Dubai bus occupancy is almost double that of the UK

The Public Transport Day initiative run by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), was yesterday inaugurated by Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

The initiative, under the auspices of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, offers free rides on the Metro, public buses and the water bus for one day to Nol cards and tickets holders.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chairman and Executive Director, said just five years ago, public transport was limited to about 600 buses and 149 traditional abras (water taxis). Today, Dubai boasts integrated transit modes spanning Dubai Metro, the world’s longest driverless metro line undertaken as a single project, 1,593 sophisticated buses, 900 air-conditioned bus shelters, and the construction of several bus depots at Al Rawiyyah, Jebel Ali and Al Khawaneej, in addition to 149 abras, 9 water buses, 10 water taxis and taxicabs; which serve about one million passengers every day.

Al Tayer stated that the most important element of public transit systems was the full integration between all transit modes (the Metro, buses and water transport means), adding that the total number of bus riders increased from 48 million passengers in 2001 to 119 million in 2009, and the bus ridership during the period from January to September this year clocked 73.48 million passengers and the number is expected to exceed 121 million passengers by the end of the current year.

“Total seat occupancy of public buses in Dubai is currently about 40 per cent; which is a high ratio compared to the lifetime of the public transport system as seat occupancy rates in countries with a lengthy experience in public transport systems is 24 per cent in the UK, 25 per cent in Sweden, 30 per cent in Finland, and 32 per cent in Japan. However, the seat occupancy rates are higher in certain countries such as Belgium (55 per cent) and Austria (58 per cent),” stated Al Tayer.

The number of buses increased from 305 in 2001 to 1,593 buses in 2010 and the bus ridership jumped from 1.1 million passengers in 2001 to 4.5 million passengers in 2009 and the number of journeys is set to reach 3.6 million journeys this year. Bus routes increased from 36 in 2001 to hit 116 in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of routes in 2010 has been cut to 92 routes. Al Tayer attributed the reduction in the number of journeys and bus routes to the Bus Journey Rescheduling Programme adopted by the RTA in the light of a study of passengers movement patterns following the operation of the Dubai Metro.

The number of Metro commuters, from the start of operation on 09.09.90 till the end of October last, topped 36 million passengers. “The number of Metro riders jumped from 1.8 million passengers in October 2009 to about 3.5 million passengers in October 2010, and the average of the Metro daily ridership increased from about 55,000 passengers in October 2009 to hit 130,000 passengers in October last, and the number is set to hit 140,000 passengers by the end of this year. "The number of the Metro journeys increased from 5,656 in January last year to 7,627 journeys last September,” added Al Tayer.

Sheikh Majid reviewed the layout of Al Safouh Tram project, which stretches 14km along Al Safouh Street. The initial phase involves the construction of a track extending 9.5km starting from Dubai Marina up to Mall of the Emirates station. The tram network envisages the construction of 19 passenger stations and the first stage includes 9 stations spread in areas of activities and population density along the tram path.

Marine transit systems include 149 traditional abras deployed on two lines linking the shores of Dubai Creek capable of ferrying about 18 million persons per annum. It also includes 9 air-conditioned water buses operating on 3 lines which ferry about half a million passengers annually.

In future, RTA will operate 10 ferries (Ferry Dubai), each with a capacity to accommodate 100 passengers and measures 32 meters in length and 7.6 meters in width, a speed of 24 knots with a total weight of about 20 tons and fitted with twin diesel-powered engines of 450hp.

Nol cards were introduced by RTA to upgrade the mobility of all public transport users (Metro, buses, water bus) as well as for use in the paid parking zones. Al Tayer said the number of Nol cards distributed increased from 480,000 cards in August 2009 to more than 2.8 million cards in October 2010. Equally the number of passengers using Nol cards in multi-modal transit systems increased from 390,000 users in October 2009 to about 1.2 million persons in September 2010.

Al Tayer said in the near future the RTA would introduce an additional array of services on the unified Nol cards such as the combined card, monthly card, schools and college cards and other cards for seniors and special needs. RTA would also offer the recharging of Nol cards online, revealed Al Tayer.

Sheikh Majid also reviewed the systems and e-programs provided by the RTA to mass transit users which include the journey planner (Wojhati); which provides full information needed by mass transit users. Dubai Emirate is considered the world’s 5th city to adopt this system following London, New York, Munich and Melbourne.
 

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