The Kfar Zebian municipality says it is concerned about the traffic congestion caused by buses and vans. (Credit: Charbel Abiad)
BEIRUT — The municipality of Kfar Zebian urged Thursday in a circular “all bus and van drivers, and companies that organize tourism trips not to head towards Kfar Zebian’s skiing resorts during the upcoming weekend.”
Here’s what we know:
• Kfar Zebian’s municipality said the decision comes for reasons related to “public safety and to prevent traffic.”
• It also said that the municipality’s police officers in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces will implement the decision.When asked for clarification, the head of the municipality, Bassam Salameh, said the decision does not ban buses from going to the area but requires that they get permission from the municipality before they make the journey. “We are going to have a limit on buses, when we exceed it, no one is going to be given permission,” he said.
• Speaking to L’Orient Today, Salameh added that the decision was taken on the basis of past experiences with the buses. “Bus drivers cause a lot of traffic and chaos in the area and sometimes end up fighting,” he said.
• He also explained that in the event of an emergency, the presence of buses could hinder the expediency with which those injured are transported to hospital. “The buses cause congestion of cars which slows down the process of transporting someone to the hospital,” Salameh said. “ It is less practical for people coming by bus to go immediately to the hospital in the event of an emergency,” he added.
• After a week dominated by heavy rainfall on the coast and snowfall at higher altitudes, the weather is forecast to be clear and sunny this weekend, setting the scene for ideal skiing conditions.