Despite the enormous investment in public transport in recent years, Dubai remains a city which opens up to you when you’re behind the wheel… but pity the driver that gets behind the wheel after a number of years, he says out of experience.
One of my first priorities when I moved back to the city earlier in the year was getting mobile. This has given me the happy opportunity to dip into some mobility options and the rental market, on which I think I’ll devote some pages to in the coming months.
It has come as a shock to me to realise just how out of date my internal road-map of the city is despite being driven around it for years. At every turn, every junction and exit I was fighting my muscle memory until, finally, my octane-fuelled machismo was set aside and I switched to google maps.
(Yes, I understand the irony of talking about mobility for years and having to force myself to use the app – although it was a weekend. Promise!)
The RTA deserves respect and plaudits for its determination to continue to develop the road network of the emirate, and my personal thanks for ensuring that I can concentrate on the important things in life, such as where are people meant to park in JLT.
I can also understand why the roads authority has also issued a warning that it will prohibit heavy vehicles weighing over 65 tonnes in 2024. When I last checked the RTA had spent nearly $40 billion over 15 years. Of course a lot of that was spent on laying tarmac as lengthening the road network from 8,715 lane-kilometres in 2006 to 18,255 lane-kilometres in 2020 clearly doesn’t come cheap.
It is understandable that they would now want to protect a lot of the investment, especially now, post-Expo, that we are facing a maturing construction market.
Assuming that this is enforced, a number of thoughts spring to mind. Firstly, maybe this is a good time for aggregate and heavy haulers to re-look at their GVW and combinations: where can weight be saved and does their current fleet now suit their future needs?
Secondly, if you are a fleet that has been used to double the capacity of its loads what impact will this have on route planning (a hinderance) and maintenance (a potential saving in less tyre wear and repairs).
My third thought is the trailer sector. Can they provide lower weight but still strong boxes going forwards? Literally.
