It may take an hour to cross from one bank of the Tigris River to the opposite bank by car during rush hour in Baghdad, says Salem Odeh, a resident of the Iraqi capital.

And Odeh, descending from one of the small ferries scattered over the river, adds that the ferry ride, by contrast, takes only minutes.

The popularity of ferries increased during the past decade, in which Baghdad was the scene of almost daily bombings, and it made driving on the roads an unsafe adventure.

Phrases are a traditional means of transmission dating back centuries.

The repeated closures of roads and bridges during the popular anti-government protests that began in October 2019 increased traffic congestion, and turned ferries into an efficient means of transportation to get to work in a timely manner.

Today, these boats represent a cheap means of transportation between Rusafa on the eastern bank of the Tigris River (central Baghdad) and Al-Karkh on its west bank, where the cost of the trip ranges between 500 and 1,000 Iraqi dinars (0.34-0.69 dollars).

Baghdad resident Jawad Kadhim said that bridges and streets have become very crowded, so ferries have become easier to transport between Rusafa and Karkh.

Using the ferry to go to work is also a way to relieve stress, relax for a few minutes, or chat with other passengers.