Bahrain: One-Car-Per-Household Policy Not Recommended, Say Commuters
Commuters in Bahrain deliberate that a proposal to limit car ownership to one per household to reduce traffic congestion may not have the desired outcome and instead would only increase stress levels. Over 26,000 new cars are reaching Bahrain’s roads, according to an official study.
It is identified as the primary cause of escalating traffic congestion, pollution, and parking woes.
However, Zayani Motors general manager Mohammed Zaki pointed out that several aspects make the one-car-per-household policy ineffective, the main one being the limited availability of public transportation in Bahrain as a contributing factor. While options such as buses and Uber exist, buses are time-consuming, and Uber fares for travelling between two points are prohibitively high, he said.
With the population growing, it becomes increasingly challenging for families with four to five members to rely on just one car, he added. Mr. Zaki pointed out that it is also unrealistic to prevent people from purchasing vehicles, as many teenagers eagerly anticipate getting a driver’s licence and owning their own car.
Alternative solutions should be explored instead, he added. Increasing the availability of parking spaces in congested areas such as Manama and building bridges would alleviate traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, several commuters also highlighted the need for building new parking lots as a way out.
