By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

MAKKAH: As traffic conditions on the already crowded Makkah streets continue to worsen during Ramadan, local people increasingly depend on motorcyclists to reach the Grand Mosque area. The occasion offers a golden chance to young bike owners to earn good money.

Ali Jameel, who conducts his business close to the Grand Mosque, lives outside the city center. He said he leaves his car outside the central are and then continues his journey on a motorbike. He used to pay SR30 per trip during the early days of Ramadan. “But now the bikers demand between SR75 and SR90 per trip. I have no option but to pay,” he said.

Muatasem Riza, an Umrah pilgrim from Jeddah, said he had to pay SR55 to a motorcyclist to take him from Rusaifah car park to the Grand Mosque.

“I left my car at the parking lot because police would not allow me to take it into the central zone,” he said.

Yousuf Hasan, an Umrah pilgrim from Taif, said he traveled by car to the outskirts of Makkah and then continued his journey on a motorcycle. He said he was scared to travel on the speeding bike even though he arrived at the Haram safely. He said he paid SR40 to the motorcyclist.

A local resident uses the service of a motorcyclist on the outskirts of Makkah to reach the central area of the holy city. (AN photo by Ahmad Hashad)