Date: 24.06.2012
Location: M06
Section: CSM
Time: 1600
Chairman: Mohd Shams
Secretary: Hasan
Participants: Omar &
Ahmed Saleh
Topic: traffic congestion
in Abu Dhabi
Agenda:
1.
How serious is the problem?
2.
Improving the existing traffic system
3.
Parking
4.
Traffic lights
5.
Raising age of licence holders
6.
Public transport
7.
Recommendations
Mohd Shams called the meeting to
order & itemized the agenda. He then invited comments as to how serious the
problem is.
1.
Ahmed
said the main problem is traffic
distribution & the lack of flyovers, underpasses etc. Omar said that
nowadays a journey that 5 years ago took 10 minutes now takes 30 minutes or
more. Mohd said that he felt the main underlying cause was the general increase
in the population. In relation to this, he wondered if the overall solution was
for more people to live, and work, off-island.
2.
Road improvements: Ahmed said this
was badly needed in some areas e.g. Khalidiya. He said there was a need for
more flyovers & underpasses. Hasan observed that a major problem with this
is that while such infrastructure is being constructed a short-term consequence
is inconvenience to road-users, making road congestion even worse. Ahmed said
he had visited Seattle in the USA where they have a huge bridge over the city,
which helps make traffic flow smoothly: could we do this in Abu Dhabi?
3.
Parking: Omar suggested that all new
buildings should have underground parking. Ahmed disagreed, on the grounds of
expense. Omar said fair enough, but the government could provide financial
assistance. Hasan said that multi-storey
car parking could be the solution; the others all agreed. Mohd pointed
out that multi-storey parking & underground parking were both desirable in
view of Abu Dhabi’s hot climate.
4.
Traffic lights: Mohd said that in Los
Angeles, California, they have a co-ordinated traffic light system which
improves traffic flow. He said that they’ve tried this on Salam Street here in
AD which makes for smoother traffic flow. Hasan pointed out how roundabouts
slow traffic and should be replaced by traffic lights.
5.
Driving licence at 25? Hasan said
18-year old students needed to drive to college. Omar suggested a compromise of
21; Hasan & Ahmed concurred. Mohd said that, ideally, students could use
public transport, especially as the 18-25 group causes most accidents & so
contribute to traffic chaos; however, he said raising the age to 25 would not
work in practice.
6.
Public transport: Hasan criticized
the behavior of bus drivers but Mohd said, in fairness, spaces were not big
enough for buses to park neatly & safely.
7.
Recommendations:
Omar said improving the existing road
system was the best solution.. Hasan opted for the integrated traffic light
system. Mohd agreed with Omar. Ahmed said the 18-25 age group should be
targeted for a progamme of education & guidance to improve driver behaviour.
Mohd summed up by saying all these factors together
might improve the situation & this met with general agreement.
Mohd closed the meeting at 1635.
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