One-car-per-household policy not recommended for Bahrain, say commuters

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Report by Zahra Ayaz

Commuters in Bahrain deliberate that a proposal to limit car ownership to one per household to reduce traffic congestion may not have the desired outcome and instead would only increase stress levels. Over 26,000 new cars are reaching Bahrain’s roads, according to an official study.

It is identified as the primary cause of escalating traffic congestion, pollution, and parking woes.

However, Zayani Motors general manager Mohammed Zaki pointed out that several aspects make the one-car-per-household policy ineffective, the main one being the limited availability of public transportation in Bahrain as a contributing factor. While options such as buses and Uber exist, buses are time-consuming, and Uber fares for travelling between two points are prohibitively high, he said.

With the population growing, it becomes increasingly challenging for families with four to five members to rely on just one car, he added. Mr. Zaki pointed out that it is also unrealistic to prevent people from purchasing vehicles, as many teenagers eagerly anticipate getting a driver’s licence and owning their own car.

Alternative solutions should be explored instead, he added. Increasing the availability of parking spaces in congested areas such as Manama and building bridges would alleviate traffic congestion.

"By implementing such measures, it is possible to address the issues related to traffic without impeding people’s dreams of car ownership," Mr. Zaki added.

Meanwhile, several commuters also highlighted the need for building new parking lots as a way out.

Free parking spaces should be made available near football grounds, schools, and highly populated areas like Exhibition Road, Manama, and Muharraq Souq, said Nikhil Matthew. "This would allow people to park their cars without obstructing the free flow of traffic while looking for a parking spot."

Richard Santo, another commuter, questioned the effectiveness of limiting cars in a small nation like Bahrain and said it would not alleviate the traffic congestion. "I use Google Maps to avoid heavy traffic," he said.

Akhil Jacob points out that his parents cannot share a car since they work in entirely different locations in Bahrain.

"Bringing in a one-car policy would adversely affect their lives and make their work commutes challenging," he said, adding that it can be considered once a metro rail system similar to Dubai is in place.

"Until then, the affordability of gasoline should be used as an advantage as it offers commuters more flexibility and convenience."