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Residents ditch their cars in Dubai today

Experts suggest cycling as one of the best and healthy options to help reduce carbon emission.

Dubai - Dubai Car Free Day started at Etisalat Metro station on Sunday morning and many government officials used the metro to get to work.

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Published: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 10:03 PM

Last updated: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 10:55 PM

Thousands of government and private employees in Dubai ditched their cars to work this morning to observe the 7th Car Free Day by the Dubai Municipality. 
Kicking off the eco-drive, heads of various government departments joined the Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah for a Metro ride from the Etisalat Metro station to the Union Metro Station close to the municipality's headquarters.
A yoga session, painting exhibition and exhibition of electric and hybrid cars and smart bikes were held as part of the grand launch of the event near the Union Metro Station.
Lootah said the initiative aimed at spreading  awareness ?about sustainability among citizens of the UAE, especially the citizens of Dubai. 
"We want people to understand the requirements for sustainability," he told reporters after a tour of the exhibition. 
"Dubai wants to be a sustainable city. ? The huge number of cars here requires us to have alternate ideas for transportation and use cars that run on electricity or solar energy," he said, encouraging residents to reduce the use of cars and carbon emission. 
Tasnim Salem Al-Falasi, head of Environmental Awareness Section told Khaleej Times employees of over 1000 entities ?in Dubai joined the drive to go car free for the day. 
"The registration of participating entities ?crossed the anticipated figure of 1000. I'm sure tens of thousands of cars have been ditched by the participating employees from these entities." 
The total figures will be announced later, she said, adding that the municipality is recording the change in air quality due to the initiative. 
"As many as 14 stations across Dubai, including ?a portable one at the closed parking lot of the municipality, will record the air quality and help us know the reduction in carbon emission," said Al Falasi. 
Over the years, Car-Free Day has already had a significant impact on the environment, with a combined estimated reduction of 140 tons of carbon oxide emissions, as well as 147,000 litres of fuel since the launch of the campaign in 2010.

Residents ditch their cars in #Dubai today>> http://bit.ly/1UfgCjZ#DubaiCarFreeDay Photos by Sajila Saseendran/ KT
Posted by Khaleej Times on Saturday, 20 February 2016
What about having a carefree day and be part of an environmental initiative for a day? If ready to become a green warrior, ditch your cars and free yourselves from the wheels. Or else you won't get the place to park them -This is the message for the day from many entities participating in Dubai's biggest Car Free Day in seven years today.
Thousands of green champions in Dubai, including top leaders from the government, will chuck the luxury of their cars to work in support of the Dubai Municipality's largest environmental initiative to reduce the carbon footprint caused by pollution from vehicles.
 
 
 
 
 
Doing my bit for #dubaicarfreeday and taking #dubaimetro to work @moewuae
A video posted by Dr. Majid Al Qassimi (@majidaq) on
 
Kicking off the eco-drive, heads of various government departments and private entities will join the Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah for a Metro ride from the Etisalat Metro station to the Union metro Station close to the municipality's headquarters. For the first time, many government departments have confirmed that they will also follow in the footsteps of the civic body by closing their parking lots for the day, an official told Khaleej Times on Saturday.
One more day to free yourself from wheels
The theme of this year's Car Free Day is "Not A Day.Every Day" and aims to persuade residents to go car free on more days.
For this first time, the emirate will witness a second Car Free Day initiative at the Jebel Ali Free Zone on Wednesday. As many as 100 companies and government entities from Jafza have pledged to participate in this week's second car-free day.
"We are a community in itself with a sizeable workforce and over 7,000 companies in the zone.
Our joint efforts on this day, even with a slight reduction in carbon footprint, will be a start to our efforts in creating a green environment for our children," said Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer.
"It is the first year that we have such a confirmation for sure that they will do it," said Tasnim Salem Al Falasi, head of Environmental Awareness Section.
This means that those making use of such entities' parking lots should be bracing up for a "No Parking Day" as well since the purpose of the move is to discourage their employees and visitors from driving their cars.
However, Al Falasi could not immediately provide the list of major entities that will close their parking lots. An expected record number of 1,000 entities from government and private sectors are expected to participate in the drive to reduce the use of cars to lower the volume of carbon emission. "We exceeded the registration of over 900 entities by Thursday morning. The registration is still open till tomorrow for the event and we hope we will cross 1,000 entities," said Al Falasi.
She said the municipality has also made sure the participation of several persons with special needs for the event. "It is for different departments and different sections of the public. So, we wanted to include the disabled people also."
These special green champions will be present at a special green exhibition that will be held in the premises of the Union metro station. There will be a display of electric and hybrid cars at the exhibition special partly focused on environmentally friendly vehicles such as those powered by solar-energy or bio-fuel.
Another section will deal with the latest technologies and innovations relating to air quality, while a third section will focus on the preservation of natural resources. An eco-friendly car designed by students at the Petroleum Institute will be on display.
The municipality will also display the buses, specially designed with Car Free Day theme, which it has been using to transport its employees from different parts of Dubai and neighbouring emirates.

Cycle for a shake
More than 5,000 people including children have pedalled to enjoy the "fruit of their labour" and support a green cause as part of an awareness drive launched to support the Dubai Car Free Day. Tasnim Salem Al Falasi, head of Environmental Awareness Section at the Environment Department of the Dubai Municipality told Khaleej Times the civic body had launched a massive awareness campaign to encourage people to participate in this year's Car Free Day.
One of the major community events held in this regards was the "Cycle for a Shake" drive hosted at the Kite Beach during the past couple of weeks.
"We had more than 5,000 adults and children participating in this fun event, which was held to persuade people to ride bicycle and lead a healthy lifestyle," she said.
"We basically want people to move around more frequently on bicycles and if possible to their workplace as well."
Visitors to the beach were invited to hit the pedals of specially-designed bicycles fitted with smoothie blenders. The smoothies they made after pedalling the bikes were given for free to the participants. Apart from the huge signboards and banners advertise the Car Free Day initiative, Dubai saw its iconic hotel Burj Al Arab draped with the logo of the drive supplementing the efforts to boost awareness about the event.
Run and dine offer by Atlantis
Among the entities participating this year is Atlantis - The Palm, which will also be undertaking an eight-kilometer "Fun Run" starting from Nasimi Beach, in which the winner will be awarded a luxury dinner at Nobu for four guests. "As well as taking part in the 8K Fun Run, we look forward to seeing many of our colleagues leaving their cars at home for the day and opting to carpool or use," Serge Zaalof, President and Managing Director of the hotel.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com

Published: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 10:03 PM

Last updated: Sun 21 Feb 2016, 10:55 PM

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