Source: www.rta.ae
Public transport Agency intends to launch the system before Eid Al-Adha Holiday.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has launched the Journey Planner (Wojhati) application for smart-phone users, providing real time and detailed information about integrated transit plans on public transit modes available in the Emirate in a way enabling customers smooth and speedy access to their destinations.
The Acting CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency Dr. Yousef Al Ali, told Emarat Al Youm Arabic daily: The system provides detailed and real time information to passengers enabling them to fully plan their intended travels on public transit means such as buses, metro, marine transport and taxis. The system will be accessible to customers using Android and iPhones and will shortly be downloadable on Blackberry and Windows; providing seamless usage by a large chunk of customers.
“The Public Transport Agency sought to issue the system before the start of the Eid Al-Adha holiday next week, where thousands of tourists will pour in Dubai and the UAE residents will head to a variety of destinations and tourist attraction facilities in the Emirate which are accessible through public transit modes. The service will be available through a free app offered in all types of smart phones, enabling smooth rides on public transport means.
“The Agency is keen on providing stylish and convenient services to customers and aspires to raise the ridership of various public transport modes in support of environment-friendly solutions.
“The app provides all information about various public transit means needed by public transport users, be it residents or tourists coming to Dubai, and furnishes them with the arrival time, fare, directions to access the intended destination, alerts about bus delays, and the transit time to destination,” added Dr. Yousef.
Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems, Public Transport Agency, reviewed the features of the app such as the stops of public transit means nearby the user and their timetables. He said: “The app enables users to know and inquiry about the stops around, and the timing of public transit means as he or she will be able to establish his or her location through satellite coordinates; rendering it easy to plan journeys without having to wait for long at the station or stop.
“The app can direct the user to the stop since it provides to the client all information on a map fitted with a compass directing to the location of the stop from the location of the client. Tourists have been taken on board at the time of designing the app, which gives guidance about using public transport to the intended destination of customers in case the user is not familiar with Dubai districts. The client has only got to enter the intended destination and will get multiple choices of journeys to select the timing and the ideal journey. Following the selection of the journey, the app provides detailed guidance about the duration of the journey, necessary steps to be taken by the client to reach the stop, and the appropriate transit means suggested up to the final destination,” he explained.
The app provides accurate information about the route and transit means selected by the customer, length of the distance, and duration of the journey from one point to another, including the walking distance.
“It will also be possible through the app to save the required timetables of transport means in the user’s phone for using later on in case the internet is not available for any reason. The app has a feature of giving alerts when the timing of the transit means approaches through a link of the arrival and departure time of the scheduled transit means used by the customer. This alarm system serves as a reminder to the customer about the timing and routes of the routine journeys made aboard public transit means and the time taken in each journey. More info
