No such thing as a free way

So shortly after the addition of two gates and the return to charging it on taxi travel, the 24 AED (4 AED per crossing makes that 6 crossings) daily limit on Salik has been lifted.

According to the authorities, it does not affect "around 95 per cent of motorists". This, of course, can change with further expansion of the number of gates, or counting consecutive crossings of the two SZR gates as two separate crossings.

That aside, if "95 per cent" of people are unaffected, how does this fit into the RTA's goal of using Salik to "reduce congestion"? With Salik operational at nights and on weekends as well, this explanation is looking less and less credible.

Given that this is a tax-free country, money needs to come from somewhere for a good road system, which is generally what we have. As long as the money is going towards productive projects, like the very useful recent streamlining of Al Khail Road, I'm happy to pay a reasonable amount as a road toll. It's just really difficult to not roll your eyes when what is obviously a revenue stream is being repeatedly portrayed as a regulatory mechanism.

Dubai RTA finally opens DIC/TECOM Metro Station

And 6 other stations, including Ibn Battuta mall and Karama. Goodbye, morning taxi and evening bus. Hello, practically every significant location in Dubai.

RTA opens 7 metro stations on 30 April, 3 others on 15 May

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100417101655/RTA%20opens%207%20metro%20stations%20on%2030%20April%2C%203%20others%20on%2015%20May
Huzzah! In a suprising (but very welcome) move, the RTA has moved the opening date for my neighborhood metro station, Dubai Internet City/Tecom, from undefined-but-much-later to April 30th, which means massive savings of both time and money for yours truly.

First Dubai Metro Trip

Quite pleased that Dubai has joined the ranks of the 150 or so metrified cities in the world, I took my first trip today, on Tuesday the 15th of September, nearly a week after the official launch. While there were some teething and adaptation issues in the first week (someone apparently hit the emergency stop button, thinking it was like the stop buttons on the public buses), things appear to have more or less settled by now.

For now, only 10 stations are open, so I had to take a cab from the one closest to my destination. Still, the savings are immense, and the time taken to get there was comparable to that which would be taken by a private vehicle. Getting in and out was smooth and hassle-free with the wave-and-walk Nol card. It was all so ... first world.

Some of the stations are especially impressive and unique, and the frequency and punctuality seem to be well planned. Some stations were dug surprisingly deep into the earth. The cars were also comfortable and sharp-looking. I expect to use a lot of this service, considering how close stations are to my home and other areas of interest.

Taxi Reform in Dubai

Finally, RTA and the Taxi Agency came to their senses. Taxi woes account for much of the griping in Dubai, right behind cost of housing and traffic. Due to the sub-par public transport and the great difficulty people have to go through to get a driving licence here. When Salik was implemented on Maktoum Bridge, I saw my taxi fare to visit my cousin or sister across the creek jump by a third. And that's if I got a taxi; they are notorious for asking your destination before letting you in, so they can avoid traffic or take passengers to some far-off uptown area.

Well now it's bye-bye Salik for taxi passengers, and taxis will also be alloted exclusively for old town zones that would normally elicit grunts of displeasure from cabbies. Now if they could just take it a little further and eliminate Salik charges for large buses and motorcycles, as these actually improve the traffic situation. But for what they're doing so far, good show!