Rashid Al-Fouzan Al-Riyadh THE contract for the construction and operation of the Riyadh metro has been signed along with other urban projects that will take the capital city into modernity and advancement. The question, however, is this: Who will use the Riyadh metro? Fuel in our country is cheaper than water. It is easy for everyone to obtain a car through installments. The foreigners will only have to make a down payment of SR3,000 or SR5,000 to buy a new car through monthly installments. Under these conditions, how can the metro succeed in Riyadh, Jeddah or Makkah? Are the traffic jams and the congested roads enough to drive people to settle for the underground trains? The metro system will reduce traffic congestion, save energy, take people to their destinations fast and spare time. These are all benefits that you will get from using the metro. It is obvious that women will be among the most common users of the underground trains simply because they cannot drive cars. The foreigners will also prefer the metro because it will be the cheapest public transport. For the citizens who possess cars, the metro could be a better means of transport because it is faster and time saving. The citizens will also not have to lose time looking for a parking space. They do not have to worry about the cost of parking tickets. To ensure the metro attracts more customers, I suggest reviewing foreign ownership of cars. We should make it a condition for foreigners that any car they buy should not be more than five years old. Foreigners should not be allowed to possess very old cars so they are obliged to take the underground. The project will be highly successful if 40 to 50 percent of residents use the metro as a means of transport. There should be a special police force for the metro to ensure the safety and security of passengers. The repair and maintenance work on the metro should continue throughout the days and nights. It is not enough to construct the metro, we must also encourage people to use it.
