UAE | Traffic and Transport

Abu Dhabi to upgrade bus service

Buses to have surveillance cameras for security and monitoring of quality of operations.

  • By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:42 January 13, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager of Public Bus Office in Abu Dhabi, explains the features of the new bus at a bus station in Abu Dhabi. These buses will be on the streets from March 1.
  • Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi residents will be able to enjoy 100 more new buses with more facilities from March 1, said a senior official while displaying one such bus on Tuesday.

The air-conditioned buses will have more capacity - 65 passengers (34 seats and 31 standing) - compared to the existing buses with a capacity of 45 passengers, said Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager of Public Bus Office at Abu Dhabi Department of Transport. The new buses are also adapted for use by physically challenged passengers.

Al Hameli reiterated that bus users will have to pay for travel from March 1.

(It was announced last month that the free bus service started six months ago was being extended for two more months).

He said, "Besides foldable wheel chair ramp, electronically controlled air suspension with integrated kneeling system [which enables easy entry and exit of passengers at bus stops], surveillance cameras, exterior destination panels [route map screen for passenger information], Automatic door control - doors can be opened by passengers from inside and outside - completely closed, lockable driver cabin with integrated driver's microphone for passenger announcements and automatic fire extinguishing system in engine compartment are the important features of the Germany-made 'Man Lion's City' buses."

The surveillance cameras are expected to prevent crimes like pickpocketing, harassing women or vandalism, said Al Hameli.

An operation control system will monitor the system through cameras, which will help to improve the quality of service. "During the past six months of service, there were no specific complaints on pickpocketing or harassing women except some incidents of youths disturbing drivers or destroying seats".

There is an automatic mechanism to count the number of passengers also, said the official. The frequency of the buses from and to the airport will improve to three minutes per bus as several routes will be linked to that road by March 1. The busiest roads already have a bus service frequency of 5 to 10 minutes while other city roads get a bus in 10 to 20 minutes. The existing 9 bus routes will be increased to 12 in the first quarter of this year.

New horizon: Roaring success

  • 65 passengers (34 seats and 31 standing)
  • 50,000 people a day (which is about 5 per cent of city population) using the bus service
  • Bus service frequency of 5 to 10 minutes while other city roads get a bus in 10 to 20 minutes
  • The present 9 bus routes will be increased to 12 in the first quarter of this year.
  • Passengers will have to pay for bus services from March 1.

Will this encourage to travel by bus? Do you expect this to have an impact on the traffic congestion? What are the problems you face using public transport?


Your comments


Brilliant idea to have more buses in AD. Also bus lanes should be introduced and drivers given more training and public transport will be a joy to use in UAE.
Richard
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 16:19

Nice to hear about the transport development in UAE that is phenomenal
Mohammed Rasheed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 14:50

There is a constant rush in all buses making it hard for families causing them to be stuck and sometimes they are unable to get off at their stops.
Semar Buhari
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 13:30

i was happy to read in that Abu Dhabi will receive new buses on its roads from March. However, the services should start at 5 am instead of 6 am so that workers arrive at work on time
kuthbudeen .z
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 13:08

There is a shortage of seats for women on these buses. kindly add more seats for women.
Lucy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 12:50

This would encourage people to depend more on public transportation which certainly would reduce traffic congestion in the city. Adding more buses in busy streets like Hmadan, Electra, Airport Road will be more convenient to the people.
Saleem Cholamukath
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 11:14

How about a route map so that people can see which bus they have to take?flyers could be sent to every home. If the fast food people can do it, so can the road authorities.
John
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 11:12

I have been using the public transport system for the last four months. I would suggest that the authorities reduce the number of stops.
A.S. Shanavas
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 10:53

I did not use these bus services yet, But I can suggest one thing. Most of these bus routes are in or around the main town areas and many people live away from the city and find it hard to find rides. Maybe routes could be provided for these people.
Hamza moorkath
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 09:50

It will be very usefull for both bus drivers and passengers if RTA can develop an electronic pre-paid smart card system to use in public busses and taxies for payments. The pre-paid smart cards should be easily available like telephone cards and can be used in all transport systems equally. This will save a lot of time for drivers looking for coins to give as balance for each passenger.
From a reader
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 09:50

The bus service is really working well. It would be very good if some bus routes are made in the city centre.
Zacharia
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 14, 2009, 06:57

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