World Car Free Day

Every September 22nd, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighborhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. Amman city suffers from Urban Sprawl and the domination of cars, our lifes became car dominated and we rarely enjoy nature and the environment. Shouldn't we become part of this global day?

"World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet and putit on politicians and planners to give priority to cycling, walking and publictransport," says Randall Ghent, initiator of the first World Carfree Day in 2000. The global day of action now takes place annually on September22. On September 22, 2007, World Carfree Network and its member organizations around the world call for permanent changes to make cities more environmentally and socially sustainable 365 days a year. In more than 1,500 cities and 40countries, liked-minded active citizens around the world will call for measuresthat actively reduce car use, with carfree street festivals, bicycle parades,street closures and other special events.For individuals, the network and its supporters will distribute a condensed one-month version of its Autoholics Anonymous 12-step programme, to give people the support they need to kick the car habit.For municipalities, the network and its supporters will encourage implemention of the infrastructural and policy changes necessary to reduce our society’s car dependence and increase our quality of life. As a separate project related to World Carfree Day, the network has put out a call for submissions for its 2nd Annual Street Conversion Design Contest (www.worldcarfree.net/contest/), challenging people to come up with cutting-edge designs to transform existing areas to create lively people-oriented spaces free of traffic. They are encouraged to implement the designs on the ground on September 22.

Related Posts:

Amman City Streets

Mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents

Activism .. Actions Not Words

Al-Weibdeh carnaval

Amman City Parade

Amman City Street Block Celebration

The free cost of Valet Parking in Jordan

Valet parking is a new trend in Jordan and to some people it's a must do etiquette. To some companies it might be an added value to their service. The question is what does it mean to the city?

I asked GAM if they give anybody permits for businesses who claim the ownership of the street curb, but they don't, even some businesses claim that they pay for the valet spots.

The problem has many dimensions. I don't support the whole idea, but if we want to imitate other countries it needs to be regulated, any claimed Valet Parking should be done through a certified operators, this way we make sure that the car is safe and the driver is qualified to drive.

I don't wanna suggest accommodating valet parking but GAM and We need to find a better solutions for the increasing problem of Parking in Jordan.

It does frustrate me when I see an empty parking spot along the street side being reserved for the business customers or a VIP personnel, while I have to circulate the blocks trying to find an empty spot! Last weekend I saw a whole street in Abdoun, arround Crums and Limon, full of unoccupied reserved spots while everybody was looking for a spot!!!

The street side belongs to all people, we payed for the ownership when we payed our taxes.

This matter took my deep attention when I was living in NYC, I first created a blog called: SHAME ON YOU PARKING ... http://shameparking.blogspot.com/ ( That was my first blog: Shame Parking is a public awareness blog to promote better parking practices and better environment). What I did is taking a picture of a wrong parking cars and post it in the blog with the car number, and I send it my e-mail to NYPD!!! Crazy... but what was more crazy is taking a picture of a police officer car parking in a wrong spot and I post it under: Uncivil servants!!! but it's a free world there, I am not sure if I can do that here..hahha? After this blog I thought of finding a solution for car parking problems in NYC, so I created another blog: Spotforecast and tried to sell the idea : http://spotforecast.blogspot.com/ of finding parking spots from your cell phone.

Well, you wonder what happened? It needs investment in marketing the idea!!! anybody interested?

I didn't see valet parking on the street side in the US. The valet parking concept is based on taking the car to the parking lot and not to the street side.

It really frustrate me to see this in Jordan. We need to build a campaing against this practice.

Transportation Conference & Exhibition

Amman Voice is participating in the First International Transport conference & exhibition for the middle east.

I will be speaking as the Road Safety Center of Excellence GM about " Pedestrian Road Safety Guidelines ", it's a great opportunity to speak infront of local, regional, and international decision makers.

My speach will be focusing on Pedestrian Road Safety and will deliver Amman Voice message and the Road Safety Center key missions and goals. Moreover, I will speak about the Pedestrian Road safety Guidline book that we were working on at the center for the last few months.

World Car Free Day

World Car Free Day
#fullpost {display:none;}
Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. Amman city suffers from Urban Sprawl and the domination of cars, our lifes became car dominated and we rarely enjoy nature and the environment. Shouldn't we become part of this global day?
"World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet and putit on politicians and planners to give priority to cycling, walking and publictransport," says Randall Ghent, initiator of the first World Carfree Day in2000. The global day of action now takes place annually on September22.On September 22, 2007, World Carfree Network and its member organisationsaround the world call for permanent changes to make cities more environmentallyand socially sustainable 365 days a year. In more than 1,500 cities and 40countries, liked-minded active citizens around the world will call for measuresthat actively reduce car use, with carfree street festivals, bicycle parades,street closures and other special events.For individuals, the network and its supporters will distribute a condensed one-month version of its Autoholics Anonymous 12-step programme, to give people the support they need to kick the car habit.For municipalities, the network and its supporters will encourage implemention of the infrastructural and policy changes necessary to reduce our society’s car dependence and increase our quality of life. As a separate project related to World Carfree Day, the network has put out a call for submissions for its 2nd Annual Street Conversion Design Contest (www.worldcarfree.net/contest/), challenging people to come up with cutting-edge designs to transform existing areas to create lively people-oriented spaces free of traffic. They are encouraged to implement the designs on the ground on September 22."Related Posts:Amman City StreetsMechanisms to reduce traffic accidentsActivism .. Actions Not WordsAl-Weibdeh carnavalAmman City ParadeAmman City Street Block CelebrationType rest of the post here
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The new traffic law

A Police officer standing at one of Amman streets, Photo by Emad Salmeh


The "experts" say, as mentioned in the attached published article in Jordan Times, the cause of road killing goes to the following factors: 1) The Road. 2) The Vehicle. 3) The Driver. and awareness or change in mentality.
Maybe a good implementation of tough laws will enforce people to obay the orders, a dectatorial solution, isn't it? Enforcing a tougher Traffic law is not mentioned in the above mentioned causes of accidents and the experts listed some causes of the problem, but I belive they missed some.
Driving in Jordan is a reflection of a social-economical status of the citizens. What you see in the number of road killing, accidents, and even the fights and aggressive attitudes of the drivers in Jordan is not only caused by factors mentioned above, or the awareness of being a "good driver".

It's our education, ethics, and behaviors. How we drive is how we talk, how we work, how we treat each other, our moods, our patient, our attitudes, a reflection of the citizen, happiness and satisfaction or sadness, anger and greed. Not only have we had no proper roads to drive, or a depreciated cars caused by the holes in the streets, or an angry driver. We don't have a proper transportation alternative, and we don't even think of having one.

On the other hand, we need to focus on finding alternatives for transportation, if we focus on cars and traffic we will get more cars and traffic, if we focus on the people and places we will get more people and places.

A poster shows the amount of space taken up by cars, a bus, and bicycles used to transport the same number of people.

We will not solve the accidents and traffic problems by accommodating the use of vehicles. We fix some streets, we build parking garages, we dig some tunnels, then we enforce tougher traffic laws or we make some guerilla campaigns for implementing selective seasonal violations or we say lets give some awareness!

Our main target shall be to develop this country to make it more livable. We need to understand and educate ourselves and know what do we want? and how are we going to make it?

Finally, to be the leaders in the region development, we have to have the competency of change.

Related Posts:
Amman City Streets
Mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents
Police Security Department
Toward improving the transportation system and decreasing car emission
Education and Economy in Jordan reform
The new Traffic law
Dealing with Police officers in Jordan

AMMAN - (JT) Experts and citizens said a new traffic law sent by the government to Parliament on Sunday was not enough to curb accidents, noting that a “change in mentality” was a more pressing need.

As deputies went into lengthy discussions on the legality of having a new law as an older temporary one was stuck at the Senate, citizens and experts told The Jordan Times that a crusade should be launched to change the mentality of motorists, pedestrians, educators and families.

Dean of Husn University College Saad Abu Qudais, who described road accidents as an “undeclared war on the innocent”, noted that the amendments to the law focus on drivers as the major factor in traffic accidents.

“There are other factors the proposed draft law does not address such as conditions of roads and vehicles as well as loopholes in road designs.”



The academician, who is an expert in transportation-related environmental problems, said: “It is not an issue of intensifying penalties and proposing harsher regulations.”

The draft law replaces a temporary traffic law introduced by the previous government in November that was rejected by the Lower House because it was seen as too harsh and aimed at collecting money through bigger fines, rather than addressing the problem itself.

The new law reduced fines and long prison terms, but remains stiffer than the previous versions of the traffic law.

As an example, the penalty for running a red light in the new law ranges from JD100 to JD200 in addition to a detention period of one week to a month, compared to a minimum JD250 fine proposed by the previous version that was rejected by the House.

Mohammad Dabbas, president of the Society for the Prevention of Road Accidents, agreed with Abu Qudais on the need for awareness rather than harsh penalties.

“We should first concentrate on how to make the public respect and abide by traffic regulations before we think of suggesting stiffer penalties," Dabbas said yesterday.

Like Abu Qudais, he also believes that all factors must be taken into consideration when tackling the alarming issue.

He said the Kingdom’s roads are overwhelmed by the increase in population and the rise in the number of vehicles.

Contrary to the view of the two experts, 65-year-old Souf resident Yusra Odeibat, who lost her son Mahmoud in a road accident last year, called for harsher penalties for violators.

Odeibat, who blames the death of her 24-year-old son on a “reckless driver”, said such people should be punished severely and traffic police “should be on every street to stop these people from killing others”.

But some drivers are not yet ready for a change of mentality.

“I cannot drive slowly,” said Salem Nassar, a minibus driver on the Amman-Zarqa route.

“If I do, other buses will make more money than I do, and this will get me into trouble with the bus owner,” he told The Jordan Times on Sunday.

He added that he has no choice but to pick up as many extra passengers as possible in his daily “race” against drivers of public transport vehicles.

Nassar claimed that corruption is involved in the law enforcement issue.

“Even if authorities intensify penalties, it will not do any good. These people [bus owners] have influential people supporting them and they rarely pay fines,” he charged.

But if this way of thinking prevails, said Dabbas, one in every three families will lose a member as a result of a road accident by 2020.

Over 111,000 traffic accidents occurred in 2007 claiming the lives of 979 people. The figure exceeds that of 2006 by 80, Abu Qudais said, citing statistics compiled by the Traffic Institute.

“This means that every 9.44 hours a citizen dies as a result of an accident,” the expert said, pointing out that during the past 10 years more than 7,000 people died and 175,000 injured because of road accidents.

According to a statistical analysis worked out by Abu Qudais, 37 per cent of traffic accident victims are pedestrians, 27 per cent drivers and 19 per cent front seaters. Passengers sitting in back seats constitute 8 per cent of total injuries and deaths.

The analysis also indicated that human error is blamed for 90 per cent of accidents with 10 per cent caused by other factors such as road and vehicle conditions and bad weather.
Violation Current fine/penalty Suggested fine/penalty

Driving under the JD500 and 3-6 months JD250 and one-month
influence of jail term imprisonment
drugs or alcohol
Improper use of lane JD100 and one- to JD50
four-week jail term
Smoking offence JD15 JD10
Failure to use JD150 and imprisonment JD50-JD100
tachometer between one week and a month
Failure to use taxi JD50 JD30
fare meter
Not using seatbelt JD25 JD15

A son of a blind father killed by a car accident

Photo by Petra

Mourners stand at the fresh grave of Huthaifa Salaheen, the only son of a blind father, who was hit by a speeding car in the first week of February in the town of Yarqa, near Salt, while accompanying his father, a schoolteacher, to the mosque. He was proclaimed dead Thursday morning after 17 days in a coma. The tragic death of Huthaifa fuelled a public outcry against road accidents that killed more than 7,000 people and injured 175,000 in the past decade

Parallel Parking

The pictures shown were taken within 5min of circulating the boundary streets of one of the most important neighborhoods in Amman, Swefieh.

I am posting these pictures with comments trying to point out on the problems we have in the City. Hopefully, we understand our problems and try to give the right solutions.

I don't walk to work, like most of us, and i got so frustrated from what I experience when driving. I see drivers fighting, agressive, and mad at each other. Not a healthy way for people to interact with each other, not a healthy way of living.

Parallel parking is a major obstacle for driving in the city, it cause more traffic, and more accidents. People parallel drive either because there is no parking, or they are in a hurry and have no time searching for a spot, or loading and unloading.

This doesn't happen in the big cities but why we see it a problem here?

A solution for this is by re-structuring the transportation system in the city by providing the following solutions:

1) Focus on Green transportation alternatives and not cars: Pedestrian, and public transit.

2) More Garage parking

3) Metered parking

4) Alternative street side parking

And most important allowing drivers to curb their cars only for loading and loading or a small period of time, like 1/2 an hour. Many of the parking spots are lost due to the long term parking of the retail owners and employees.

This will improve our streets and will improve the quality of our public spaces.

Finally, I am not promoting for accomodating driving, we shall focus more on pedestrians and public transit and not imposing some driving rules.

Related Posts:
Promoting for transportation alternatives in Amman City
Parking
Amman Mini-Metro from the 1st circle to the 8th circle?
The new Traffic law

Amman streets

Amman City has an enormous traffic problem. Streets are overrun with cars, pedestrians are jammed onto sidewalks, and forced into dangerous traffic, buses have no schedule, and deliveries, taxis, and emergency vehicles struggle to get through.

Amman's new traffic planning policy primarily attempts to maximize vehicular through put. This fails to consider how pedestrians, and transit-users can improve the total capacity of our streets.

Streets are more than just car corridors; they are valuable civic spaces and resources that need to be wisely allocated. Improving these public spaces is the simplest way to improve the quality of life for all Ammanies.

Amman city streets ate almost entirely devoted for cars. Cars are the most inefficient users of Amman City street space. A sensible, sustainable transportation policy would prioritize transit users, and walkers.

Related posts:
Unfriendly Streets
Mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents
Police Security Department
Toward improving the transportation system and decreasing car emission

The new Traffic law

Since we all wonder what's cooking regarding the new traffic law. I posted here the latest update. To read more about Amman Voice opinion and strategy to reduce traffic read the related posts below.

AMMAN (Petra) - The new temporary traffic law will remain in effect until constitutional requirements are finalised, Dean of the University of Jordan law faculty George Hazboun said on Monday. Under the Constitution, the government submits the draft law to the Parliament for deliberation. Once it is approved, the bill is submitted to His Majesty King Abdullah for endorsement, he added. The temporary law is now in the Senate after it was rejected by the Lower House.


Related posts:

Unfriendly Streets

Mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents

Police Security Department

Toward improving the transportation system and decreasing car emission

Mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents

Police man in Jordan, Photo: Petra

The new PSD administration are taking the right steps toward enhancing the performance of the police department. This is what we mentioned in a previous post Police Security Department : " To be more effective, and have the competency to manage the developments and challenges in our country being more proactive than reactive." .... "We do need to see more police in every neighborhood and every street. In public places, parks, and Malls. If we need improvements in our country, it needs to come from here, from the police department. Their duties are beyond putting criminals in prison, they make sure that there is an order, and there is a law. Moreover, the PSD, and the GAM together with all other public services in the country need to be more connected working together."

AMMAN (Petra) - Public Security Department (PSD) Director Major General Mazen
Qadi said on Thursday that the PSD was working to implement plans designed to
reduce traffic accidents. Qadi made his remarks during a visit Thursday to the
Highway Patrol Department where he met with officials and experts to discuss
enhancing the department’s performance. Qadi issued instructions to provide the
department with qualified and well-trained personnel to control traffic movement
in the Kingdom. Also Thursday, Qadi said the PSD will continue plans to
establish highway patrol stations, noting that four new stations will be created
in the near future.

Related Posts:
Police Security Department


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Slow Seasonal business ...Why?

Uhm Ali Charity Gorilla campaign, Sameen the friend of the Poor, Photo by: Emad Salameh

You can read below an interesting analysis for the drop in the seasonal sales. Yes, it's about the economics that I am not gonna talk about here, however, I see other factors need to be mentioned:

1) Psychology of the consumers: The city is becoming one of the most depressing cities in the world. You hardly can see someone smiling, laughing, or happy about his status. So, people don't have that motive to celebrate the holidays.

2) Alternative "new" Stores and Shopping Malls: the increased number of shopping malls and discount stores is taking a large percentage of sales than the traditional street market stores especially in the winter season. Ex: City mall and Le Carrefour .

3) Traffic: The increased city traffic congestion affects the purchasing power especially when shopping at major hubs like: Downtown, Jabal Hussein, and Swefieh.

4) Availability of parking spots: Finding a parking spot is becoming a nightmare especially in street markets, while the malls have enough car parking comparing to the municipality that's not providing enough spots.

5) The Political instability of the surrounding countries like: Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq. Which makes us unwilling to celebrate the holidays.

6) Sales Strategy: Even this is the Season we can't see any real Sales. If it's the holiday season shouldn't the retail shops start thinking about making a real sales on the merchandises that coincide with the Holidays season? With low profit margins they can sell more.

And as mentioned, the increase in the prices of Sweets especially after the latest rise in the Sweets Bakery and Nuts.

We need to search for the real reasons behind our problems in order for us to find the right solutions.

I sound pessimistic, but, I have to be honest and say what I feel. There are some good initiatives in the country, but, I see other indications that need to be taken more seriously.

AMMAN (JT)- The holiday season, especially this year when Eid Al Adha is immediately followed by Christmas, was hoped to be the high season for various businesses, but shopkeepers say the situation is disheartening so far.

Garment, sweets, nuts, coffee and shoes vendors said Monday business was so much “below expectation”.

“We expected that the government’s decision to disburse salaries to civil servants and the army before Eid Al Adha would send the market thriving, but it is not happening,” said Zeid Abu Wazzan, a garment retail-shop owner in Jabal Hussein. Abu Wazzan, who also owns a wholesale store, attributes slow business to two major factors. “The prices of clothes are more expensive than they were before Eid Al Fitr [in October]. Plus, the weather is not stable and retailers are reluctant to buy from wholesale shops. Thus there is not much for people to buy anyway.“ A men’s clothes shopkeeper in downtown Amman said: “Our sales for Eid Al Adha are below 40 per cent of Eid Al Fitr sales.” In his view, the economic situation makes it hard for people to buy new clothes for family members for both occasions separated by 70 days, so they usually buy for Eid Al Fitr and keep the same clothes to use for Al Adha. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday that markets of second-hand clothes in Irbid were witnessing crowds of customers due to the unaffordable prices of brand-new items. Hard times do not haunt the garment business alone. A sales assistant at a nut and chocolate store in Sports City told The Jordan Times that there is decline in demand. “Usually, the few days before either eid, people buy coffee, chocolates and nuts to offer their guests, but for this eid, sales are down, compared to past years,” he said. “I think the drop in sales is due to the increase in prices of nuts by an average of 30 per cent, especially after imposing sales tax on some kinds of nuts. In addition, the price of milk almost doubled recently, which led to increases the prices of chocolates and consequently a reduction in sales,” the shop employee told The Jordan Times. Employees at sweets shops in Amman said they hope that Tuesday will change the trend, especially since people like to buy the eid sweet, mamoul, fresh. But so far, the season is not that favorable. Even beauty salons and hairstylists say that customers for this eid are smaller in number than they were in the previous eid. “Customers are not as many as we witness ahead of eids,” said Abu Walid, an owner of a barbershop in Abdali. He attributed the slow business partly to the cold weather and the economic situation. “When they have to choose between food and a haircut, they definitely go for food,” he said. Meanwhile, Samah Abdul Karim, a hairstylist at a hair salon in west Amman’s Seventh Circle area, said the saloon is already overcrowded with women and girls of different ages, yet business is not as thriving as it was in the days preceding Eid Al Fitr. For shoe stores, however, the case was different. Shopkeepers said that people in any case need to buy shoes for the cold season, so they tend to wait till the eid to do that. Eid Al Adha this year coincides with winter solstice, also known as midwinter, which occurs around December 21 or 22 each year in the northern hemisphere, marking what is known in the traditional culture as the marbaniyeh, or the coldest 40 days in the year.

I need an answer for this picture?

Taken by Anonymous...

This picture was taken for Jamal Abdel Nassir Circle and I want someone to answer me these questions:

1) Why nobody is using the bridge?
2) Who decided to build this bridge or other non functional bridges ?
3) Did the bridges or tunnel solve the increasing traffic congestion problems?
4) Will I go to prison asking these questions?
5)( ) fill in the blanks


*Small note: Funny picture looking at the empty pedestrians and someone is trying to cross the street running.

If we continue planning our streets for cars and traffic, we will get more cars and traffic; conversely, if we start planning our cities for people and places, we will get more people and places.

Read more at : Amman Streets


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Amman city traffic congestions

AMMAN (Petra) - The Traffic Department has prepared a new plan to address traffic congestion and limit road accidents during the holy month of Ramadan.
“The comprehensive plan seeks to facilitate traffic movement by identifying trouble spots and finding alternative routes for motorists in order to reduce car jams on main roads during peak hours,” said Brigadier General Thaher Gharaibeh, assistant director general for Traffic Affairs at the Public Security Department (PSD).
The peak hours begin when people leave work and last until iftar (maghreb prayers), he added.
Under the plan, large vehicles, including trucks and tankers, will be banned from using the streets during this period, while PSD helicopters will monitor congested roads and report accidents to the main traffic operations room.
With the help of Amen FM and PSD personnel, motorists will be guided to alternative routes.
“The Traffic Department coordinated its efforts with the Public Transport Regulatory Committee (PTRC) to assign PTRC personnel at the main bus terminals to regulate the movement of buses and vehicles,” Gharaibeh said.
The department also coordinated with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) regarding technical measures, including traffic light operations and removal of road blocks on main streets.
“Traffic light durations on main roads witnessing traffic congestion will be amended in accordance with the end of office hours during Ramadan,” Gharaibeh noted.
He added that PSD and GAM personnel will carry out inspection patrols of street vendors and stalls on main roads in order to facilitate traffic flow.
He said the department has taken all the required administrative measures to ensure that the comprehensive plan will be implemented during the holy month, adding that PSD staff will be stationed on the capital’s busy roads to monitor traffic.

Traffic congestion is a serious problem in major cities. If the city have been planned correctly it might prevent serious traffic problems that have it's impact on the environment and the economy. On the other hand, smart technology solutions can help solving those problems. For example: using a real time based GIS (geographic information system) used with GPS (global positioning system) can show traffic flow on real time with navigation systems installed in police patrols, trucks, taxis, and smart phones. Also, since Amman city is not been planned to accept that much traffic or density of population we need to implement smart solutions to manage traffic, and provide transportation alternatives, as I mentioned in my previous post.

Some solutions in major cities like London implemented congestion pricing fees for driving at certain routes during rush hours. Similar studies are being discussed in NY city to adapt similar policies to charge drivers $8. They did not ban trucks or tankers from driving during rush hours due to it's negative consequences on businesses. Not like this new plan for Amman City traffic control in Ramadan. Will it be an effective measures to control traffic? or it's just a beta test, trial and error, maybe it works?

As for the "coordination" efforts between: Traffic Department with the Public Transport Regulatory Committee and the Municipality I am surprised that they weren't doing this already? and they do this only in Ramadan?

I always like to bring examples from other developed countries, to learn from it and not criticize anybody. If you study the developed cities police departments you can find their intensive efforts in operating and controlling traffic and transportation. You can see and feel the presence of the police department all over the city, they are highly equipped with communication devices, know how to deal with traffic jams, they are sharp and well educated. On a larger perspective, the police department that implement effectively the city rules have great influence on the citizens. Developed cities have a well rounded, smart, educated personnels because this is how they can give order and educate their citizens, they are the representatives of the governments.

Finally, the new development plan for Amman City expansion need to make transportation, traffic, and parking as a very serious issue to be studied "comprehensively" and "responsively"
to prevent serious future problems. Moreover, it must go hand by hand with all other public and private sectors to ensure the effectiveness of traffic and transportation initiatives in Amman City.

I mentioned this too in many previous posts:

Regarding the new GAM Interim Strategy

Amman City Streets

Promoting for transportation alternatives and bicycle lanes in Amman City

Amman Mini-Metro from the 1st circle to the 8th circle?

Opening of the complex travel north and the conversion of Abdali into Garden

GAM uses GIS to enhance performance

Creating digital maps and maps content for Jordan

Kuwait firm wins Jordan taxi deal

Financial investment company Noor has won a tender to provide a new taxi service in Jordan, Kuwait Times reported yesterday.
The joint Kuwaiti and Jordanian firm is a branch of the Kuwait-based Noor Financial Investment Company. Ayad Rashad, head of its Jordan branch told KUNA the contract would pave the way for the official launch in less than six months.
According to Rashad, the company will pay $4.2 million for a 400-strong fleet of vehicles, plus $948k for the government as lease for the project each year.

Don't we have enough cars and traffic. Do you think by adding another 400 taxis will help in solving the booming congestions and transportation problems in Amman city? Don't you think that instead of adding more cars we need to promote for Transportation Alternatives in Amman? or Build a Railway?

Related Posts
Amman Mini-Metro from the 1st circle to the 8th circle?
Promoting for transportation alternatives and bicycle lanes in Amman City
Challenging

The system will use the latest communications technology, he said, with the ability to trace cab journeys as far back as three months in order to deal with any quality issues.

Rashad also said the Noor company owned 10 percent of the Jordanian Etisalat company, with the stake likely to rise to $21.65 percent soon.

Challenging

It was wonderful being back in Jordan. The people are still exceptionally warm and hospitable and there is no comparison to this anywhere in the world.

Amman has not only grown in size, but has also become fast-paced and will soon be, if not already, a top, thriving city.

Despite this, the driving conditions are unacceptable. This is where the generosity of the people ends. Speeding, recklessness, selfishness are just a few attributes of the average driver in Amman.

The fact that an accident happens every few seconds should be an eye-opener (last year, Jordan experienced over 800,000 road accidents).



The Ministry of Transport must swiftly set up a system of ticketing reckless drivers. Speed must also be monitored and more speed bumps added wherever needed. Lights should also mark merging lanes.

It may take some time, but it can be done.

Since Jordan is one of the fastest growing countries in the world, not only when it comes to birthrates but also to the number of visitors from other countries, I’m sure this presents a challenge that can be tackled.

Kelly Abu Azzam, US Jordan Times

"The Transformers"

"The Transformers," rocks to metals. That's what's happening to Amman. Being transformed from it's heritage and it's roots to western alien modernity. High rise buildings scattered everywhere in the city, they don't engage with the surrounding buildings or respect the city, it's heritage, skyline and it's form. High rise building in the city will increase traffic congestions that will cause more noise and pollution.

The GAM released the new urban development of Amman early this month, and asked for public feedback after they already went ahead with the strategy. They permit Jordan gate, Al-Abdali, living Wall, and other projects, God knows, then after that they develop a strategy and ask for suggestions?

We are Amman, we live in Amman, this is our history, this is our city. We need to have the right to participate in it's future, in it's land, air, and skies.


Construction has begun on a new Foster + Partners project in Jordan. 'Living Wall' is a 150,000 sq m mixed-use complex at the heart of Amman, close to the new Al-Abdali city center.

The site, an extraordinary carved-out rock shelf, its geology and history have been the inspiration for the scheme’s unique concept. Set against a sheer 30m backdrop, the project presents physical challenges that are not unlike those faced at ancient Jordanian sites such as Petra, where the buildings were carved out of the rock itself.

Location: The site is located in West Amman, close to the new Al-Abdali city centre.

Facilities: 6 towers (boutique hotel, a variety of residential units, offices) connected to a terraced podium, a large public piazza with sunken amphitheatre and the Energy centre.

Site Area: 12,500m²

Gross Area: 150,000m²

Net Area: Boutique Hotel 10,500m²
Residential 10,000m²
Offices 15,000m²
Retail 24,000

No. of floors: Towers: average 12 floors, podium 7 floors


Cladding: Towers:
Double-skin façades with screens to help air circulation and reduce overheating. Where shading is required, the screen becomes dense, controlling the amount of incoming solar energy.

Podium:
Full height natural stone cladding to give the feel of stratified rock layers sedimented on top of each other. The solidity of the podium cladding counteracts the transparency of the towers and blends the development into the landscape and the surroundings.

• Committee: Dip (Development and Investment Projects Fund)
• Project leader: Foster and Partners
• Project Team: Orman Foster, Mouzhan Majidi, Huw Thomas, Doretta Bevilacqua, Sharon Giffen, Omar Al Omari, Asa Hjort, Martin Lorger, Taba Rasti, Samar Rizkallah, Rashmeeta Chana, Laura Silva Dona, Henry Suryo, Maher Matar, Paul Gordz

• Structures: Buro Happold
• Consultants: Project Manager: Meem International

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Amman Mini-Metro from the 1st circle to the 8th circle?

The line's southern terminus at La Poterie was designed by British architect Lord Foster.

Do you think this is a good idea to solve the city traffic congestions in AMMAN, limit pollution, and find alternatives for transportation? What if the city contracted a foreign company to sponsor and finish the project and get the revenue for about 10 or 20 years before the city get it back?

No to Abdali Project Nor to Abu Ghazaleh / A different perspective

Obviously, Abdali project was planned and created without being initially part of any development plans of the city. The new GMA Interim strategy, which was inspired by the vision of our beloved wise King Abdullah last year, came later after and the GMA took that project as the key element for the development of the city.

We need a more comprehensive study for the city of Amman development taking into the considerations all the Stakeholders for the city development, and everybody should cooperate.

I can say, the municipality started doing that by building the GMA interim strategy not by only talking to the community asking for suggestions but to be transparent in the process. There will be mistakes along the way that can be prevented. However, this debate is only the beginning but we don't need more mistakes and corruption. On the other hand, the GMA strategy need to be more comprehensive and careful of addressing such problems.

But why now after all this effort of producing such a plan we still see debates and corrupted actions like that? Is this the beginning only? Will the new city development plan cause debates? or can the municipality actions continue being transparent