The Implications of Automobile Dependency in Abu Dhabi City

Global trends indicate that automobile dependency is increasing at a tremendous pace especially in developing countries – much faster than the provision of roadway and transport infrastructure. Furthermore, research shows both car use and ownership tend to increase with economic development and growth. Abu Dhabi City is a typical example of a fast growing (economically, population and wealth) city, where car ownership is growing at an annual rate of 24% and most journeys are made by car. Transport policy makers in Abu Dhabi face an uphill challenge as they try on the one hand to develop a comprehensive multi-modal transport network that includes various elements of mass transit systems and on the other, to deal with an increasing car dependency. The externalities associated with a car dependent society is currently being felt in Abu Dhabi and the region in general, with the rise of congestion, health problems associated with lack of physical mobility, accidents and environment deterioration. This paper assesses the impacts of automobile dependency in Abu Dhabi city, and includes how Abu Dhabi compares with similar international cities, outlines key challenges facing Abu Dhabi while taking into account the unique characteristics of Abu Dhabi; and finally concludes with key recommendations that Abu Dhabi can employ to overcome automobile dependency, in order to realize the long-term aspirations of a world-class city with a well-integrated multi-modal transport system.

• Summary URL:
  https://doi.org/10.2495/UT150121
• Summary URL:
  http://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-the-built-environment/146/34084
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.witpress.com/books/978-1-84564-898-5
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from WIT Press.
• Corporate Authors:

  WIT Press

  Ashurst Lodge
  Ashurst, Southampton  United Kingdom  SO40 7AA
• Authors:
  • Ochieng, M
  • Jama, M
• Conference:
  • 21st International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment
  • Location: València , Spain
  • Date: 2015-6-2 to 2015-6-4
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: Urban Transport XXI
• Serial:
  • WIT Transactions on the Built Environment
  • Issue Number: 146
  • Publisher: Wessex Institute of Technology
  • ISSN: 1743-3509
  • Serial URL: http://library.witpress.com/pages/listBooks.asp?tID=2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Developing countries; Economic development; Environmental impacts; Public transit; Sustainable development; Traffic congestion; Traffic crashes
• Geographic Terms: Abu Zaby (United Arab Emirates)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01568347
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781845648985
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 2015 5:12PM