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Bus service covers 85% of Dubai urban areas: RTA

108m passengers used public buses in Dubai in 2012
The public bus service in various parts of Dubai as well as between Dubai and Sharjah Emirates witnessed a steady increase in the number of commuters during 2012 compared to previous years, thanks to the superb caliber of services, punctuality and adherence to the set schedules by these buses.
Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, Acting CEO of Public Transport Agency, said: "The public bus service covers 85 per cent of the urban areas in the Emirate of Dubai, where buses shuttle over more than 88 internal routes, in addition to 10 intercity routes that link Dubai to other major cities in other emirates."
"The number of passengers lifted by buses within the Emirate of Dubai topped 108 million passengers in 2012, while the number of passengers transported to Sharjah from Sabkha, Union Square, Ghubaiba, Deira City Centre, Satwa, and Karama stations hit more than 6,988,000 passengers served by double-decker buses.
"These stations," continued Al Hammadi, "are integrated with the adjacent metro stations or metro stations feeder bus services in addition to the Green Line station at Ghubaiba bus station together with marine transit station in place. Public transport on board public buses operating in domestic routes in Dubai or between Dubai and Sharjah is privileged by dedicated bus lanes rendering bus trips smooth and speedy. These buses are also characterized by punctuality thanks to the sophisticated technologies that control their daily movement including the technologies applicable in the Operations Control Center (OCC)," he continued.
Al Hammadi attributed the increase in the ridership of city & intercity buses to the diffusion of the culture of using public transport among various segments of the community.
He added: "Among other reasons that prompt the public to use public buses is the quality of buses provided by the RTA which are characterized by high-tech technologies in terms of durability, security, and the highest degree of comfort, besides the low-floor design suiting people with special needs, in addition to dedicates seats for women, integration with other public transport modes such as the Metro, Water Bus and Water Taxi tariff, easy payment of fare through various Nol cards, not to mention their accurate timetables, which passengers can inquire about via various ways the easiest and fastest of which is the SMS.
"RTA's public bus service plays an efficient and decisive role in integrating mass transport systems of in the emirate of Dubai, which consist of the metro and marine transit modes, as they offer on-time service and accurate headway (service frequency) as well as other key features such as safety & comfort. Buses are also fitted with on-board sophisticated technologies like the advanced air-conditioning system and display monitors among other features," he further added.
"The improved performance in city and intercity buses is ascribed to the Public Transport Agency's keen attention and continuous endeavours to adopt the world's best practices by launching several strategic initiatives and plans capable of inducing the required positive change. Among the initiatives launched by Public the Transport Agency is the initiative of honouring the most frequent Nol card users by offering them Galaxy 3 smart phones in a campaign lasting for one month held earlier this year," elaborated Al Hammadi.
© Emirates 24|7 2013

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