A Case Study on Perceptions of Public Transportation in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The area has experienced population growth of about 3.5% per year and rapid urbanization over the past few decades. With this increase in population has come a significant escalation in automobile traffic, which, in turn, has contributed to poor air quality in the province. Two of the major cities in the area were listed on the World Health Organization's 2016 top 15 cities with the worst air pollution. Local studies have shown that vehicle traffic is a significant contributor to poor air quality and thus, eventually, climate change. Public transportation could alleviate some of the pollution. Unfortunately, overall past perceptions of public transportation and its negative connotations within the Saudi Arabian cultural setting have discouraged previous attempts to develop public transit services. Currently, KSA is progressing with metro works in the capital city of Riyadh and is considering what services to offer in the Eastern Province. This research involved surveying over 800 Eastern Province residents to determine whether they would use public transportation if it was offered, and what type of service they would expect. The response was positive and provided initial indications that public transportation is needed and would be utilized.

Gender-Responsive Public Transportation in the Dammam Metropolitan Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Therefore, this region has undergone substantial urban development within a brief period. According to the Central Department of Statistics of the KSA, the DMR has experienced rapid population growth during the last three decades [45,49] (Figure 2). The Eastern Province carries some of the biggest oil fields, which significantly contributes to the economic growth of the Kingdom.…”

“…For instance, SAPTCO has provided the intra-city public transport in the DMR. However, the relatively high economic status of the citizens in this region encourages heavy car usage [45]. Moreover, the low quality of the limited public transportation does not meet the residents' mobility needs.…”

“…Figure 3 shows that the only public transport route (SAPTCO bus) is around 24 km along a single alignment. Thus, due to the limited public transport infrastructure, the women population of the region also tend to use private vehicles [11,45]. Similarly, the typical travel mode for women, who do not own personal cars, is a taxi available around the region during any time in a day.…”

“…Although SAPTCO buses run through the city, its limited operational times and routes as well as inadequate, inaccessible, and lack of gender-responsive infrastructure facilities, e.g., bust stops, adjoining sidewalks, etc., force the women not to use that service. Additionally, the socio-cultural norms, such as privacy, a condition with historical, religious, and cultural importance in Saudi Arabia, severely affect women's mobility and travel patterns [12,43,[45][46][47][48].…”

“…It turns out that women remain immobile, i.e., stay home for a significant portion of the day-from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.-when they could have been mobile to perform daily activities, including grocery shopping, picking up kids from school, and other purpose-oriented trips. Factually, they need to wait for any male family members, e.g., father, brother, or husband, so that they could give them rides [45]. Thus, all the mentioned barriers result in restricted activities and socio-economic participation among women.…”