Forum discusses novel ways to ease traffic

New solutions to reduce traffic-related problems have been introduced in a first-of-its-kind forum recently.

Recommendations like creating special lanes for cyclists, granting special public parking tickets for residents living in congested areas and banning heavy vehicles from entering residential areas were discussed in the meeting.

The meeting was held among parliamentarians, municipal council members and government officials from the General Directorate of Traffic and Works, Municipalities Affair and Urban Planning Ministry, Transportation and Telecommunication Ministry and other related official authorities.

In the forum, the First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives MP Ali Al Aradi emphasised that “the responsibility of traffic safety is not only for traffic policemen or the officials of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry,” stressing that “it’s a joint social responsibility.”

“We need to strengthen civilised traffic culture amid the pubic including citizens, residents and the most importantly the youth,” the MP stated.

Al Aradi also noted that “traffic performance in Bahrain is among the highest in the region.”

MP Jamal Dawood stressed on the need to activate community partnership to support developmental programmes in the country, especially in regards to traffic, which has a direct impact on the livelihoods of citizens, residents and residents of the Kingdom.

MP Dawood remarked that the Council of Representatives would continue to issue legislations that would improve public transportation and reduce the numbers of private vehicles.

The recommendations also included revamping of several roads by converting them into one-direction road, reconsidering construction permits in accordance with the traffic capacity of areas, spreading awareness on the benefits of using public transportation and setting up parking slots for congested areas. 

The forum was attended by the General Director of Traffic Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Muharraq Municipal Council Chairman Mohammed Al Sinan, Northern Municipal Council Chairman Khalifa Buhamood, Southern Municipal Council Chairman Ahmed Al Ansari, Capital General Secretariat Chairman Mohammed Al Khozaee and other officials.