The Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round...

I decided to catch a bus the other day. In Dubai that's a strange concept. Firstly white people are rarely seen standing at the bus stop and secondly, as a woman there are only four seats available to you. Confused? So am I.

You go to the bus stop and wait with all the other people. The bus pulls up and you go to get on and there are eight women sitting in the first four seats. These seats are designated for women only. How nice and polite I thought...how cavalier...how old fashioned...how weird.

However the bus was full and those seats were already occupied by other women so I kept walking down the aisle in the aim of standing up and holding on. People started looking at me and then a women yelled out to me that I had to get off the bus because it was full. I looked around and to my untrained eye the bus still had plenty of standing room. I followed this woman and got off the bus, blushing, because I felt I'd committed some sort of crime.

The kind lady explained to me that women are only allowed to sit in the first four rows and are not allowed to stand on the bus. So when the four seats are full, bad luck, you have to wait for another bus. Even if it's 45 degrees outside.

I looked around me, there were at least 15 women waiting. I stood there feeling like an idiot, then did what every Euro expat here does - hailed a taxi.

First phase of Road Toll System to begin in July 2007

Fly the road

After all, the cars we see today, we also saw in the 80ies & 90ies. I cannot believe people will be so stupid to spend so much gasoline (even this concerns me, it's so 'old', a car on gasoline lol something for Americans maybe), I am different, I want something cool, trendy, ecologic, budget friendly, fast, modern, futuristic...

If I watch this 'car' I see millions of them in the year 2100 and beyond, a car will be no longer a car like the current, 4 wheels 'cubic' style.

For more information about this excellent product (only 20.000$ and you have one) check the product page.

the best UAE DRIVER LICENSE GOES TO ...

Toll roads are coming to Dubai. Is that Salik?

Quoting Gulf News:
From July this year, motorists using Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Garhoud Bridge will have to pay a road toll. As part of the first phase of the introduction of the toll system in Dubai, the stretch of Shaikh Zayed Road, starting from the Fourth Interchange [near Mall of the Emirates] to Al Garhoud Bridge will be a "toll-controlled area.""The toll system will be called Salik which in Arabic means clear," said Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).She said Salik has been chosen as the brand name because it reflects the logic behind the toll system, which is to ensure smooth traffic flow....Motorists crossing Al Garhoud Bridge or entering Shaikh Zayed Road from the Fourth Interchange will be charged Dh4 per entry.The charge will be in both directions and round-the-clock. Toll gates will be installed at both locations. Also, a motorist who enters from Al Garhoud Bridge and exits from the Fourth Interchange and vice versa, will have to pay at both locations...."The main idea of introducing Salik is to reduce congestion and for better traffic management on Shaikh Zayed Road, one of the most crowded highways in the city, and to make motorists use alternate routes and other mode of transportation," said Maitha.

It's not just Dubai that's looking at tolls to solve traffic congestion problems. See here, and here.

Dubai Car Rental

Car Rental
Most major hire companies have offices at the airport (12 companies listed below have 24-hour outlets there) and at hotels.Before renting a car, check the smallprint, especially the clause relating to insurance cover in the event of an accident, as this can vary considerably from company to company.Drivers must be aged over 21 to hire a small car, or 25 for a medium (two-litre) or larger 4x4 vehicle. You’ll need your national driving licence (an International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required). You’ll also need your passport and one of the major credit cards.Prices range from Dhs77 per day for a small manual car, to Dhs1,000 for something like a Lexus LS430. Motorbikes are not available for hire in Dubai.

AutoleaseTel +971 4 224 4900www.autolease.com

AVISTel +971 4 295 7121www.avisuae.com

BudgetTel +971 4 224 5192www.budget.com

CarsTel +971 4 224 5524

Diamond Lease Tel +971 4 220 0325

EuropeTel +971 4 224 5240

HertzTel +971 4 224 5222www.hertz.com

Fast Rent a CarTel +971 4 224 5040

PatriotTel +971 4 224 4244

ThriftyTel +971 4 224 5404www.thrifty.com

United Car Rentals Tel +971 4 224 4666

Fuel stationsAt the time of writing, the cost of petrol was Dhs4.75 a gallon; so you should expect to pay less than Dhs60 to fill your tank. There are 24-hour petrol stations on all major highways. Most petrol stations also have convenience stores selling snacks and drinks.

ParkingMany areas in the city centre have introduced paid parking in a bid to reduce congestion. Prices are reasonable (Dhs1 or Dhs2 for a one-hour stay, depending on location), but this hasn’t made it easier to secure a parking space. Paid parking areas are operational at peak times (generally from 8am to noon and 4pm to 9pm), and it’s free to park there outside of these hours and on Fridays or public holidays.If you park illegally or go over your time limit, the penalty charge is Dhs150, increasing to Dhs165 if you don’t pay within 14 days. Generally your car hire company will pay them for you and charge them to you at the end of your lease.Particular black spots include the warren of streets in ‘old’ Bur Dubai, the stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road between the Crowne Plaza and Shangri La hotels and most of Deira.Parking in shopping malls is free, but if you visit any of them on a Thursday or Friday evening expect huge queues and delays, particularly at the City Centre mall.Most hotels have extensive parking facilities for visitors, including valet services.
Road signs Road signs are in both English and Arabic, which makes matters easier for the Western visitor, but the sheer scale of the American-style highway system (up to five lanes on either side at some points) means you have to stay alert, especially at the junctions on Sheikh Zayed Road that have multiple exits.