Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Join the Road Safety Center of Excellence

Tuesday 16 September 2008

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs will join the German-Jordanian University (GJU), Greater Amman Municipality, and HIKMAT Road Safety foundation to become the fourth party in the Memorandum of Understanding singed last June for the establishment of the Road Safety Center of Excellence, located at the German-Jordanian University. The parties signed on 16 September 2008 an addendum to the original Memorandum of Understanding, stipulating the addition of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as a fourth party. The four sides were represented by: His Excellency Eng. Shehade Abu Hdeib/ Minister of Municipal Affairs, Prof. Labib Khadra/ President of GJU, His Excellency Eng. Amer Al-Bashir/ Deputy of Amman Mayor, and Mr. Maher Qadura/ President of HIKMAT Road Safety foundation.

Through this addition, the Ministry will offer technical support to the Road Safety Center by providing documents, information, and blueprints needed for its road safety activities, in addition to offering financial support. The Ministry will also nominate specialized staff to participate in the courses offered by the Center.

It is noteworthy that the Road Safety Center of Excellence was established at the German-Jordanian University with the aim of qualifying specialized personnel in the field of road safety, conducting studies and research about road safety vital issues, coming up with solutions to road problems, and enhancing positive public attitudes and practices. It will offer a professional diploma program in road safety, in addition to short training courses and workshops. .


Already, the Center began its activities at the German-Jordanian University last August by organizing a two-week workshop entitled "Road Safety Audit – level one". Numerous specialists took part in the workshop representing various official bodies, such as Greater Amman Municipality, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Transport Regulatory Commission, Public Security Directorate, Jordanian Engineers Association, Ministry of Education, insurance companies, and other bodies. German professors who are international experts in this field were especially invited by GJU from Germany to give the lectures of the workshop.

Road Safety Center of Excellence

Signing of the agreement for Launching The Road Safety Center of Excellence between the Municipality of Greater Amman (MGA), German Jordanian University (GJU) and Hikmat Road Safety (HRS).

Proceeding from the role of the Municipality of Amman in road safety and to complement the preceding initiative, the agreement for launching the road safety center of excellence has been signed by the municipality of greater Amman represented by Engineer Omar almaani secretary of Amman and with the German Jordanian University (GJU) represented by Prof. Dr. Labib Al-khadra also with Hikmat Road Safety (HRS) represented by Mr. Maher Qadoura, during a press conference held on the 3rd of the current month of June at the headquarters of the Municipality of greater Amman

The center aims to rehabilitate & qualify specialized staff in the road safety, study & understanding the vital issues in addition to set appropriate solutions for the road problems and to develop them through circulating of standards & best practices, which in turn affect positively on the practical & applied aspects

The center will provide a various activities which will be the creation of professional diploma program in road safety, to qualify specialists in road safety to begin in 2009-2010 as well as holding a short duration training courses ranging between 2-4 weeks to be started in the summer of 2008. The center will also hold other specialized workshops and researched in road safety.

The tuition fees will be determined in a manner commensurate with the courses and teaching program, where students or the deputed party will bear the entire tuition fees required.

The center already started operating to produce in 2008 a Road safety audit guide, a pedestrian road safety guideline, and a work zone safety guide. I was appointed as the general manager of the center by HRS and GJU. Hikmat Road Safety will fund and manage the center.

In June we will have the first Road Safety Audit workshop at the GJU. More details about the course will be published soon.

Road Safety Center of Excellence logo

Activism .. Actions Not Words

Students of Nayfeh school in Amman cross the street in front of their school after the area was made safer under an initiative by Hikmat Road Safety (Photo courtesy of Hikmat Road Safety)

"To be effective, I didn't come here for some billbords and words I came to make an action," this is how Mr. Maher Qadourah started his speach last weekend at the seminar conducted by Shoman Association titeled: " Road Accidents ... Order point".
He continued: "and we are doing it right now" ... "We need your support and participation" We need volunteers

The father of a victim of a car accident in Jordan want to make a change. Do we have to pay that big of a price for us to be a doers?

I believe this initiative is in the core goal of Amman Voice: " We need to start thinking about a campaign building the movement to re-imagine our streets as lively public places."

And it's happening now, Hikmat Road Safety are doing it.


AMMAN - (JT) In order to encourage the private sector to help
address traffic accidents, Hikmat Road Safety founders on Tuesday announced the
“Sponsor-a-Zone: Save-a-Life” initiative.
The Hikmat Road Safety organisation was established in memory of Hikmat Qadourah, who was killed in a hit-and-run car accident in January. The organisation began as a personal initiative by his father, Maher Qadourah, who refused to let his only son’s
death become just another statistic.



“Sponsor-a-Zone is a programme where individuals or organisations play vital roles in reducing accidents in the country,” Qadourah told The Jordan Times on Tuesday, adding that sponsors will be directed towards enhancing road safety in specific zones selected by stakeholders.
“We aim to make individuals realise their responsibilities towards ensuring better road safety and a safer environment,” Qadourah told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.
This initiative offers the opportunity to the private sector as well as individuals to participate in the campaign to ensure pedestrians safer roads, he added.
The initiative aims to enhance safety measures in at least 100 schools and 100 streets by the end of 2008, Qadourah said, stressing that the financial contributions made to the initiative will be directed towards reducing traffic speeds, creating safer home zones for children and guaranteeing pedestrian safety around schools.
For example, Qadourah said, 15 girls from Nayfeh school in the east Amman’s Al Hashimi Al Shamali neighbourhood have been victims of road accidents in the vicinity of their school over the past year.
“We have just finished renovations that should considerably reduce the frequency of the number of such accidents in that area,” the activist added.
He noted that students in Nayfeh school themselves made a symbolic contribution to the maintenance works to the roads,which cost a total of JD5,000.
“They paid 10 fils each. We wanted to make them feel that they share the responsibility,” Qadourah said.
According to Education Ministry’s statistics, over 4,800 accidents took place in the vicinity of schools in 2007, Qadourah pointed out, adding that his institution has targeted 15 other schools to be made pedestrian-safe areas before the end of March.

“Unless individuals understand the social responsibility of road safety and begin to act, the efforts to promote a safer environment will become increasingly more difficult,” he said.
In addition to schools, Qadourah said that the organisation has made a road safety
plan for Mecca Street, where his son was hit and killed, a street he believes
lacks minimum requirements of pedestrians safety measures.
“We will make our roads more pedestrian-friendly and according to world-class standards,” he added.
“Studies revealed that the average speed on that street is over 90km/h while it should not exceed 50-60km/hr,” he said, adding that today they will meet with officials from Greater Amman Municipality and the Public Security Department.
“If the design was adopted by the participants, we expect maintenance work on Mecca Street to be completed by June15,” he said.
According to Qadourah, the changes will include more speed bumps and guardrails to prevent pedestrians from crossing the street in places other than pedestrian crossings.

GAM devoting resources to road improvement

AMMAN (Petra) - The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) carried out maintenance on roads across the capital at a cost of JD4.25 million during the first quarter of this year. It also opened three new road maintenance centres in areas which were annexed to it last year to improve road conditions. The municipality has allocated JD30 million of its 2008 budget for improving road, GAM Maintenance Director Ahmad Khreisat said. Last year, GAM maintained and provided paving services for old and new roads in Amman at a cost of JD25 million.

Uncivil servants

This is a sample of whom did we vote for to represent us at the Parliament!
The car in the picture is for a representative at the parliament, not sure whom, parking over the pedestrian and half of the car is on a major busy Zahran street between the 6th and 7th circle.
The car with parliament plate were parking infront of the BBQ restaurant, Mawal. While the Mr. Representative was eating his BBQ meal I had to risk my life walking on the street!

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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Al-Weibdeh carnaval

Al-weibdeh and it's residents celebrated the streets of alweibdeh this weekend, on saturday, by a carnaval where pupets, horses, musicians and people walked the streets from Paris plaza to the Terasanta school.

In a previous post last Sept., Amman Parade, we promoted for an initiative to re-imagine our streets by celebrating the city, it's people, arts and cultures, they did it in AL-weibdeh, can't we do it for Amman?

Amman is a cultural city that needs to celebrate it’s arts and people in it’s
own streets that shapes it’s environment. Why don’t we have an annual parade to
celebrate Amman City it’s environment and culture by marching in the streets
form different organizations, associations, businesses, schools, clubs with
diverse ethnicities, believes, and origins. It is challenging but lets see the
feedback and if we can get the blessing from the municipality to sponsor one or
support it. We marched for politics opposing, and condemning, or supporting, and
blessing. Shouldn’t we march for our city it’s culture, and environment? We
march for peace, love, education, honor, and, most important, we march for the
environment. Let’s show how we, the citizens, can work together side by side
with the leadership of our king and the government in building this country. We
need to start thinking about a campaign building a movement to celebrate our
city and it’s people and culture.

Related posts:

Amman City Street Block Celebration
Amman City Parade

Streets going Green in Amman

Street lights will be powered on Solar energy, and it's estimated to save millions of JD. A step in using alternative sources of energy and follow the lead of the developed countries in energy and environmental design, towerds highly performance and sustainable cities.

AMMAN (JT) - The Ministry of Public Works and Housing plans to start using solar energy soon to power streetlights in a step towards utilising alternative energy sources.

The ministry has prepared a database of local companies with experience in solar energy, in addition to several international companies, Sami Halasa, the ministry’s assistant secretary general for roads, said on Saturday.

“The ministry will benefit from the experiences of several European countries that make use of solar energy in street lighting. The new plan is expected to cut down state expenditures by millions,” Halasa told The Jordan Times yesterday.

The ministry will start using sunlight in a pilot project that will be implemented on the Amman Ring Road and Hashemiyeh-Balama Street, which are currently under construction.

“When we floated tenders for constructing these roads, we stipulated that the streetlights must operate via solar energy instead of electricity. Currently, each lamp pole with double bulbs costs the country JD45 annually,” Halasa said.

Lighting the streets using solar energy will not cost the country anything, the official said, adding that the ministry will apply the initiative all streets which will be established across the country.

Lighting the country’s streets costs about JD8 million annually; if the pilot project is implemented throughout the Kingdom, it will save millions which can be directed into development projects, he noted.

Underlining the project’s efficiency, Halasa said street lamps working on solar energy will be fitted with cells, which will store daylight and use it during the night.

He noted that the project is also applicable in winter, as three hours of sunlight are enough for lighting the streets, while batteries installed in the lamp poles will operate during cloudy days.

The ministry plans to use solar energy for lighting government agencies in the future, but this will require more study, said Halasa.

Rainbow street transformed

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Rainbow Street Completed

We were waiting for the Rainbow street and now it's been completed. I visited the street recently but honestly i didn't find alot of changes other than the annoying "street stone", some benches, light fixtures, and other things mentioned below. Whats really weired is creating a Rainbow sculpture, but using this name in English, branding, has a different meaning, maybe adding some rainbow flags all over the street and we can have something like London, San Francisco, or christopher street in NYC!

An ugly cladding for the cinema and something I wasn't pleased to hear about. My lovely school, Bishops School, being bought by some investors, I think AQARIYA or AQARKOM and will be closed to join it's sister school CMS! And nobody oppose it or even talk about it?

I will post about the topic for sure, but please share me any information that you know about this deal?

This whole Area of the rainbow street is full of Schools, calling some: Bishops School, CMS, Advantnest, Atfaal El-Ahliyah School, Darrar ibn Alazwar School (not sure about the name), and another two school i don't remember the names and the British Council. All are located in the Rainbow street. Now, after this decision about transforming the street into a shopping Strip, or actually a night clubs, coffee shops street and a hang out for some hippies, shouldn't we protect those schools from being lost? Or it's over?

How can you impose a development into a street and change it's character and use without being sensitive to the use and history of the whole area?

Before I blame the GAM, I do blame the residents of the area for allowing this to happen which shows that they are only after increasing the value of their properties. Why don't we develop a neighborhood by increasing the living urban standards of the residents and not by attracting an outside investors to buy and build more commercial properties, above our schools and priceless old houses?

And for those who might not know yet, the whole Jabal Amman is being bought by some investors? And downtown Amman too, which is now under studies for transformations and god knows whats gonna happen there?

More about Rainbow street you can find it Here

AMMAN (JT) - The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Sunday said it has completed renovation work on Rainbow Street in Jabal Amman.

Work on the JD2 million development project started in March last year, and was implemented in three phases.



The renovation is part of GAM’s plan to “rebuild old districts and preserve the city’s spirit”, according to Adel Rosan, the director of the works department at GAM.

The 1.4-kilometre street, featuring diverse architectural styles, represents the capital’s heritage.

As part of the project, GAM constructed a public park in addition to car parks, Rosan said.

“There are two parking plots; the first is situated halfway down the street with a capacity for 40 vehicles, while the second is near Rainbow Garden and can accommodate 20 cars,” he added.

A large outdoor screen has been installed near Rainbow Cinema hall, and seats are available for shoppers, he said.

The project also included renovation work on some traditional sites, like the wall of Arwa Bint Al Hareth School, Rosan added.

In addition, the street itself was paved with basalt tiles, sidewalks were widened and trees planted, while storefronts and billboards were redesigned.

Meanwhile, a pyramid-like structure reflecting the colours of the rainbow was constructed on an empty plot of land at the 1st Circle, Rosan said, adding that the street is now an attractive tourist destination within the capital.


Related Posts:

Rainbow street transformed to a shopping hub
Introducing the new Downtown Amman
Building what and why Amman?
From an out of place architecture to an out of place identities.
"The Transformers"
Amman City Streets

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

Streetfilms featuring Swefieh

Amman Voice streetfilms featuring Swefieh

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Street collapse in Abdoun

A street collapsed in Abdoun during last week storm in Jordan. The collapse happend at the street edge of the under construction TAG Mall. Now the road is closed and it doesn't look it's gonna open any time soon. There were no casualities or accidents that I heard of, but something interesting can be seen from the photo below.

This project never had a sign posted other than the insurance company that said: " TAG project is fully insured with ***** " , a very unusual sign! But, alas, the sign of the insurance company is no longer there. I wonder what happend?

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.

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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Jordanian Disability Act - Symposium

Great news for the future of accessibility for disables. Hopefully we see Amman more democratic, giving the rights for everybody to enjoy the city: It's streets, parks, neighborhoods, and buildings.

Related Posts:

Jordanian Disability Act

Symposium to highlight building codes

By Dalya Dajani

AMMAN - A new effort aimed at revitalising an important yet largely inactive law ensuring people with disabilities (PWD) a more accessible public environment will get under way in the capital today.

The two-day symposium, led by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Higher Council for the Affairs of People with Disabilities, is designed to help raise the profile and enforcement of special building codes across the country.

The Special Buildings Code Law, which obligates responsible entities to ensure specific designs for buildings for PWD, came into force in 1993 under the Law for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.

The law states that all public buildings and spaces should incorporate the necessary modifications to render them accessible for PWD.

This falls under Article 3 of the law, which stipulates the right of PWD into a suitable environment that allows them freedom of movement and transportation in a safe and secure manner.

The law supports the key basis behind the legislation, which calls for the integration of PWD into mainstream society by guaranteeing their rights to education, employment, rehabilitation, medical treatment and care.

Those responsible include municipalities, the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association (JCCA) and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Authorities at GAM and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing have made some changes to both existing and new infrastructure over the past few years such as roads, major traffic junctions and parks. Some buildings and hotels have also followed building requirements or modified existing structures to meet these needs.

The Ministry of Transport has also introduced buses that have a certain number of seats designated and specifically designed for physically challenged persons.

While these steps are positive, the general environment for PWD still remains weak.



Director of the special buildings code at GAM, Rana Haddadin, said ensuring an accessible and socially cohesive environment for PWD requires greater awareness and a stronger mechanism for enforcement.

“Despite the positive strides taken, enforcement of the law and implementation of these standards on a comprehensive scale has not happened,” said Haddadin.

“We need to bring all relevant authorities on board, raise awareness on the law and ensure that a mechanism is in place for enforcement,” she added.

Haddadin told The Jordan Times that the objective of today’s meeting is to actively engage partners, which include GAM, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, representatives of other ministries, the JCCA and municipalities.

She said the latter is considered an important partner at a time when these changes are almost nonexistent in areas outside the capital where a large population of PWD still struggle to participate in society.

The Higher Council for the Affairs of People with Disabilities, the key authority on all issues related to PWD, is currently the main force in seeing these rights translated on the ground.

Enforcement of special buildings codes is among a number of issues set for implementation on the council’s action plan next year, which is essential for PWD to integrate into public life and to enjoy other rights guaranteed under the law such as employment and recreation.

Haddadin said while changing existing infrastructure is important, priorities are for new buildings and infrastructure.

“The action plan will address the needs for changes to both existing and new infrastructure, but the focus will be on new buildings, as implementation and enforcement will be be easier for those,” said Haddadin.

The complexities of modifying existing infrastructure include mechanisms and decisions as to who will finance the modification costs.

Some positive examples cited by the GAM official include the rehabilitation of Abu Huraira Street in east Amman, Al Taj road by Al Bashir Hospital and Shatt Al Arab and King Faisal roads in Um Uthaina. Others include the Zaha Centre in Tlaa Al Ali and King Hussein Park, which have been made accessible by GAM.

Haddadin said the two-day forum will include discussions on the current situation of infrastructure and the law’s requirements, while various entities will present working papers on their experiences in application of special building codes.

These include GAM, the Public Transport Regulatory Commission and the Local Building Council at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. The ministries of municipal affairs, social development, education and tourism will also present their experiences in embracing the needs of PWD.

The participants are expected to present their recommendations at the end of the symposium.

Haddadin said she believed such important input and participation would pave the way for a new direction next year.

“Had the law been implemented properly in 1993, the Kingdom’s infrastructure would have looked very different today,” she said.

“However, I’m confident that these recommendations will be a starting point for new action next year,” she added.

A 1000 car Campaign Or a 1000 tree to remember 9/11?

We remembered our martyrs this week with sorrow and blessings to protect our country and it's peaceful citizens from any harm.

Not sure who was behind this campaign, however, I knew that it wasn't officially approved, but, still some cars did participate in the campaign as we can see in the pictures below.


Is this how we campaign to remember our martyrs by driving our cars across the street.

Instead of promoting for streets as public spaces, pedestrian friendly, we promote for our causes by driving our cars!!!

I never seen this in any civilized world, a 1000 car campaign !!!

What's wrong with walking in silence, remembering our martyrs with respect and peace while celebrating our clean streets?

Why not instead of campaigning by driving, we walk?

What if instead of every Car we planted a Tree and we gave them a name of the 9/11 martyrs. We see them growing and we remember them every day in our streets.

I am sure whoever planned for this made a huge effort to promote for it, and he/she was thinking out of his heart and love to his country and people to remember 9/11.

Maybe next year we plant together a 1000 tree.

On the other hand, I must mention here other similar events when we win a soccer match, or a music award we fill our streets with cars cycling our streets for hours to celebrate.

Shouldn't this stop? maybe one day.

The GAM is working hard to control our public streets, and make it pedestrian friendly, with less traffic, and less pollution. We need to educate ourselves about the harm of cars and traffic and it's effect on the environment and city life.




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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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Wakalat street

I wanna share you some pictures with comments from the Wakalat street. I took it the month after they opened it.I love this project and my expectations were much higher than the results but I still say it's a very innovative concept for the city of Amman. If there were some mistakes we can learn from them and we shall all cooperate in building and developing our city. I know that many good people were behind this project and I hope they continue in this direction maybe one day we see all Amman streets as pedestrians, and parks celebrating it's people and cultures.

Photos by Emad Salameh, August 7th 2007

Related Posts:
Rainbow street transformed to a shopping hub
Building what and why Amman?
From an out of place architecture to an out of place identities.
"The Transformers"
Amman City Streets

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