Come on in, bus traveller, take shelter from the sun

Dubai: In the very near future, waiting for a bus will be one of the coolest things to do in town.

Commuters will no longer have to suffer in the heat and humidity and dehydrate under the scorching sun as they presently do while waiting at a bus stop under the open skies.

A prototype of the world's first air-conditioned bus shelter will be set up in Dubai within a month for testing. "No such designer bus shelter exists anywhere, not even in the US or Europe," said Arunangsu Ghosh, consultant of Moms, the company which is designing the shelters.

With Dubai's roads jampacked with cars much of the time, the city's Public Transport Department is trying to get more people to take the bus.

"We are trying to change the mindset of people," said Abdul Aziz Malek, the city's public transport chief. He earlier said that people think buses are meant for labourers.

The bus shelters will be truly futuristic and inviting with a shiny metallic finish, automated sliding doors, soft drink and newspaper vending machines, ATMs and recycling units.

Future plans are to include real-time bus information using the computer technology GIS (geographic information systems).

Garbage will be collected in three recycling units outside the shelters for paper, glass and metal.

About 500 such shelters will be set up initially around the city within the next 18 months. According to the project consultant, the design "will blend with Dubai's contemporary as well as its futuristic architecture."

Two prototypes are being built in Dubai and China and the Road Transport Authority will decide where the first of the bus shelters will be set up for testing.