(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is considering a "Smart Rental" initiative in which cars would be offered in an effort to reduce vehicle ownership, minimise carbon emissions and increase the ridership of public transportation networks.
"The gist of the initiative is that a person rents a car for a short period, not exceeding six hours, by using smart apps on mobile phones or online, and the vehicle will be collected from a public place without involving employees in the process," RTA Director-General Mattar Al Tayer said. "Once the mission is accomplished, the car has to be returned to a specific location nearby metro stations."
Al Tayer said that the RTA is currently mulling over three different smart rental models. The first, a "two-way" rental model, where a person will collect the car from a specific location (near a public transport station) and the car has to be delivered back after use to the same location. The second model involves collecting a car from one location and dropping it off at another, and the third would involve multiple users sharing the same vehicle.
"The RTA is planning to offer the project to private companies in the near future," Al Tayer added.
International statistics reviewed by the RTA indicate that smart rental programmes lead to 25 to 71 per cent of respondents refraining from buying new cars, and 15 to 20 disposing of their existing cars. The rental programmes also have the added benefit of increasing the use of public transport systems by 13 to 54 per cent, as reducing the distances covered by cars and reducing carbon emissions.
A questionnaire commissioned by the RTA showed that 66 per cent of people welcome the smart rental idea, with 80 per cent saying they would use the cars if provided.
"It (the questionnaire) also showed that 50 per cent of respondents believed that the model is highly relevant to shopping and visits during holidays," Al Tayer noted.
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