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	<title>Traffic - Green Prophet</title>
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	<title>Traffic - Green Prophet</title>
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		<title>Dubai learns from London&#8217;s traffic woes</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2016/06/dubai-london-traffic-woes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Bhok Thompson]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2016 10:22:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dubai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=112245</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and, as with all major cities, traffic congestion is becoming an ever present issue. Traffic causes smog and respiratory illness, as well as a major part of our world&#8217;s greenhouse gases. According to the latest statistics, Dubai&#8217;s metropolitan area is now home to just [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2016/06/dubai-london-traffic-woes/">Dubai learns from London&#8217;s traffic woes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-112247" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london.png" alt="dubai-traffic-london" width="1482" height="967" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london.png 1482w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-644x420.png 644w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-150x98.png 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-300x196.png 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-696x454.png 696w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-1068x697.png 1068w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-350x228.png 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-768x501.png 768w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-660x431.png 660w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-800x522.png 800w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-1000x652.png 1000w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-900x587.png 900w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/dubai-traffic-london-370x241.png 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1482px) 100vw, 1482px" /></p>
<p>Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and, as with all major cities, traffic congestion is becoming an ever present issue. Traffic causes smog and respiratory illness, as well as a major part of our world&#8217;s greenhouse gases. According to the latest statistics, Dubai&#8217;s metropolitan area is now home to just over 2.5 million people and, while the current road network is managing to cope with the current demands, it won&#8217;t stay that way for long.</p>
<p>To ensure the city continues to grow and remain both a business hub and a tourist destination, the United Arab Emirates&#8217;s Ministry of Public Works recently announced its intention to explore new projects heading into 2017. One of the major areas of investigation for transport experts is the possibility of a new federal road connecting northern emirates to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.</p>
<h2>New Roads Planned</h2>
<p>Set to run parallel with the Emirates Road, the new road would complement plans to expand the E611 road from three lanes to seven in Sharjah and six in Dubai. One of the main reasons for wanting to ensure a smooth route for commuters is city&#8217;s growing tourist population. Back in 2012 the country welcomed a record breaking 10 million tourists and in 2015 the government set out plans to achieve 9% annual growth in the coming years.</p>
<p>However, for the city to remain a tourist hotspot it will need to ensure its travel links to and from Dubai International Airport are the best they can be. Acting as a source of comparison for city planners is London. Home to London Heathrow, <a href="https://www.world-airport-codes.com/world-top-30-airports.html">the third busiest airport in the world</a>, the UK&#8217;s capital poses a number of difficulties for the travel industry.</p>
<h2>Dubai&#8217;s Own London Underground</h2>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-112248" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway.png" alt="london-underground-subway" width="1486" height="986" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway.png 1486w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-350x232.png 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-768x510.png 768w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-660x438.png 660w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-800x531.png 800w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-1000x664.png 1000w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-900x597.png 900w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-subway-370x246.png 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1486px) 100vw, 1486px" /></p>
<p>&#8220;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lukenicolaides/11649494695/">UK, London &#8211; Underground train</a>&#8221; (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>) by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/lukenicolaides/"> </a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/lukenicolaides/">Lukes_photos</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/"> </a></p>
<p>Indeed, according to the INRIX 2015 Traffic Scorecard, London is the most congested city in the world with commuters facing an average of <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/15/london-is-the-most-congested-city-in-the-world-5752808/">101 hours stuck in traffic each year</a>. On top of this finding, studies have also shown that the average journey across London (15 miles) take 56 minutes. Naturally, with time being of the essence when it comes to flying, the best way to get around this issue is the underground.</p>
<p>As suggested by the travel company ebookers, <a href="http://www.ebookers.com/travel-blog/ebookers/how-to-get-from-central-london-to-heathrow-airport/">getting a train from Central London to Heathrow</a> can significantly reduce a commuter&#8217;s travel time. For example, the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station will take 15 minutes compared to driving times in excess of 30 minutes.</p>
<p>Of course, one of the reasons most travel experts recommend the London Underground as a way to get across the city is the lack of scope for building more roads. However, the environmental benefits of this system can&#8217;t be overlooked.</p>
<h2>Don&#8217;t Rely on Roads is the Message from Experts</h2>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-112249" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling.png" alt="london-underground-travelling" width="1475" height="990" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling.png 1475w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-350x235.png 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-768x515.png 768w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-660x443.png 660w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-800x537.png 800w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-1000x671.png 1000w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-900x604.png 900w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/london-underground-travelling-370x248.png 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1475px) 100vw, 1475px" /></p>
<p>&#8220;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dunjaklar/8242131646/">London underground</a>&#8221; (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a>) by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/dunjaklar/">Negativexpositive</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/"> </a></p>
<p>Dubai has already taken a leaf from London&#8217;s travel book in this regard by opening a driverless metro system that can take people from various parts of the city right into the airport&#8217;s main terminals.</p>
<p>Naturally, Dubai has similar space restrictions to consider, but it shouldn&#8217;t simply rely on road links when it comes to tourism as London has shown.  Indeed, despite London having 5X more residents than Dubai, passenger numbers at Dubai International Airport are just 18% lower than Heathrow which suggests ministers should focus more resources on the Metro system.</p>
<p>With experts pointing to the underground system as the best way for travelers to cross London to get to Heathrow, this should serve as a lesson to Dubai&#8217;s travel ministers currently <a href="http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/six-road-projects-that-will-put-brakes-on-dubai-traffic-congestion-2016-01-14-1.617210">assessing the city&#8217;s roads</a>. Indeed, Dubai is fortunate in that is can avoid London&#8217;s mistakes and prevent congestion issues before they happen by focusing on the Metro system.</p>
<p>While there are certainly reasons to increase road links in Dubai, the government shouldn&#8217;t lose sight of the need for solid rail links if it wants to meet its target of 9% growth in the tourism industry over the next decade.</p>
<p><em>Top image via &#8220;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bonus1up/8846322647/">Dubai</a>&#8221; (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a>) by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/bonus1up/"> </a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/bonus1up/">bonus1up</a><a href="http://www.imagecodr.org/"> </a></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2016/06/dubai-london-traffic-woes/">Dubai learns from London&#8217;s traffic woes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>Nile Taxi &#8211; Scenic Stress Free Commuting for Cairo&#8217;s Residents</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/04/nile-taxi-scenic-stress-free-commuting-for-cairos-residents/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/04/nile-taxi-scenic-stress-free-commuting-for-cairos-residents/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tafline Laylin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2013 04:12:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cairo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nile River]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nile Taxi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water taxi]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=92585</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Having just returned from Lamu, Kenya, where there is no other way to travel but by boat (or plane or donkey), it seems strange to me that it has taken modern Cairo this long to come up with the idea of a water taxi. But there you have it. Cairenes weary of knotted traffic jams [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/04/nile-taxi-scenic-stress-free-commuting-for-cairos-residents/">Nile Taxi &#8211; Scenic Stress Free Commuting for Cairo&#8217;s Residents</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-92589" alt="Nile Taxi, Nile River, traffic, water taxi, Cairo, Egypt" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-560x359.jpg" width="560" height="359" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-560x359.jpg 560w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-350x225.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-660x424.jpg 660w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-768x493.jpg 768w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-654x420.jpg 654w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-150x96.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-300x193.jpg 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-696x447.jpg 696w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi-80x50.jpg 80w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nile-Taxi.jpg 794w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a>Having just returned from <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/04/ali-lamu-weathered-dhow-sails-art/">Lamu, Kenya</a>, where there is no other way to travel but by boat (or plane or donkey), it seems strange to me that it has taken <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/01/recycloegy-cairo-black-cloud/">modern Cairo</a> this long to come up with the idea of a water taxi. But there you have it. Cairenes weary of <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/03/award-winning-egyptian-traffic-app-hits-the-world-stage/">knotted traffic jams</a> that suck the marrow right out of their bones now have a new way to travel and it&#8217;s not that expensive: Nile Taxi.</p>
<p><span id="more-92585"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-92590" alt="Nile Taxi, Nile River, traffic, water taxi, Cairo, Egypt" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II.jpg" width="504" height="221" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II.jpg 504w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II-150x66.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II-300x132.jpg 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nile-taxi-II-350x153.jpg 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" /></a>&#8220;We have been working in the industry of ships and the sea since 1986,&#8221; Nile Taxi CEO Magdi Kirollos told <a href="http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/04/07/nile-taxi-provides-a-long-awaited-service/#dnePhoto/0/">Daily News Egypt</a>. &#8220;We also own boat franchises so we know the business inside out.&#8221;</p>
<p>Kirollos and partner Amr Abou El Seoud have been toying with the idea of a water taxi that crosses the Nile River for about six years, but didn&#8217;t seriously start pursuing a business until three years ago.</p>
<p>Bad timing for them, given the political turmoil of those years, but after persevering, they have finally received the necessary license to do what the ancients always did: transport people from one side of the river to the other by boat.</p>
<p>At present the company uses mostly speed boats that travel between Maadi and Shubra, the longest journey, which costs 35EGY ($5). That is roughly $1 less than it costs to take a regular taxi, which also comes with road rage, carbon emissions, noise pollution, and could hours if there happens to be an accident or blocked car.</p>
<p>Lorna Gow, a bellydancer who lives in the capital, recently used the service for the first time and tweeted her enthusiasm.</p>
<p>&#8220;Nile taxi- today for 1st time,&#8221; she tweeted. &#8220;I travelled across Cairo by speed boat! What a fabulous way to go!&#8221;</p>
<p>On its way to Shubra, the taxi makes 18 stops at crucial points along the way, including Giza, the upscale neighborhood favored by expatriates, Zamalek, and Nile City. And certain partnering hotels have arranged customized services for their guests.</p>
<p>In time, Nile Taxi plans to operate a 15 passenger boat, and everyone who travels this way is covered under the company&#8217;s insurance program.</p>
<p>“It saves time and effort and reduces stress, Kirollos told the paper. &#8220;You also get to see another very different Egypt, a beautiful one. It is a completely different environment and you see another face of the country.”</p>
<p>Albeit a brilliant solution to the city&#8217;s horrendous traffic, which <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/08/21/cairo-traffic-much-more-than-nuisance">the World Bank estimated drains four percent of the country&#8217;s GDP</a> in lost production and accidents each year, we can&#8217;t help but see a future full of racing yellow boats vying for the money of commuters.</p>
<p><em>Images of Nile Taxi via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10032425@N07/8631050872/in/photostream/">Shaimaaka Flickr</a></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/04/nile-taxi-scenic-stress-free-commuting-for-cairos-residents/">Nile Taxi &#8211; Scenic Stress Free Commuting for Cairo&#8217;s Residents</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>Award-Winning Egyptian Traffic App Hits the World Stage</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/03/award-winning-egyptian-traffic-app-hits-the-world-stage/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/03/award-winning-egyptian-traffic-app-hits-the-world-stage/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tafline Laylin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:27:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beliaa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[world bank]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=91297</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Cairo&#8217;s traffic is the stuff of legends. It&#8217;s easy to spend hours in total gridlock while trying to get from one side of the city to the other, with people honking and shouting. Then there is the smog that spews from aging vehicles. But what to do about this economic, personal and social hazard? [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/03/award-winning-egyptian-traffic-app-hits-the-world-stage/">Award-Winning Egyptian Traffic App Hits the World Stage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Beliaa1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft  wp-image-91314" alt="cairo, traffic, clean tech, ICT, World Bank, mobile app, Egypt, Beliaa, smartphones, Egypt, pollution" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Beliaa1-464x600.png" width="418" height="540" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Beliaa1-464x600.png 464w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Beliaa1-350x452.png 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Beliaa1.png 476w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cairo&#8217;s traffic is the stuff of legends. It&#8217;s easy to spend hours in total gridlock while trying to get from one side of the city to the other, with people honking and shouting.</p>
<p>Then there is the <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/01/cairo-asthma-pollution/">smog that spews from aging vehicles</a>. But what to do about this economic, personal and social hazard?</p>
<p>The World Bank teamed up with Egypt&#8217;s Communications and Transportation Ministries to stage the first Cairo Transport App Challenge (Cairo TApp).</p>
<p>Local innovators were invited to submit homegrown mobile apps that address various aspects of the traffic problem, from <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/04/greenwashing-egypt-brotherhood/">aging infrastructure to public transportation</a>, and the winning team then went on to the 2013 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.<span id="more-91297"></span></p>
<p>The World Bank sites a handful of the best mobile apps to emerge from the 23 that were submitted to the Cairo TApp challenge.</p>
<p>&#8220;One of the ten finalists  developed a GPS-enabled transportation guide called &#8220;<a href="http://appcircus.com/apps/arkabeh-what-should-i-ride">ArkaBeh</a>&#8221; which will not only help commuters plan their trips, but also serve as a means for reporting dangers such as harassment directly to the relevant authorities,&#8221; MENA blog writes.</p>
<p>Given a slew of harassment cases that have emerged in recent months, women are less inclined to use public transportation. This in turn increases the number of cars on the roads, which exacerbates both traffic and pollution.</p>
<p>&#8220;<a href="http://appcircus.com/apps/taree2y-2">Taree2y</a>&#8221; is somewhat similar to an <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/02/moovit-transport-app-israel/">Israeli application called Moovit</a> in that it collates GPS information from smart phones throughout the city to provide real time traffic data. Ostensibly drivers could then use this information to avoid accidents and jams.</p>
<p>The winning app might surprise you. Instead of focusing on public transportation or fast flowing routes, &#8220;<a href="http://appcircus.com/apps/beliaa-mobile-car-mechanic">Beliaa</a>&#8221; is a unique mobile mechanic service that provides information about the nearest car service provider. Which might sound strange, but jams are frequently caused when a car breaks down in the middle of the road.</p>
<p>In addition to responding to these situations, Beliaa would allow users to develop a service log to ensure that they stay current with their car maintenance program.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Apps developed promise not only to aid the millions navigating the streets of Cairo,&#8221; wrote World Bank blogger Hartwig Shafer, &#8220;but also to stimulate economic activity, by generating a demand for new services such as efficient, roadside repair.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Imagine the results of a much larger investment.&#8221;</p>
<p>:: <a href="http://menablog.worldbank.org/no-problem-too-big-cairo-traffic-meets-egyptian-innovation">MENA Blog</a></p>
<p><em>Beliaa is available in Google Play, Blackberry App World, Nokia Ovi Store, and Samsung Applications Store</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2013/03/award-winning-egyptian-traffic-app-hits-the-world-stage/">Award-Winning Egyptian Traffic App Hits the World Stage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>Beirut Cyclists Try to Revive Dead Trains and Trams</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/10/beirut-cyclists-dead-trains-trams/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tafline Laylin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:58:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[activism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beirut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=83643</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>More than 200 cyclists took over the streets of Beirut Sunday demanding a sustainable public transportation system for Lebanon. Haunted by the pollution poisoning their city&#8217;s car-clogged roads, more than 200 cyclists took over Beirut last week Sunday in an effort to demand a revival of its once-decent public transportation system. The seven kilometer (5 [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/10/beirut-cyclists-dead-trains-trams/">Beirut Cyclists Try to Revive Dead Trains and Trams</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/10/beirut-cyclists-dead-trains-trams/beirut-bicycle-activism/" rel="attachment wp-att-83648"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-83648" title="Beirut Bicycle Activism" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beirut-bicycle-activism.jpg" alt="Beirut, Traffic, Pollution, Public Transportation, Lebanon, Activism" width="550" height="366" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beirut-bicycle-activism.jpg 550w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beirut-bicycle-activism-350x232.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beirut-bicycle-activism-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/beirut-bicycle-activism-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /></a><strong>More than 200 cyclists took over the streets of Beirut Sunday demanding a sustainable public transportation system for Lebanon.</strong></p>
<p>Haunted by the pollution <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/07/burning-tires-the-bokja-way/">poisoning their city&#8217;s car-clogged roads</a>, more than 200 cyclists took over Beirut last week Sunday in an effort to demand a revival of its once-decent public transportation system.</p>
<p>The seven kilometer (5 mile) activist ride from the new waterfront to Mar Makhael train station, which is littered with the bones of retired busses and trains, occurred exactly one year after 14 non-government organizations established the <a href="http://aieserve.wordpress.com">National Coalition for Sustainable Transportation</a>, spelled out a dual message: public transportation is crucial to combat pollution and traffic, and biking is cool.</p>
<p><span id="more-83643"></span></p>
<p>&#8220;A sustainable transportation is vital infrastructure for our future in the country,” Greenpeace activist Rayan Makarem told the <em>Daily Star</em>.</p>
<p>Remarkably, even now people in the Arab world frown upon cyclists, as though being on two wheels instead of four somehow halves their social standing. But a great number of Lebanese activists are riding to change that stereotype, to <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/11/bicycle-sharing-beirut/">show that cycling can be fun</a>.</p>
<p>Graphic artist Siwar says she gets a lot of attention for being a girl who also happens to ride a bicycle.</p>
<p>&#8220;I bike all around Beirut, she told the paper. &#8220;People are always surprised when they see a girl biking around the city.”</p>
<p>She also insists that Beirut is one of the world&#8217;s most accessible cities for cyclists, at least in terms of size. Compared to some places where people ride their bicycles for up to 40 minutes, Siwar says she can get from one side of the city to another in ten.</p>
<p>But other cyclists are less willing to take the <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/beirut-by-bike/">risk without bicycle lanes</a>, which, in addition to decent cars and buses, is on NCST&#8217;s wishlist, and settle instead for substandard buses.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/07/lebanon-water-pollution-meat-cheese/">Air pollution in Beirut</a> that even contaminates cheese and meat currently stands at roughly 300 times the concentration that is deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO), an alarming number that activists believe can be slashed with a sustainable transportation system.</p>
<p>And so the cyclists ride, but is anybody listening?</p>
<p>:: <a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Oct-01/189707-cyclists-saddle-up-in-bid-to-take-back-beiruts-streets-from-motor-vehicles.ashx#axzz282LjxfQe">The Daily Star</a></p>
<p><em>image via Beirut.com</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/10/beirut-cyclists-dead-trains-trams/">Beirut Cyclists Try to Revive Dead Trains and Trams</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>Libya&#8217;s Post-Revolution Trash and Traffic Problems</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/08/libya-trash-traffic-problems/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/08/libya-trash-traffic-problems/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Arwa Aburawa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:43:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arab Spring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Libya]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trash]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=81516</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Clear Libyan streets of trash and traffic for a brighter and more democratic future says expert Security concerns in Libya may be top of the political agenda, but more goodwill could be earned if socio-economic problems such as traffic and trash are tackled says Rhiannon Smith, who is an economic development expert in Libya. Post-revolution, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/08/libya-trash-traffic-problems/">Libya&#8217;s Post-Revolution Trash and Traffic Problems</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/08/libya-trash-traffic-problems/libya-streets/" rel="attachment wp-att-81518"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81518" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Libya-streets.jpg" alt="traffic-trash-libya-democracy-revolution-future" width="560" height="314" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Libya-streets.jpg 560w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Libya-streets-350x196.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Libya-streets-150x84.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Libya-streets-300x168.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a>Clear Libyan streets of trash and traffic for a brighter and more democratic future says expert</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/02/libyan-war-amazing-sculptures/">Security concerns in Libya</a> may be top of the political agenda, but more goodwill could be earned if socio-economic problems such as traffic and trash are tackled says <a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/rhiannon-smith/traffic-trash-and-training-building-libya’s-future">Rhiannon Smith, who is an economic development expert in Libya</a>. <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/04/arab-spring-renewable-energy/">Post-revolution</a>, Libya is struggling with pressing security concerns, disunity and division along religious and ethnic lines. As such, political progress away from a long authoritarian past to a more democratic future has been painfully slow. The solution is <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/05/mena-nasa-images/">tackling problems that all Libyans face</a> and there isn&#8217;t more that unites Libyans in despair than the traffic and trash problem.<span id="more-81516"></span></p>
<p>These &#8220;are issues that could be actively addressed with minimal controversy and relatively little effort which would not only improve living standards across the country, but also lay the groundwork for the psychological transition from authoritarianism to democracy,&#8221; writes Smith in <a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/rhiannon-smith/traffic-trash-and-training-building-libya’s-future">OpenDemocracy</a>.</p>
<p>With petrol cheaper than mineral water and a threadbare public transport infrastructure, the streets of Libya are congested and dangerous. A hike in petrol prices and greater enforcement of traffic rules is one quick solution whilst the public infrastructure is built up. As well as cutting back the congestion, the traffic law enforcement could be the &#8220;first step towards re-establishing rule of law in post-Gaddafi Libya.&#8221;</p>
<p>Another major issue facing Libyans is trash. On the streets, in the alleyways, in parks and schools, it&#8217;s clear that the country has a chronic litter problem. The main reason behind this is the absence of an organised, well-funded rubbish collection service and a general acceptance of littering. Smith argues that a massive overhaul is needed in the long-run but for now, a bigger workforce and modern collection vehicles would be a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>&#8220;Not only would the environment be cleaner and healthier, removing the litter could help kindle Libya’s fledgling tourism industry,&#8221; adds Smith. &#8220;Perhaps more importantly, cleaning the streets will show that the government is doing its job and might encourage people to consider the consequences of throwing their rubbish on the streets.&#8221;</p>
<p>It turns out that what&#8217;s good for the planet is also good for democracy &#8211; and there is nowhere that could benefit from more democracy and environmental action than the Arab world.</p>
<p>: <a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/rhiannon-smith/traffic-trash-and-training-building-libya’s-future">OpenDemocracy</a></p>
<p>:: Image of Libyan children cleaning the streets via<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110516/world/School-s-out-for-Libyan-children-of-the-revolution.365582"> Times of Malta</a>.</p>
<p><strong>For more on Libya see:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/04/arab-spring-renewable-energy/">Was The Arab Spring Good for Renewable Energy?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/02/libyan-war-amazing-sculptures/">Libyan Artist Turns Weapons of War Into Sculptures</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/05/mena-nasa-images/">MENA is Changing Drastically &amp; NASA Has The Pictures To Prove It</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/08/libya-trash-traffic-problems/">Libya&#8217;s Post-Revolution Trash and Traffic Problems</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>How Benches and Sidewalks Transform Middle East Streets</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/10/walk-streets-middle-east/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Arwa Aburawa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traffic accidents fatality]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=54847</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The recent protests held across the Middle East demanding better and greener transport got me thinking about how we encourage the oldest form of transport- walking After the heat of the day fades, the streets of Middle East which are normally brimming with road-raged taxi drivers give way to the gentle patter of newly-wed couples [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/10/walk-streets-middle-east/">How Benches and Sidewalks Transform Middle East Streets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-54848" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-560x371.jpg" alt="walk-middle-east-pedastrian-benches-sidewalks-jordan-amman" width="560" height="371" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-560x371.jpg 560w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-350x232.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-632x420.jpg 632w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-300x199.jpg 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana-600x396.jpg 600w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/walk-irana.jpg 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a>The recent protests held across the Middle East <a href="../2011/10/middle-east-joins-worldwide-campaign-for-greener-transport-photos/#more-54798">demanding better and greener transport</a> got me thinking about how we encourage the oldest form of transport- walking</strong></p>
<p>After the heat of the day fades, the streets of Middle East which are normally brimming with road-raged taxi drivers give way to the gentle patter of newly-wed couples strolling hand in hand and families taking a walk.</p>
<p>Walking is not a lost art like some would like to suggest but it <a href="../2009/09/a-miserable-walk-through-amman/">could definitely do with some encouragement in the region</a>. Whilst there isn&#8217;t much that can be done about the heat that puts off lots of people, there could be a stronger push for better facilities which encourage the <a href="../2010/10/fat-iran/">healthy and relaxing pastime</a> of walking. And how do you make the streets more accessible to walkers? Well, for a start you provide sidewalks where people can – you know – walk and secondly, you give them place to sit and rest after their walk.<span id="more-54847"></span></p>
<p>I remember the first time I took a night-time stroll through the streets of Amman in Jordan I was genuinely surprised. There were just so many people and, well after midnight, the streets had a completely different atmosphere to the one you normally find in European cities where party-goers mix with the homeless. Stalls filled the streets and families were busy buying shawerma, falafel and ice cream and enjoying themselves- it seemed like the city had come alive.</p>
<p><strong>Lack Of Safe Sidewalks Discourage Walking</strong></p>
<p>I was overjoying thinking that Jordanians really &#8216;got&#8217; walking but come daytime and it was a completely different story. My cousins refused to walk anywhere which took longer than 10 minutes and when I suggested a half hour walk between our neighbourhoods they refused point-blank. When I decided to go with my sister anyway, I realised why they were so reticent: there were literally no sidewalks.</p>
<p>We had to duck and dive on the streets along with taxis and at one point we had to cross a very dangerous four-lane road as we kept searching for a pedestrian crossing which never materalised. Putting these two experiences together made me realise that whilst the heat may be putting off some people, the lack of facilities is another major factor behind why the Middle East isn&#8217;t walking.</p>
<p><strong>Walking is Good for Health and Tourism</strong></p>
<p>In my personal view, the high rate of traffic death in some countries in the Middle East has to be down to the lack of proper sidewalks. In Jordan, I saw lots of pedestrians taking risks to cross roads (I was one of them) as there were literally no other options. So not only would better walking facilities be good for the environment as the ultimate green means of transport, it would also be better for the safety and health of pedestrians. Some <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/world/middleeast/24amman.html">countries such as Jordan</a> and<a href="../2010/12/new-pedestrian-iran/"> Iran have already realised this</a> and have recently launched projects encouraging pedestrian walkways and benches.</p>
<p>The potential for tourism also hasn&#8217;t gone unnoticed. Karen Chernick wrote about the real potential to <a href="../2011/07/cities-eco-tourism-walking/">expand walking tourism in the Middle East</a> and even noted that there is already a <a href="../2010/09/bebeirut-walk-tours-lebanon/">tourism company in Beirut devoted to walking tours</a>, and <a href="../2008/11/take-an-eco-friendly-tour-with-israel-travel-company/">various areas of Israel offer walking tours as well</a>. Let&#8217;s hope the the green argument for encouraging walking along with the economic and health benefits mean that in the future, the Middle East will be a lot more feet-friendly</p>
<p>: Image via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamshots/3862189166/sizes/z/in/photostream/">kamshot/flickr</a>.</p>
<p><strong>For more on walking in the Middle East see:</strong></p>
<p><a href="../2011/07/cities-eco-tourism-walking/">Rediscovering Cities Via The Oldest Form of Eco-Tourism: Walking</a></p>
<p><a href="../2010/10/fat-iran/">Why 60 percent of Iranians Are Overweight</a></p>
<p><a href="../2009/09/a-miserable-walk-through-amman/">A Miserable Walk Through Amman</a></p>
<p><a href="../2010/08/walk-united-arab-emirates/">Only 1 in 25 Emiratis Use The Legs To Walk</a></p>
<p><a href="../2011/10/middle-east-joins-worldwide-campaign-for-greener-transport-photos/#more-54798">Middle East Joins Campaign For Greener Transport (Photos)</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/10/walk-streets-middle-east/">How Benches and Sidewalks Transform Middle East Streets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>Abu Dhabi Cyclists Are A Riding Target</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/05/abu-dhabi-cyclists/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/05/abu-dhabi-cyclists/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tafline Laylin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 05:03:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=47580</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A tourist takes to Abu Dhabi&#8217;s safe biking area &#8211; a smart choice! Cycling culture in Abu Dhabi is not well understood. Although it is hot, hot, hot four months out of the year, a growing number of people are parking their cars and traveling on two wheels instead. These intrepid adventurers constitute a minority [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/05/abu-dhabi-cyclists/">Abu Dhabi Cyclists Are A Riding Target</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-47582" href="http://www.greenprophet.com/?attachment_id=47582"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-47582" title="UAE-biking-trip" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-560x420.jpg" alt="abu dhabi, cycling, uae, bicycle" width="560" height="420" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-560x420.jpg 560w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-350x262.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-80x60.jpg 80w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-150x113.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/UAE-biking-trip.jpg 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a><strong>A tourist takes to Abu Dhabi&#8217;s safe biking area &#8211; a smart choice! </strong></p>
<p>Cycling culture in <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/08/abu-dhabi-green-map/">Abu Dhabi</a> is not well understood. Although it is hot, hot, hot four months out of the year, a growing number of people are parking their cars and <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/middle-east/the-twowheel-guide-to-a-troubled-land-1845577.html">traveling on two wheels</a> instead. These intrepid adventurers constitute a minority in the richest emirate (where things like <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/03/white-gold-mercedes/">solid gold cars exist</a>).</p>
<p>Unless people take to desert hiking (which isn&#8217;t really viable in the summer), there are few opportunities to breath fresh-ish air. Walking and biking on the Corniche creates one such opportunity, but some cyclists want to take their training to the next level. But they have to compete with Abu Dhabi&#8217;s drivers, who we have seen texting at the wheel, and who demonstrate outright hostility towards them.<span id="more-47580"></span></p>
<p>The Abu Dhabi traffic police recently vented their frustration that  foreigners insist on pedaling on highways, while the Department of  Transport (DoT) announced its entrance into a twelve-month planning  period for a Pedestrian and Bikeway Masterplan that would expand bike  routes.</p>
<p>Once the planning stage is finished early next year, the DoT will begin work on newer, safer bike routes in tandem with the Urban Planning Council and the Department of Municipal Affairs.</p>
<p>The plan will be implemented in phases beginning in areas of high demand such as city centers and residential areas and would eventually spread throughout all urban areas. These pedestrian and bike friendly routes would be separated from car lanes. Which is a good thing.</p>
<p>Because for some people in Abu Dhabi, bumping bikes is the latest national  sport.</p>
<p>One experienced cyclist, Rani Wehbe, told the National that people often jump out of nowhere and that some drivers do not fully respect the cyclist. This year, two cyclists have been injured and one was killed on the motorway.</p>
<p>A 19 year old Emirati who cycles along the Corniche said that expats typically stop when needed, while locals either don&#8217;t stop at all or purposely try to run over people on bicycles.</p>
<p>Other road users welcome the plan, provided that officials simultaneously launch a targeted awareness and enforcement campaign and ensure that the surfaces (unlike the smooth tiles lining parts of the Corniche) are bike-friendly in all weather conditions.</p>
<p>In the meantime, bike enthusiasts can either stick to an easy ride along the Corniche, the Yas Marine Circuit, or continue to defy death on the manic roadways.</p>
<p>:: <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/">The National</a></p>
<p><strong>More on biking culture in the Middle East:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/03/bike-tourism-grows-in-middle-east/">Bike Tourism Grows in the Middle East</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/beirut-by-bike/">An Insider&#8217;s Experience of Exploring Beirut by Bike</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/israel-cycling/">Israel Becomes a Nation of Pedalers (Bike Freaks)</a></p>
<p><em>image via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nnvltrs/5206245009/sizes/z/in/photostream/">get bent!</a></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/05/abu-dhabi-cyclists/">Abu Dhabi Cyclists Are A Riding Target</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>How Do You Solve Traffic Congestion in Cairo? With Helicopters Taxis, Apparently</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/traffic-cairo-helicopters/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/traffic-cairo-helicopters/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Arwa Aburawa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Dec 2010 23:47:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cairo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car ownership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traffic accidents fatality]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=37235</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Desperation and an entrenched car-culture is pushing Cairenes towards outlandish solutions to their hellish traffic congestion In the bursting-at-the-seams megacity of Cairo, it seems that there is no escaping the traffic. Roads grind to standstill for hours most days and the traffic jams are only getting worse as the Egyptian population simultaneously heads to Cairo [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/traffic-cairo-helicopters/">How Do You Solve Traffic Congestion in Cairo? With Helicopters Taxis, Apparently</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-37236" href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/traffic-cairo-helicopters/cairo-traffic/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-37236" src="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-560x372.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="372" srcset="https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-560x372.jpg 560w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-350x232.jpg 350w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-631x420.jpg 631w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-150x100.jpg 150w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cairo-traffic.jpg 640w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a><strong>Desperation and an entrenched car-culture is pushing Cairenes towards outlandish solutions to their hellish traffic congestion</strong></p>
<p>In the bursting-at-the-seams megacity of Cairo, it seems that there is no escaping the traffic. Roads grind to standstill for hours most days and the traffic jams are only getting worse as the Egyptian population simultaneously heads to Cairo every morning either to work or in search of a job. However, one organisation has decided that if there is no space on the road than the solution is take to the air and introduce the &#8216;Helicopter Taxi&#8217;.</p>
<p>Yep, you read right. According to <a href="http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/08/10/116236.html">Al-Arabiya</a>, an Egyptian aviation company will be launching a flying taxi project as part of a plan to solve traffic problems in the city. Five turbo helicopters have already been purchased so that people can be flown around Egypt and Cairo whilst avoiding the traffic below. As well as plans for fire fighting and medical evacuation helicopters, these flying taxis will also be “affordable to all people” wishing for a stress-free (and let&#8217;s face it a more exciting) Monday morning commute. However, something&#8217;s not adding up.</p>
<p><span id="more-37235"></span></p>
<p><strong>Lots of Traffic + Helicopter Taxis= Lots of Traffic Still</strong></p>
<p>Now, I&#8217;m no genius but how are helicopters which probably can&#8217;t seat more than a handful of people going to solve Cairo&#8217;s epic traffic problems? Even if there were fleets of helicopters (which can&#8217;t be very safe), how many people would they actually take off the road? Also, isn&#8217;t this totally avoiding  the root of the problem which is a culture of car-dependency coupled with sub-standard public transport?</p>
<p>It seems that in our car-entrenched culture, any solution is viable as long is doesn&#8217;t threaten our dependency on cars. Helicopters? Yes! Less cars? Well, that&#8217;s far too far fetched for most people to even consider. Yet as fellow <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/03/ride-egypt-carpoolers/">Green Prophet writer Karen Chernick</a> states “Cairo, unfortunately, is almost synonymous with traffic congestion, and all those drivers want to get where they’re going – fast. But if there were less cars on the road (and fewer people riding alone in their cars), those drivers really could get where they wanted fast.”</p>
<p><strong>Ignoring The Roots of the Traffic Problem: Cars</strong></p>
<p>Less cars is clearly the most logical solution, as the Egyptians behind a recent carpoolers scheme state. Logic, it seems, has escaped some people who are willing to consider &#8216;helicopter taxis&#8217; before the notion of reducing cars on the road. Not that the region isn&#8217;t feeling the effects of car dependency. In Iran, traffic fatalities are 5 times the world average at <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/10/iran-traffic-fatalities/">22,000 deaths a year</a> and Saudi Arabia has the highest rates of traffic accident fatalities in the world. In fact, the entire Gulf region seems to have a car problem as <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving-campaign/">12,000 people die there every year due to traffic accidents in the Gulf</a>&#8211; that&#8217;s around 35 people dying every day.</p>
<p>Clearly, what the region really needs is more efficient and cheaper public transport so that people will seriously consider leaving their cars behind- not outlandish &#8216;solutions&#8217; such as flying taxis which don&#8217;t even tackle the real problem.</p>
<p>:: Image via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31216636@N00/2960967690/">Dave Evers on Flickr</a>.</p>
<p>:: <a href="http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/08/10/116236.html">Al Arabiya</a></p>
<p><strong>For more on green issues in Cairo see:</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #999966;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/03/ride-egypt-carpoolers/">Get a Ride and Reduce Carbon Emissions with Egypt Carpoolers</a></strong></span></span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="color: #999966;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/auc-green-tidings/">Green Tidings from The American University in Cairo</a></span></span></span></span></h1>
<h1><a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/11/cairos-climate-art/"><span style="color: #999966;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cairo’s Climate Art of Epic Proportions</span></span></span></span></a></h1>
<p><span style="color: #999966;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/traffic-cairo-helicopters/">How Do You Solve Traffic Congestion in Cairo? With Helicopters Taxis, Apparently</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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		<title>UAE Man Campaigns Against Reckless Driving That Killed His Sister. Part II.</title>
		<link>https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving/</link>
					<comments>https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Green Prophet Guest]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:57:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traffic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=29196</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Every day, 35 people are killed in the Gulf as a result of poor driving. Mohd Shahnawaz has launched a new campaign to change the attitude behind the Gulf’s reckless drivers. This is the second in a two-part series about the Suraya Foundation. In the first (which you can read here) we described how Mr. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving/">UAE Man Campaigns Against Reckless Driving That Killed His Sister. Part II.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> </strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-29040" href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving-campaign/h/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft" title="suraya" src="../wp-content/uploads/2010/09/h.jpg" alt="suraya-campaign" width="288" height="304" /></a><strong>Every</strong><strong> day, 35 people are killed in the Gulf as a result of poor driving.</strong><strong> Mohd Shahnawaz has launched a new campaign to change the attitude behind the Gulf’s reckless drivers.</strong></p>
<p>This is the second in a two-part series about the Suraya Foundation. In the first (<a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving-campaign/">which you can read here</a>) we described how Mr. Shahnawaz started the Suraya Foundation in the <a href="../2010/09/sharjah-recycling-revolution/">United Arab Emirates</a> after the death of his sister in an undisputed and possibly reckless driving incident.</p>
<p>In this second part, Mr. Shahnawaz describes his methodology for changing the cultural attitudes that wreck havoc on the roads.</p>
<p>In the Arab world, though particularly in the Gulf region, reckless driving accounts for a devastating string of traffic accidents and attendant fatalities. We reported that <a href="../2010/09/iran-traffic-accidents/">Iran has the highest rate of traffic fatalities</a>, though <a href="../2010/03/saudi-arabia-death-toll-driving/">Saudi Arabia </a>also has a very serious traffic problem. Mr. Shahnawaz believes that a campaign that combines both an emotional and logical appeal is the most effective way to sway the public.</p>
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<p><strong>Emotional logic</strong></p>
<p>TV advertisements by commercial companies increase the desirability of their product by tracking the performance of the campaign via sales and surveys. Similarly, road safety advertisements or public service announcements have to compel the listeners emotionally in order to drive them to action.</p>
<p>Most of the previous campaigns did not work because they were too logical: “<em>Many people die due to accidents and reckless driving, please drive safely &amp; put on seat belts. A message from government of ….</em>”</p>
<p>Compare this our proposed advertisement where a person is talking to his wife and children on his cell phone while driving, hurrying to his office, and then suddenly gets into an accident (crashing sound and ambulance sirens); as he is dying, he wonders who is going to take care of his children and whether he is going to make out of this danger. Too late, he regrets his driving habits and then passes away (heart beat fades out). After than an announcer says “35 people die every day in Gulf due to reckless driving. Are you reckless?”</p>
<p><strong>We believe this latter approach first grabs the listener emotionally, and then logically compels them to action by describing the gravity of the problem.</strong></p>
<p>To compare logical mind and emotional mind, the best analogy was provided by Jonathan Haidt in his famous book “<em>The Happiness Hypothesis.</em>” He compares logical mind to the Rider and emotional mind to the Elephant.</p>
<p>If the message is merely logical and not emotionally compelling the Rider may be able to push the Elephant in his stated direction for some time, but then will be worn out as the emotional side or the Elephant does not want to go in the direction of the Rider.</p>
<p>Similarly, plain emotional messages without logic (a direction or action plan) may die out quickly. Consequently, a complete message which caters to the logical sense and the emotional sense must be made in order to drive listeners to action.</p>
<p><strong>SUCCESS</strong></p>
<p>We studied many successful case studies of various mass campaigns mainly from West. One of the books I am very grateful for is “<em>Made to Stick</em>,” by Dan and Heath Chip, whose SUCCESS principles helped me to design the proposed radio ad. The authors blessed our campaign by sending their autographed new book “<em>Switch: How to Change Things when Change is Hard</em>.” Their SUCCESS principle is the checklist for our proposed campaign.</p>
<p>Here is an example of how media was used to change behaviors of people. In the 1980s the state of Texas faced a huge littering problem, spending at least $25 million per year for clean up, with costs rising 15 percent annually.</p>
<p>Standard messages like &#8220;Please don&#8217;t litter&#8221; didn&#8217;t work. Texas authorities hired an advertiser <em>Dan Syrek</em>, who figured out mostly macho-looking males &#8211; to whom saying &#8220;please&#8221; would fall on deaf ears &#8211; were the biggest culprits.</p>
<p>Penalizing them by imposing hefty fines did not work as they were already anti-authority. So Dan figured out the best way to convince them was to use <em>people they look up</em> to or <em>people like them</em>. Based on the research, the department of Texas approved a campaign built around the slogan &#8220;<strong>Don&#8217;t mess with Texas</strong>.&#8221; Here is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhdhzzZIajs&amp;feature=player_embedded">video</a>. The campaign is credited with reducing litter on Texas highways 72% between 1986 and 1990.</p>
<p>Similarly there are many road campaigns in the West which have been successful in adopting safe driving methods. There is the <a href="http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/">!Think campaign</a> in UK which has been very successful in educating people about the dangers of unsafe driving though media.</p>
<p><strong>How can an individual initiate change in their local community?</strong></p>
<p>One of my favorite quotes comes from George Bernard Shaw:</p>
<blockquote><p>The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.</p></blockquote>
<p>There are many examples of change made by individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa, people who emotionally compelled the masses to give up the status quo and made them believe in change. They demonstrated that there is another way to improve lives; they took the LEAD to  show the way. That is how the names of such LEAD-ers have been immortalized.</p>
<p>Leaders see the problem and make the people aware emotionally and logically about the extent of the problem, and make them aware of the dangers if they don’t take any action, and then LEAD them to change. In today’s world with internet technology and the advancement of social media, thought leaders who are connected to many people or are respected can easily gain momentum and recognition of their campaign.</p>
<p><strong>Are there any laws to protect pedestrians and cyclists on the road? If not, is your foundation working to change that? How?</strong></p>
<p>According to HAAD more than 60% of the road death causalities were pedestrians. Most of the “seat belt campaigns” and government laws do not have laws explicitly protecting pedestrians though in case of death, the driver has to pay compensation irrespective if it was the pedestrian’s mistake. These are post accident measures which seemed to have been unsuccessful in the Gulf (in Oman there has been an increase in compensation fines that did not decrease the number of accidents).</p>
<p>Our campaign is trying to compel the drivers to adopt safe driving methods and prevent reckless driving instead.</p>
<p><strong>What kind of educational policies can be made over the long run to change attitudes and behavior?</strong></p>
<p>We are first planning to spread awareness of the extent of the problem in the Gulf through graphic ads.</p>
<p>We released our first information graphic on Suraya’s birthday, July 19, 2010 (<a href="http://www.bit.ly/KillingGulf">&#8220;What is Killing in the Gulf?&#8221;</a>). We are also providing and disseminating awareness via social media (<a href="http://www.bit.ly/SurayaFoundation">Facebook</a> , <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SurayaFound">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&amp;gid=3196694">LinkedIn</a> &amp; our <a href="http://www.surayafoundation.com/">Website</a>), newspapers, radios, and by speaking to groups. Our final project is a radio ad:  the script is ready to be disseminated to various radio stations.</p>
<p>After approximately six months, we will distribute a survey to determine if people listened to the message, and whether they have adopted save driving methods as a result. Any campaign must be measured to assess its effectiveness, and we believe the survey is one of the best methods to do so.</p>
<p>We are looking for volunteers for researching and collating data, graphic artists to make help make ads, and most importantly radio artists (vocals and studio) who will help develop our advertisements in Arabic, Hindi and English. Interested volunteers may go to the <a href="http://www.surayafoundation.com/volunteers.html">volunteer page</a> and sign up. At the moment we are assessing the costs if radio people decide to charge, and may collect funds for it in future.</p>
<p>We cannot afford to live with the status quo and allow the body bags to accumulate; we have to try to a find solution to stem the road epidemic and prevent reckless drivers from reckless driving.</p>
<p>:: <em>Mr. Mohd Shanawaz</em></p>
<p><strong>More news from the UAE:</strong></p>
<h2><a title="Permanent Link to Artocos: Architectural “Musical” Activism in Dubai" rel="bookmark" href="../2010/09/artocos-architectural-activism/">Artocos: Architectural “Musical” Activism in Dubai</a></h2>
<h2><a title="Permanent Link to Missing That Special Herb? Abu Dhabi Pesticide Testing Slows Supply" rel="bookmark" href="../2010/08/abu-dhabi-herbal-slump/">Missing That Special Herb? Abu Dhabi Pesticide Testing Slows Supply</a></h2>
<h2><a title="Permanent Link to Sign Up for Gulf Solar 2010" rel="bookmark" href="../2010/08/gulf-solar-2010/">Sign Up for Gulf Solar 2010</a></h2>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/uae-reckless-driving/">UAE Man Campaigns Against Reckless Driving That Killed His Sister. Part II.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.greenprophet.com">Green Prophet</a>.</p>
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