Source: www.rta.ae
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will launch on Friday 1st of Nov 2013 the 4th edition of the Public Transport Day under the theme: Progress With Dubai, where the use of the Dubai Metro, public buses and the water bus will be offered free of charge for Nol card holders.
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said: “Through the Public Transport Day initiative, which is staged on the first of November each year, the RTA is seeking to encourage various community segments to leave their personal vehicles and move to use various public transit means in the Emirate. The fourth round of the event comprises a host of events over and above the free use of mass transit means comprising the Dubai Metro, public buses and the Water Taxi for Nol Card holders. The lineup of events includes a marathon at Burj Khalifa, book fair for used books, a showcase of RTA projects, and boats procession from Al Shindagha to Al Seef. The RTA, in cooperation with the Dubai Health Authority, will also conduct medical checkups for interested metro riders at the Dubai Healthcare City and Airport Terminal 3 stations where tests to be conducted would include blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight & height in addition to a blood donation campaign at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station.
“The Public Transport Day initiative aims to boost the role of the Dubai Emirate in backing the efforts aimed at improving the environment, achieving sustainable development, encouraging the use of public transport means through educating riders on public transport benefits, promoting the ultra modern RTA mass transit means, enhancing the integration of various transit modes, and showcasing the leading role of the Dubai Emirate in general and the RTA in particular in uplifting the public transport sector, besides educating various community segments on the mass transit culture along with the benefits & advantages accrued to individuals such as the psychological & physical relief of a stress-free & smooth mobility, and reduced fuel costs & vehicle maintenance, not to mention the using of public transport means effectively reduces traffic accidents, mortality rates, and carbon emissions emanating from vehicle exhausts,” noted Al Tayer
“The Public Transport Day initiative, together with the ongoing campaigns & programs carried out by the RTA, has contributed to encouraging riders to migrate from using private vehicles to using mass transport modes provided by the RTA, where mass transit ridership in the Emirate has doubled up from 6% in 2006 to 12% in 2012.
“During the past nine months (from January to September), the number of riders using mass transit means, including the Dubai Metro, public buses and the marine transport modes (excluding taxicabs), has reached 193,023,000 passengers, with Dubai Metro accounting for the largest number of riders in as much as 98,691,000 passengers, of whom 63,888,000 passengers were lifted by the Red Line, and 35,072,000 passengers were served by the Green Line. Meanwhile the number of passengers using public buses including public buses, metro feeder service, inter-city service) has hit 84,359,000 passengers, whereas users of marine transport modes, comprising Abra, Dubai Ferry, Water Bus and Water Taxi, amounted to 9,703,000 passengers. More info
