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 future of public transportation in Amman

Under a major public transport plan by GAM, huge buses will be operated on main routes in the capital (Photo courtesy of GAM)

GAM is serious about developing transportation alternatives in the City by proposing two major BRT projects ( Bus Rapid Transport), the first one will pass by Queen Rania Street and the second will pass by AL- Abdali . Currently, the infrastructure of the Public transportation in Amman is very week and only 17% of the residents use them. That's a very low percentage, especially that the transportation alternatives are not available. GAM is also building the infrastructure of the street side at many locations inside the city, to make it more pedestrian friendly. All these projects give us some hope about the future of the city. However, it's not that easy to develop Transportation alternatives in the city, to make it more livable and solve traffic congessions!

Amman Voice called for transportation alternatives in many posts. On July 2007, Amman Voice published a post: Promoting for transportation alternatives in Amman City:

" This can be part of a general mission to reclaim Amman city streets from the automobile, and to advocate for bicycling, walking, and public transit as the best transportation alternatives. Seeking to change Amman transportation priorities to encourage and increase clean, quite, friendly travel, and decrease car use. What we seek is a rational transportation alternative based on a :"Green transportation Hierarchy," which gives preference to modes of travel based on their benefits and costs to society. Read below about Green transportation hierarchy."

And in another post Amman city traffic congestions :

"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."

Another post : " 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?"

Check the previous related posts at:

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

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
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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

Streets names and numbers

GAM are installing Plates and changing names of the streets. Instead of focusing on the street and make it more livable, they are naming it and giving it some new signs. Moreover, changing street names is threatening our identity, the city sustainability, it's heritage and brand. We still call the first circle: the first circle, the second circle : the second circle, etc.

We need a street without pumps or holes, and a safe pedestrian to walk in. A lane for bicycles, a good public transportation for mass commute, and to stop relying on cars.

For a city to be more livable we need to focus on the street as a public space, and a pedestrian.

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Sunday said it has completed the first phase of the project; placing plates and giving names to streets of Amman.The second phase of the project will start in few days according to Director of the GAM’s Naming and Numbering Department Marwan Olayan. Meanwhile, the municipality floated a tender to manufacture 100 new plates of numbers similar to those fixed on the commercial buildings in the capital.


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Road Accident Kills at least 23 passengers at Amman - Jerash road

CDD personnel examine the wreckage of a bus in the bottom of a valley on the Amman-Jerash highway on Saturday (Photo by Nader Daoud)

This is a sad begining of the week in Jordan. More than 23 people were killed on Amman-Jerash highway yesterday!

Is this ever gonna change? Public transportation is our biggest enemy in this country and it need to be improved before we hear more people being killed.

I have a friend died, 9 years ago, on the same road when I was studying at JUST. She was on her graduation year and was the only child for her single mother.

Around 94,257 road accidents were reported in 2007, resulting in the death of 789 people and the injury of 12,989. They cost the Kingdom JD255 million, while over the past 20 years, traffic accidents have claimed the lives of 11,000 citizens, according to official figures.

According to officials, the new traffic law is expecting to solve some of our traffic problmes however, I argue that it's gonna change anything. The problem is not with having a law. We have already many laws, but they aren't under effect. We need to focus first on solving the streets infrastructures and the transportation systems and the laws will come evenetually. We need also to develop the awareness and safty tips among drivers.

God bless them and their families.


AMMAN - At least 23 people were killed and 33 others were injured when a public transportation bus collided with a water tanker on the Amman-Jerash highway yesterday, police said.

According to a Public Security Department (PSD) source, a total of 53 passengers were on board the bus, which was heading from Amman to Irbid when it slid off the main road near Salhoub Bridge, 20km north of Amman, and hit a cliff foot then ricocheted and hit a water tanker.

Both vehicles rolled over down a steep valley, said the source, adding that the tanker’s three passengers were among the dead.

More than 60 PSD and Civil Defence Department (CDD) vehicles and 300 personnel from both agencies participated in rescue operations, PSD Spokesperson Major Mohammad Khatib said.



CDD Spokesperson Captain Bassem Khleif told The Jordan Times that due to the high number of causalities, rescue teams transported the victims to several surrounding hospitals.

Jerash Public Hospital Director Yousef Gogazeh said the hospital received 19 deaths and 13 injuries, five of whom were in critical condition.

According to CDD, three injuries were sent to Al Hussein Medical City, seven to Al Israa Hospital, seven to Queen Alia Hospital, three to the University of Jordan Hospital, while one death and two injuries were sent to the Salt Public Hospital.

Also yesterday, one person died and 13 were injured in two other separate accidents which occurred in Karak Governorate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The accidents come as the Kingdom is engaged in a debate over a new harsher traffic law.

The new law, introduced by the former government of prime minister Marouf Bakhit, is seen as a necessity as the number of people killed in road accidents is constantly on the rise.

However, the Lower House rejected the draft law for the stipulated stiffer penalties which include huge fines and prison terms. The bill is still under discussion in the Senate.

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

Unfriendly Streets

We need to re-imagine Amman as a "Livable City ". All amman streets need to be Pedestrian friendly, and not only Wakalt or Rainbow, the commercial streets, and ignoring the rest.

Streets can't be regulated by only imposing strict traffic laws. They should come with a campaign to re-imagine our streets to be more livable. To Educate The citizens about the potential Transportation policies changes that will improve quality of life across Amman City.

Below are some photos taken for Swefieh streets in Amman on saturday afternoon. Note that all photes were taken by circulatiung just once arround the boundary streets of Swefieh, and I posted some comments on the photos:


"The contractors must file for permission from the GAM for any construction work or use outside the propoert line" AmmnVoice

"Parking spots must be provided for all Pharmacies instead of commercial stores" AmmanVoice

Loading and unloading at main streets

Wrong way and parking, while pedestrian walking on the street and causing traffic jams.

An intersection of chaos: no stop signs, parallel parking, no pedestrian crossing path, and an uneffective sign for an alternative street parking for only one hour.

Toward improving the transportation system and decreasing car emission

To improve the transportation system and minimizing old vehicles emission. They can now be replaced with new ones with exempted or reduced taxes, according to an article published at the Jordan times newspaper today.

Cabinet endorses exemptions for mini-buses

AMMAN (Petra) - Owners of mini-buses that have passed their operational age can now purchase a new vehicle that will be exempted from customs tariffs in return for scrapping two old small cars, under a decision taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday. In addition, they will pay a reduced sales tax of 7 per cent. The decision, which does not apply to investment companies, was taken in line with the country’s strategy to replace old passenger mini-buses with safer, newer ones, in a bid to improve the transport system. During their weekly session yesterday, the Cabinet also decided to reduce the sales tax on locally manufactured transport vehicles to 4 per cent. In addition, the Council of Ministers decided to exempt passenger vehicles, which are re-exported to be replaced with newer ones, from income and service tax.

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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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Parking

Parking building in Swifieh

New parking building in Swifieh is now under construction. It will be owned and operated by a private company for 25 yeas till the GAM take it back. The drivers will be charged to park their cars, not sure how much, and the revenue will go to the company. Another parking building will be constructed near Al-Wakalat street.

These projects might help in solving growing demand for parking in Amman. Currently, available free parking can be found at the alternative street side parking, but, not for too long. In the near future I see that we will start paying for these free street parking.

We can see this happening at Uhm-Uthaena Souq "the jewelry stores" where you will be charged to park in the street.

This will increase the cost of living and will increase traffic since most of the drivers will still cruise the streets trying to find an empty free parking spot. Not to forget also the effect on the environment.

Accommodating parking and driving is a problem, instead of accommodating car driving we need to look at transportation alternatives as better means for commuting in the city. I will mention again the effect of the new GAM planning strategy on traffic and parking. Increasing the density of population will increase the traffic problem unless we improved our pedestrian and streets network and adopted the mixed approach so we will be able to walk instead of driving.

Will building parking in Amman solve the increasing parking problems? Will you pay to get a parking spot? Won't you prefer walking, taking public transit (if we have any!!!), or taking a taxi and drop you wherever you want?

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

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

read more

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

Omar Maani GAM mayor opened today the transportation terminal Al-shamal compound as an alternative to the Abdali compound, which will start working on it Friday 20-7-2007 morning and he inspected the facilities. According to GAM the new terminal will contribute to reducing pressure on the Street Traffic Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, the former university field Gamal Abdel Nasser Interior. The terminal which is located in the Tareq Area on Jordan Street will occupy about 175 vehicles and 242 medium buses, and 278 for rented-taxis 'sarvies'.


The project was designed in a modern way in a land area of 32 dunums cost 1.78 million dinars excluding the land price. According to GAM the project aims to upgrade the infrastructure and improve the efficiency of road and improve the environmental situation and making aesthetic elements on the site. The Abdali compound will be converted to a public park with all kind of services that will become an outlet for the region that witness density in population and lack green areas.
Changing the terminal location to the 'Al-Shamali' terminal might be a good move since the best location for a transportation hub is to be located at the city boundaries, but won't this move shift the jam from one location to another? Well, the future will tell. The best part of this plan is to transfer Al-Abdali into a park. But, and we learn from other lessons, will Al-Abdali turn in the future to be another Ras-Elin? building another museum, or a city hall, cultural center, or even another municipality building? Is there going to be fountains, trees, pools, or just tiles and few bushes? or just something like the new Ras-Elin area?
What about the new Abdali project. Won't it cause more traffic congestions to the area? Won't it need parking or closer transportation services?
All these questions will be answered in the few coming years. I doubt that the traffic congestions will be solved in that part of the city, it will be worst.
What if we kept Al-Abdali terminal as it is "Saving us some money" build a park at the new claimed Abdali project and move the Abdali project outside the city, somewhere at 'Al-matar' road? It might be too late to do so, but we have to act now better than later and everyday counts.
I can't see all of this happening and not say anything. According to GAM strategy announced earlier this month building new high rise towers will cause more congestions to the city. Moreover, designing the guidelines of the high rise buildings at the bottom of the city mountains so they don't affect the city skyline is a good idea from the perspective of preserving the city skyline and character. But, will the developers like that? If they want to spend millions of dollars on a building. They will need it to stand up in the Sky.
All indications shows that building a new city with high rise buildings away from the city center and populated Amman region is the best choice.

By Emad Salameh

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?