(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Around 15,000 vehicles are expected to be off the roads in Dubai today to observe Dubai Municipality's biggest ever Car-Free Day initiative, coinciding with the UAE's National Environment Day.
Almost 200 entities including government departments and private companies have confirmed participation in the green drive, which will see ministers, senior officials and employees ditching cars to reach their workplaces. They will instead walk, cycle, or hop on to the Metro or buses.
"We are expecting the number of cars not used during work hours to be more than double the figure last year," an official coordinating the event told Khaleej Times
"We have done elaborate preparations to make it a big success," said Tasnim Salem Al Falasi of the Environment Department.
In 2014, participants from 66 entities gave up as many as 7,000 cars to commute to work, contributing to the reduction of 20 tonnes of carbon emission on the day of the event. This year, the municipality is expecting to reduce 70 to 90 tonnes of carbon emission. The final figures of vehicles not used and reduction in carbon emission will be released after the event.
No Parking Day
Car-Free Day has been a "No Parking Day" for Dubai Municipality (DM) employees all these years since the huge parking lot in the municipality's headquarters remains closed for the day. The valet parking service for customers is also suspended, which results in extraordinary rush for parking spaces in the nearby paid parking lots.
This year, a similar move is expected from all participating entities, which include most of the local government departments, some ministries and educational institutions in Dubai.
"The invitation to participate has gone to all local government departments from the Dubai Executive Council " Now we are insisting that all participating bodies' staff parking must also be closed and they have to send us the pictures," said Al Falasi who heads the planning and development office at the department.
However, departments having parking lots shared with customers or other non-participating entities have been given exemption from completely closing the parking spaces.
It is a must for all to close the parking areas for their senior management at least, said Al Falasi.
Buses and Nol Cards
She said DM has formed teams to assist various participating entities. A presentation to make the Metro journey to work easier for participating employees has been sent out to them.
Detailed maps of the Dubai Metro network with useful information marked on them have been included in the presentation.
This will help participating employees and officials, who are unfamiliar with Metro network, to know the nearest stations to start and end their journeys and the stations with high capacity for parking their cars if needed.
"We have also arranged buses to pick our workers living in the Northern Emirates and for those doing fieldwork," Al Falasi said.
In addition, two cars have been kept aside for handling emergency services, if any.
DM will also distribute free Nol Cards to thousands of participating employees and officials. A "green" marathon at the Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai and an exhibition of hybrid vehicles, environmental projects and students' works at the municipality will also be held as part of the initiative.
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