DUBAI // Public transport was packed and the roads emptier on Sunday as almost 1,000 organisations answered a call to leave their cars at home.
Dubai Municipality held its seventh Car Free Day and Emirates Post employees were eager to take part, using the Metro and buses to reach work.
“We are happy that Emirates Post employees are wholeheartedly participating in the Car Free Day activity by using public transport to commute to work,” said Sami Al Khaja, the company’s chief support services officer.
“We hope that this event will increase employees’ commitment to a greener environment by limiting the use of individual cars.”
Many who chose to ignore the call for a healthier, more environmentally friendly trip into work later regretted their decision.
There were 136 accidents on Dubai’s roads on Sunday – including a 40-car pile-up on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade, or Al Masraf, did take part in the campaign.
“We at Al Masraf hold this initiative in high regard as it reflects our vision to safeguard the environment for the benefit of future generations,” said Faisal Galadari, the bank’s chief executive.
GreenParking also took part in this year’s Car Free Day campaign, and took the opportunity to display one of its electric car recharging systems.
Chief executive Sam Alawiye said residents could use the recharging stations, of which there will be more than 100 across Dubai, with a card that could be bought from GreenParking and topped up.
“The cards will also soon be available from Dubai Electricity and Water Authourity, and there will be an option that allows residents to pay their recharge bills with their Dewa one,” Mr Alawiye said.
Also in this year’s Car Free Day, district cooling services provider Empower encouraged its employees to use public transport and arranged buses to pick up staff from around Dubai.
“We consider Car Free Day to be an opportunity for us to reassert our commitment to society and the environment by participating,” said chief executive Ahmad bin Shafar said.
Alya Al Harmoudi, director of the environment department at Dubai Municipality, said the campaign’s success was achieved by raising awareness and with the motto “Not a Day ... Everyday”, which encouraged residents to make public transport part of their daily lives.
“UAE and its people deserve a lot from us, first and foremost to give them a healthy environment and clean air and we have to race against time to create more sustainable solutions,” Ms Al Harmoudi said.
One hundred organisations in Jebel Ali Free Zone are due to participate in the campaign on Wednesday, while Atlantis employees will play their part on Monday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people on Sunday hopped on to the Dubai Metro to make their way to Dubai Municipality’s Car Free Day exhibition near Union Metro Station.
Asma Al Marri took the Metro from Al Rashidiya in support of the campaign.
“It’s so great to see all these private and government entities, including the police and ambulances, taking part in the initiative,” Ms Al Marri said, adding that she usually drove her own car to work.
“I try to take the Metro whenever I can but I take my car to work because I have my nine-month-old baby with me, and it’s easier for me to carry all her stuff to take to day care.”
Ms Al Marri, who works at Dubai Municipality, said Car Free Day was a great way to raise awareness and cut carbon emissions.
“The environment has always been an important issue for the municipality,” she said. “Although staff at Dubai Municipality are provided with parking spots for their cars, they are given a free monthly Nol card if they give up the spot.”
Also at the exhibition was Aisha Jam, 15, who was on a field trip with her class from Raffles World Academy.
"We have been learning in school about pollution and how we can cut carbon emissions, and so the whole 9th grade came here today," Aisha said. "I really like what they have done here, and I especially liked cycling for my own shake."
The exhibition had three themes: environmentally friendly vehicles; a display of the latest technologies and practices to improve air quality; and the preservation of natural resources.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae