Public transit means in Dubai comprising Dubai metro, Dubai tram, public buses, marine transit modes (abra, ferry, water taxi, water bus) and taxicabs (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies) have lifted 275,772,000 riders in the first half of 2017 said the director-general and chairman of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Figures of RTA’s statistics Section indicate that public transport ridership in Dubai recorded in the first half of this year compare well with the same figures recorded during the same period last year, which was 273,452,791 riders, added Mattar Al Tayer.

The daily ridership recorded in the first half of this year clocked 1.507 million riders.

Dubai Metro accounted for the lion share in public transport ridership in as much as 36.4 per cent, followed by taxis (31.7 per cent) ahead of public buses finished third (28 per cent). The Red and Green Lines of the Dubai Metro have lifted 100.558 million riders in the first half of this year, showing a healthy growth compared with the figures reported for the same period last year (96.486 m riders). The Red Line was used by 64.378 million riders, and the Green Line was used by 36.18 million riders. The Dubai Tram has lifted 3.087 million rides compared with 2.535 million riders during the same period last year.

The public buses have served during the first half of this year 77.695 m riders compared with 69.922 m riders during the same period last year. Marine transit modes, comprising abra, water bus, water taxi and ferry, have lifted 6.638 m riders. Taxis (Dubai Taxi, Hala Taxi and Franchise companies taxis) have lifted 87.792 m passengers in the first half of 2017, compared with 85.196 m passengers used taxis during the same period of 2016.

Steady growth

Al Tayer was delighted with the positive results of public transport ridership; which is experiencing steady growth, thanks to the integration of mass transit modes in the Emirate. “The public transport means have now become the backbone of people mobility in various parts of Dubai, and the preferred transit option for a huge segment of Dubai residents and visitors,” he noted.

“The huge & diverse projects undertaken by the RTA have contributed to the sustained increase in public transport ridership that has leapfrogged from 6 per cent in 2006 to 16 per cent in 2016, and if we add taxis, the share would shoot to as high as 24 per cent. RTA is endeavouring to push the share of public transport (metro, tram, buses, and water transport) to 20 per cent by 2020, and 30 per cent by 2030,” explained Al Tayer.

“The strategic and executive plans for roads and transport systems pursued by the RTA are based on the principle of integrated services. It means that achieving smooth & accessible mobility in the Emirate hinges on providing integrated solutions in terms of improving and broadening roads network and crossings, and upgrading various components of mass transit systems such as the metro, tram, buses and water transport means.

“It also depends on upgrading the technology used in traffic & transport systems to ensure the optimal utilisation and highest efficiency of roads and mass transit systems, adopting policies capable of reducing the semi-total reliance of the public on private vehicles and increasing their reliance on other transit systems including public transport. RTA plans are also focused on encouraging journey-sharing practices especially in a city like Dubai where people ownership of private vehicles is as high as one vehicle per two persons,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service