Whenever a critical economic situation arises, the private sector takes the initiative and moves in to fill the gap and generate profit. This was the case in the past where, in several situations, we saw the private sector move in to address a specific situation.
Many of the country’s problems have been resolved thanks to the intervention of the private sector. The only exception that seems to elude all solutions is the matter of public transport in our cities. We all know the difficulties and inconveniences motorists experience when trying to get from one place to another in any of our major cities.
Driving has become a daily punishment and using public transport offers no real difference. You must either hire a taxi — almost all of them have a notorious reputation and none of them uses the meter, a hafila (mini-bus) whose drivers seem never to have heard of anything called traffic or safety rules and who stop wherever they please, regardless of danger or not, or wait for a SAPTCO bus which has no schedule and where you might wait hours at a bus stop.
No one seems ready to solve this problem leaving those who use public transport, especially families, at the mercy of rude and incompetent service. Most countries of the world, including Arab ones, have come up with alternatives that provide fast, dependable and efficient service. One of these is a service providing a car with a driver at any time of day.
This is a safe and convenient means of transport that suits families. The service is available in a number of Arab countries such as Egypt and Lebanon while in the West it is available in almost every city, town and village. Apart from saving the cost of hiring a driver or buying a second car, this kind of service helps every one.
This would be an attractive area for businessmen. It would help provide jobs and secure decent livings for many Saudis. I hope the relevant bodies, including chambers of commerce, will take the initiative and study the problem.
Financing wouldn’t be a problem once the project’s feasibility has been established.
