1.5M used Dubai public transport daily in H1
dubai — More passengers used the Dubai public transport in the first half of 2017 as compared to last year, according to Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The latest statistics released by the RTA indicate that public transport ridership in Dubai was recorded at 275.77 million during the first half of the year, while it was 273.45 million riders during the same period last year.
The public transit means in Dubai comprising Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transit modes (abra, ferry, water taxi, water bus) and taxicabs (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies) lifted 275,77million riders in the first half of 2017, said Mattar Al Tayer, directorgeneral and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA.
The daily ridership recorded in the first half of 2017 clocked 1.51 million riders.
Dubai Metro accounted for the lion’s share in public transport ridership in as much as 36.4 per cent, followed by taxis (31.7 per cent) ahead of public buses that finished third (28 per cent). The Red and Green Lines of the Dubai Metro have helped commute 100.55 million riders in the first half of this year, showing a healthy growth compared with the figures reported for the same period last year (96.49million riders). The Red Line was used by 64.38 million riders, and the Green Line was used by 36.18 million riders. The Dubai Tram has lifted 3.09 million riders compared with 2.54 million riders during the same period last year.
The public buses have served during the first half of this year 77.7 million riders compared with 69.92 million riders during the same period last year. Marine transit modes, comprising abra, water bus, water taxi and ferry, have lifted 6.64 million riders. Taxis (Dubai Taxi, Hala Taxi and Franchise companies taxis) have lifted 87.8 million passengers in the first half of 2017, compared with 85.2 million passengers used taxis during the same period of 2016.
Al Tayer added: “The public transport means have now become the backbone of people mobility in various parts of Dubai, and the preferred transit option for a huge segment of Dubai residents and visitors.
“The huge & diverse projects undertaken by the RTA have contributed to the sustained increase
The public transport means have now become the backbone of people mobility, and the preferred transit option for a huge segment of Dubai residents and visitors.” Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, RTA
in public transport ridership that has leapfrogged from 6 per cent in 2006 to 16 per cent in 2016, and if we add taxis, the share would shoot to as high as 24 per cent. The RTA is endeavouring to push the share of public transport (metro, tram, buses, and water transport) to 20 per cent by 2020, and 30 per cent by 2030,” added Al Tayer.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com