Abu Dhabi: Forced to brave the sweltering summer heat, bus commuters in Abu Dhabi are calling for more air-conditioned shelters, or at least shaded bus stops.
In 2012, the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT) announced that it would build 360 air-conditioned bus shelters in the emirate of Abu Dhabi by 2014, with 160 being in the city.
Commuters accept that there were noticeably more air-conditioned bus shelters around the city, but point out that many bus stops are not shaded.
A comment from the DMAT was not available.
Janine Ngo, who is pregnant, said: “It’s difficult as a pregnant woman because your body is more sensitive. I have nowhere to sit while waiting for the bus. What I usually do is carry a scarf, or an umbrella, or I stand in a shaded area near buildings. Sometimes I have to wait for up to 30 minutes for a bus to arrive. It’s not easy.”
Ngo also said that air-conditioning in some bus shelters does not work properly. “So it actually gets hotter being inside the bus shelter than outside,” she said.
“I don’t want to sound all negative, I am relatively satisfied with the bus stops in Abu Dhabi, usually most of the bus stops I use are shaded, but it’s just in the case of the ones that aren’t, I think something should be done,” Ngo added.
Another commuter Prajit KC said: “It happens to me often. I have to stand and wait in the heat, and it’s not a fun experience in the summer.
“Another thing I do which is also what a lot of commuters do as well, is that we stop and wait under the shade of buildings, but that’s not very convenient either because you are always on the look out, and have to go really fast and run to the bus when it arrives because you’re not close to the bus stand,” he added.
Prajit said he hoped more sheltered bus stops would be built in the capital.
“I don’t even think they have to necessarily be air-conditioned. The most important thing is to just have a shaded area to wait.”
Ashraf Ali, another commuter, said it wasn’t uncommon for him to have to stand in the hot sub while waiting for a bus.
“Most times if there is no bus shelter I stand under the building’s shade, but there are times when that is not possible. Sometimes the bus takes up to 20 minutes to arrive. You just don’t feel good when you have to stand in the heat for so long, you start sweating a lot, and it’s just not convenient,” he added.
“As a daily commuter who relies on bus services I think it would be great to have more shaded bus stops, and I hope it happens. I think it is needed, especially when you take into account how hot it gets during the summer,” Ali said.
