Abu Dhabi unveils new air conditioned bus shelters

Abu Dhabi: Bus passengers in Abu Dhabi will no longer face the summer heat next year while waiting for the buses on the streets.

The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi unveiled on Saturday the first prototype of the new 550 air-conditioned bus stop shelters available from the summer of 2009.

The shelters with eight seats and internet facility can accommodate up to 20 people, said Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager of Public Bus Office in Abu Dhabi.

"Most of them will be air-conditioned with an iconic design, comfortable seats, good ventilation, ample reading light and wheel-chair access," he said.

The new bus stop shelters will feature in the future around-the-clock information monitors to update passengers on bus schedules, maps and switch routes, estimated journey time and cost through a user-friendly system.

Also, the new bus stop shelters will utilise the electronic bus ticketing system when implemented.