By Staff www.emirates247.com
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that mass transit systems of the RTA – comprising the Dubai Metro, public buses, marine transit modes and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies taxis) – have all lifted 440.672 million passengers in 2013, according to statistics released by RTA Statistics Section.
The figure compares well with previous public transport ridership which amounted to 367.657 million, and 346.500 million in 2012 and 2011 respectively.
The average daily ridership of public transport in 2013 amounted to 1.3 million compared to one million in 2012 and 963 thousand in 2011.
“The public transport systems in Dubai have today become instrumental in the mobility of people all over the Emirate, and the RTA is making huge efforts to make these modes the first mobility choice for citizens, residents and visitors in their daily travels for work or having a time out.
“RTA’s efforts in this regard have paid great dividends as reflected in the sustained growth of mass transit means users, and in the rise of the share of mass transit modes in peoples’ mobility from 6% in 2006 to 13% in 2013; which is edging closer to the target set by the RTA to raise the share of public transport in the mobility of people to as much as 20% by 2020.
“Moreover, the RTA managed to bring about a change and evolution in the culture and attitudes of all segments of the community towards using public transit means. Peoples have started to grasp the benefits and positives of using public transport such as the psychological and physical comfort, financial gains, higher safety, and lesser expenses associated with the use of vehicles such as fuel, maintenance and others,” explained Al Tayer.
“The last quarter of this year will see the introduction of a brand new mass transit mode with the launch of the Dubai Tram which serves vital communities such as the Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village among others.
The Tram will link with the Dubai Metro in the Dubai Marina as well as the Jumeirah Lakes Towers stations. The Tram will also intersect with the Monorail of the Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm off Al Safouh Street,” said the RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director in a final remark. More info
