Dubai: Leave your cars behind for a day and use public transport free of cost as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) celebrates Public Transport Day on November 1.
"On November 1, give your car a break. Ride all public transport — the Metro, public buses and water buses — absolutely free using your Nol card," said the RTA official. A similar message was also sent out to all Nol card users by the RTA as transport is free only for Nol card-holders.
By celebrating Public Transport Day, the RTA aims to activate a synchronised public transport network, in addition to encouraging the use of public transport and increasing the number of users by informing them about its distinct features, said a senior official.
Decreasing road congestion and protecting the environment from automobile exhaust emissions is another significant goal.
Complimentary cards
Dedicated bus and taxi lanes will also be opened on Naif and Al Ittihad roads on the day. The day is held to commemorate the establishing of RTA six years ago, and was first organised last year. A complimentary credit of Dh100 will be added to 50 customers who use public transport most frequently.
Awareness of the benefits of choosing public transport should begin in homes, schools and universities, Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossary, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, said.
He noted: "Popularising public transport is of critical importance to us. Awareness of its benefits — such as saving of time, effort and money — should begin from homes, schools and varsities." The celebrations are being held under the theme ‘Together We Move'. RTA officials toured a number of schools and universities and set up mobile stands to raise awareness among the young population of Dubai, in a run-up to the event. An RTA bus also took students on a short tour.
"Our students are all Emiratis and nearly all of them have cars. But despite this, it is very important for us to encourage this young generation to choose public transport for the sake of the environment," Philip Corcos, associate director of Dubai Men's College, where RTA visited, said.
Leave your car
- Al Ghubaiba Metro station (Bur Dubai) from 5pm-9 pm:
- Local and traditional performances
- Traditional bazaar
- Sale of handicrafts made by people with special needs
- Sale of products made by families
- Street performance
- Union station (Deira) from 5pm-9pm:
- Philippines folkloric show presented by Filipino school in Dubai
- Sales of traditional Philippines products
- Distribution of public transport systems' brochures by students under the supervision of RTA staff
- Street performance
