Feb. 15 will mark the “rebirth” of the Second Circle in Jabal Amman with a new “green” look, offering citizens and drivers on the busy streets of the capital a pleasant sight as well as a place to sit.
Implemented by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI), the Second Circle project includes renovation and maintenance work on the site, estimated at JD30,000. Zahran District GAM Director Iman Maaytah told The Jordan Times that preparations and coordination with the ACI to implement the project started in June last year, and the actual work commenced on Dec. 18.
She said maintenance work was recently carried out from the sixth to the third circles, adding that the work would proceed to the First Circle soon as part of GAM’s efforts to add aesthetic touches to various important locations in the capital.
Source: [The Jordan Times]
Well, I hope they don’t mess it up, as it already looks rough. It really is one of my favourite places in Jordan. Why couldn’t they just leave it intact! UFF!
The Second Circle
The “rebirth” process of the Second Circle in Jabal Amman is finally over, and my friend and I went to celebrate the occassion(after almost getting run over while trying to cross the street) by sitting on the benches they placed atop of t…
I always thought driving is fine in Jordan until I started driving abroad. When I came back after four years, I no longer thought so. Stop signs tend to have no meaning at all ! Driving in a selfesh way is an ugly practice. Thinking that all other drivers are “donkeys” and the “donkier” is that who issued them the liscence is a simple example of the driving mentality. Even if a street has multiple lanes, those lanes are thought to be there for decoration purposes only. When you are at a red light waiting for green, as soon as traffic light turns yellow, drivers behind you start honking the horn. See, the problem is not in the circle alone; a cultural “surgery” might help.
I was never fond of driving in Amman but I think a lot of people, including me, exaggerate when talking about it. Try driving in Syria! I was with somebody who was driving clockwise in Duwwar Al Mazeh or whatever its name is. Look at Cairo too. I would take Amman any day over Damascus or Cairo-because of driving and many other things 😉 But then I haven’t been back to Amman in 4 years and I hear driving is way worse.
The solution: freeways with carpool lanes? or maybe better public transportation system (including tracks or trains), tighter regulations on owning multiple cars (beyond need that is), and tighter regulations on all them damn gluf cars in the summer…pfft.
Natasha, I saw that JT letter as well…but if the drivers were sent to Oman, I am afraid the Omani’s(?) would become just like those crazy Jordanian drivers. Ha ha. 🙂
Linda, It’s worse than LA…Can you say Mexico City? Amman makes them look like they are out for a Sunday afternoon drive. If this is your first trip to Jordan, I would suggest that you use cabs and keep your eyes closed!!. After 5 trips, I finally found the courage to drive there. My advice, get the best insurance you can afford and drive like your driving a M1 Abrams tank. Be aggressive and don’t show em your fear. BTW, I think the traffic flows counterclockwise and those cars that are already in the circle have the right of way. How you get into the circle, well like they say, “When in Rome…”
Actually traffic circles are a good means of traffic control. Other countries use them w/o too many issues. The problem with Amman is first the drivers and secondly too many cars on roads that were not built to handle that sort of load.
The suggestion of the traffic lights solving the problem is purely a fantasy. I seriously doubt a viable solution exists for this one. For a start, could we first get the laws enforced. Then maybe add stiffer penalties for driving like a lunatic.