MAKKAH — Residents of Shaab Aamir district in Makkah have replaced their cars with motorbikes because of the narrow streets that are constantly crowded, especially during the Haj and Umrah seasons. The district overlooks the Grand Mosque from the northeast. The residents said they were avoiding traffic jams by using motorbikes instead of cars. The district still maintains its old houses. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was besieged in Shaab Aamir by an alliance of disbelievers who threatened the Prophet's relatives (Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul Mutalib) that they would not trade with them, speak to them or greet them until they handed over the Prophet to them. The district is known for its mountainous topography and old houses. Many of its residents have left to live in other more developed and less noisy areas. Some of them deserted the district simply because they could not find parking places. The old residents usually spend their time at the Markaz (a gathering place which is usually the house of the mayor or a VIP) while the young residents play football and practice other sports in the narrow alleys. About 65 percent of the district's houses were demolished for the expansion of the Grand Mosque. Salim Al-Fahmi, a resident, said the Shaab Aamir is still the closest district to the Grand Mosque despite the demolishing of its houses and those in the area linking it to Al-Ghazza district. He said the residents usually spend their leisure time at the Markazes near their homes. “During the Haj and Umrah seasons, the residents mix with the pilgrims and visitors. It is a whole new life for them every time,” he said. Fahmi said during the Haj and Umrah seasons and also during school vacations, traffic jams become a usual scene. “Movement becomes impossible because the Shaab Aamir is located in the central area around the Grand Mosque and there are very few streets leading to it,” he said. Khaled Al-Zahrani said many roads leading to and from the district have been blocked. “The first road to be closed was the one connecting the area with Al-Ghazza neighborhood. “This road has now become a passage for the use of pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque,” he said. Al-Zahrani said next the road linking the district with the second ring road was closed. “Only two roads — those leading to Al-Mallawi district and the Khandamah mountain — are still open,” he said. Ala Qattan said the residents use motorbikes to go to the other areas of Makkah. He asked the traffic police not to harass them. “We are holders of regular driving licenses and also the neighbors of the Grand Mosque. So the traffic police should not stop us or confiscate our motorbikes,” he said. Qattan said sometimes the young men use their motorbikes to transport pilgrims for a small fee.
