Dubai: The process of tracking destinations and planning bus journeys has been made easy following the launch of new-look bus routes and maps at all bus stops across Dubai.
UAE | Traffic and Transport
New-look bus route maps unveiled
Move allows commuters to use timetables, review network with ease
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 15, 2011
- Image Credit: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
- The new bus route map installed at a bus station in Jumeirah.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started displaying improved and easy-to-read bus routes, network maps and timetables at bus stops and the main bus stations.
"Now... commuters will find it easier to read the timetables, review the network and check the route maps with ease," said Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossary, chief executive officer of the RTA's Public Transport Agency (PTA).
Al Dossary said the colour-coded maps were part of the PTA's efforts to improve the quality of bus services. Every single route will be colour-coded.
The maps will display all public bus routes together with major landmarks falling within 500 metres of a bus stop on every route.
"Through these maps, the user can establish his or her whereabouts, and identify the routes serving a destination," Al Dossary said.
This map is divided into three main sections. The first one shows all bus routes in Dubai, the second shows all buses passing through that particular bus stop and the third describes key geographical locations, in the shape of 3D images, near the commuter's destination.
Best practice
"This step has been taken following field studies and surveys and [a] review of the best global practices in this field," Al Dossary said.
The bus route map includes starting and arrival points, intervals between services (headway), the starting time of the first or last service, and the locations of bus stops situated on the route
"So far, we have installed the new maps at 300 bus stops in different areas, including Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, Al Safa and Al Quoz and the rest of the bus stops will be covered in coming months," he said.
He noted that the use of public transport had risen over the last few years, especially after the introduction of an integrated public transport system. "We are glad to reveal that public transport use has recorded phenomenal growth, from the 6 per cent [witnessed] in early 2009 to 12 per cent this year, and this is a big achievement as we aim to achieve a 30 per cent target by 2020," Al Dossary said.
He added the introduction of many services such as modern buses, feeder bus routes linking the Metro and buses, the journey planner, and air-conditioned bus stops had given public transport in Dubai a major boost.
Healthy numbers
According to RTA statistics, more than 332 million passengers used public transport — which includes the Dubai Metro, public buses, taxis and water buses — in 2010, compared to 288.7 million passengers in 2009.
The average number of daily riders in 2010 was about 957,000 people compared to 800,000 in 2009.
Comments (4)
|
More from UAE Traffic and Transport
More from UAE
Latest news
- Gang in Dh2m Dubai crime spree
- UAE Minister of Labour meets Kuwaiti counterpart
- Saif receives senior officials
- Sharjah eyes more Korean, Asian tourists
- You speak Arabic and you don't even know it
- School curriculum goes digital
- Spare that creaky ride to the top in elevator
- Proper maintenance of lifts a must
- ‘I started smoking at 13, I quit at 18’
- Female climber inspires young women in UAE
- Africa Day Celebrations
- Police help women victims of abuse
- Thumbs up for holistic medicine in the West
- Gel manicures may lead to serious skin problems
- Everest challenge: Arab climbers make history
Community Reports
-
Where do we look when crossing the road?
Reader points out that pedestrians aren’t sure which direction to look when crossing the road in certain areas
-
Seek solace in sarod at Madinat Theatre
Get out of the heat and into Amjad Ali Khan's upcoming sarod concert
-
Buses don’t halt at bus stops being excavated
Excavation turns using public transportation into a nightmare
-
Cyclists put their lives in danger
Alarming volumes of cargo totter precariously above their heads
