Traffic In Muscat

Right! Is it even possible? Where do all these cars come from?! It's almost impossible to comprehend that amounts of traffic that's in Muscat, the "bottle-necks", excess people driving around aimlessly, lack of places to go so traffic gets concentrated in a certain location and companies/ministries are bunched up in one location. Well I'll try targeting each of the issues above, with the most rational explanation I can come up with and I hope they will make sense to you!

First is the "bottle-necks", there isn't much to say about this but let me explain the what a "bottle-neck" is... You see how a bottle gets tight around the top? And it's wide from the bottom(average looking bottles)? Well most of the roads in Muscat are like that, heck in all of Oman and it's too hard to make a change without causing more mess. So basically we have three lane roads, with "decoration" all along the side, trees, flowers and I don't know what else. They do look pretty to the eye, I also enjoy looking at them, but a question crosses my mind... Are these "decoration" or does the ministry really care about pollution and the o-zone layer that they put all these greenery? I hardly doubt they'd think that far, probably some people in higher position wanting to make some extra cash so they ask for a budget to "improve" the city and spend the minimum and pocket the rest. Anyway, to the main issue, the "bottle-necks" you see our three way highways ALWAYS end going to two lanes(sometimes one) and then back to three, but during that "bottle-neck" a 5 minute traffic jam is caused per 500 meters! And with the excess number of cars with always one person in a car the size of a truck it's bound to be more than 500 meters... So with these traffic jams people get frustrated and cause more traffic which then goes on to causing more problems suck as accidents, being late and cars breaking down. But no point complaining it's going to take the 50th national day for us to witness another miracle in Oman, heck maybe the 45th!

Then comes the aimless driving, I must admit I do it too... Don't judge me! It honestly isn't my fault, Oman some how managed to create a "drive-thru mall" and Shatti being a good example. In countries like Malaysia you'd find a mall, one mall, that contains all of Shatti inside it and minus the cars driving around. Instead of some genius thinking: "Hmmm, we have a cinema there, a mini mall here and a mini mall there... Why not make ONE big mall that includes all these in them and the rest create a parking space for the cars to park and go use this new invention!" But I doubt we'll see that happening anytime soon. Most people with drivers license, who are bored, head to Shatti to drive around and due to the lack of things in Oman MOST people end up going there. Round the clock, from maybe like 8am till 12am midnight... That's another reason why traffic is caused because people drive aimlessly and like little drones we all look alike driving in our cars, music loud, hands on our cheeks and pressing the brakes every 5-10 seconds.

The final reason, but let's face it, I think it's the same in most countries, because nearly everyone who works wakes up at 6:30, showers, has breakfasts, gets into the car and drives off. With everyone being out of the house around 7am heading in the same direction, with the "bottle-necks", to the SAME location(Wizarat road and Ruwi), with the lack of parking spaces(another reason for traffic) and people getting frustrated. Traffic is bound to happen, there will never be a solution but always a workaround. So let's put our hands together and pray for some day, someone and with the brains to introduce, fixed bus lines, train stations and undergrounds!

Reporting from Muscat itself! =D