions are also being considered on other 100kph roads down to 80kph.

Excerpts from the article in Gulf News:
~ "We are in the process of revising speed limits on most of Dubai roads in order to reduce fatal accidents, because speeding is the main killer," said Badr Al Siri, Director of Traffic Department at Roads and Traffic Agency in RTA.

~ "The measures are being taken after extensive studies," he said.

~ Motorists are allowed to drive at least 20km above the given speed limit before they are caught by radars and cameras.

~ 240 out of 312 people were killed in accidents caused by speeding last year. Around 45 people were killed and 273 got injured in 122 accidents last year on Shaikh Zayed Road alone.

~ Some 136 people have been killed on Dubai roads during the first six months of this year.

Read the whole article here.

Another word on Salik...

After three days of not being able to get into their website, finally this evening I have.

I clicked on 'News' to see what the reports of today's traffic chaos might be.

Stupid, I know. I'm in Dubai and I'm expecting a website to be up-to-date!

Here's the latest news from the RTA, copy & paste from their website this evening, July 1st:




NEWS

RTA selling Salik tags in petrol stations and banks in preparation for official
launch July 1
- June 04, 2007


RTA continues preparations to activate Salik on July 1st
- June 03, 2007

The latest news they have for us is dated June 4.

Not so Salik

This Salik thing is getting highly irritating. The RTA guys keep changing their words. Now they say that Salik is on a trial basis and Al Tayer said currently there are no plans to increase the number of toll gates.

I also find this unfair:

Al Tayer said that tourists who visit Dubai even for one day and plan to use the road with the Salik toll gates will have pay Dh100 for the tag.

He said if a car breaks down and is moved by a tow truck through the gates, fees will be charged for both vehicles.

I got my Salik card today. Just a note for those who are still to buy theirs. If the car is under your name, you just need a copy of the Car Registration Card (both sides). If the car is under a company name, you also need a copy of the Trade License alongwith the Car Registration Card. You fill out a form with basic details (Name, Date of Birth, Mobile numbers etc). One Salik account can be used for ten cars, so you don't need many individual account numbers if the car owner is the same.

I also got it clarified that Salik sticker cannot be stuck on car tints. So what happens to those super-tinted cars?


PS: For some reason, I can't use the hyperlink option, so I'm just going to paste the direct link. Here is the source: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10133426.html

Say NO to the RTA

When the RTA came up with the Metro, I was ecstatic. Finally, a way to rid myself of driving all over the city. Then the plans for the toll came along and it hit me! The RTA are going to charge me when I park my car and are going to charge me when I drive it. This is fine, but here is the problem. The RTA is unable to provide me with adequate parking space. They are also unable to provide me with adequate driving space. Unbelievable! So they want to charge me when they are unable to provide me with a service! That's new to me.

All this got me into thinking: how do I get my point to the RTA – charging me for services not rendered is not acceptable? I came up with what I believe is a brilliant idea. I would like to organize a “Say NO to the RTA” campaign that begins by attacking the unjust parking meters in residential areas. If we can get people to mobilize to ensure that not a single car gets a parking ticket (this obviously requires volunteering time and money), then we would surely inflict some serious losses on the RTA. This is simply done by buying parking tickets for any car that doesn't have one (or has an expired ticket). If this is done across all of Dubai, it should hurt RTA's swelling purse. Maybe this would get part of the point across.

Maybe not. Is it worth pursuing? Is it even legal? Or can the RTA take a hint?