Abu Dhabi to benefit from bus-only lanes
Better use of public transport will ease traffic congestion
ABU DHABI // Bus-only lanes, upgrading 40 bus stations and creating pedestrian access will make public transport services more attractive, ease congestion and keep people safe on the city’s roads, experts said.
“Bus-only lanes may be new to Abu Dhabi, but they are widely and successfully used in other parts of the world, sometimes as a shared lane with taxis,” said Phil Clarke, principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory UAE.
“This can lead to more reliable journey times and adher- ence to timetables for buses and quicker journeys for those travelling by taxi.” Glenn Havinoviski, a USbased transport expert, agreed, saying prioritising bus operations was commendable.
“It’s an excellent and efficient approach to improving mobility, especially in the central area of Abu Dhabi which suffers from limited parking and high levels of congestion.”
Well- planned bus services provide much more flexibility in picking up and dropping off passengers near their homes, work places or other destinations such as shopping malls, he said. In 2010, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority introduced phase one of a bus and taxi lane system.
The system covered a six-kilometre stretch from Al Mankhool Street towards Al Ghubaiba Street.
A year later, the project was extended to include parts of Naif Street and Ittihad Street in the direction from Sharjah towards Dubai. “Preferential lane treatments and improved bus stations and transfer points should also be accompanied by prioritised traffic signal operations,” Mr Havinoviski said. The Abu Dhabi Executive Council recently approved plans to improve pedestrian crossings at a cost of Dh30 million.
“The pedestrian crossing issues have long been a concern I’ve had with Abu Dhabi,” said Mr Havinoviski, who previously worked in the capital.
“Enclosed air- conditioned walkways and moving sidewalks from bus stations to destinations would be very useful – as would improved pedestrian crossings at convenient midblock locations,” he said.
“It should make it easier for people to walk about, especially if they are transferring from one travel mode to another, from taxi to bus,” he said. Abu Dhabi is striving to improve traffic safety and become one of the safest cities in the world, said a 24-year-old Emirati retail supervisor, who did not wish to be named. “The Government is making Abu Dhabi a lot safer for tourists and residents, and at the same time encouraging more people to use public transport,” she said. But many still choose to scramble to cross traffic in front of the Madinat Zayed shopping mall on Muroor Road, said Neil Duran, 40, a Filipino salesman.
Improving access to and the quality and affordability of public transport and journey time reliability would all help to encourage use of public transport as an alternative to private cars.
“But whatever is done, there will still be people who choose to drive themselves,” Mr Clarke said. Increased modes and use of public transport can help to ease congestion. “Statistically, public transport is safer than private car use, but the vulnerability increases at the start and end of the journey,” he said. “That’s when somebody is going to and from the public transport mode, perhaps as a pedestrian walking to a bus stop or taxi rank, or from a bus stop to work.”
Another approach to addressing transport issues would be to introduce an integrated corridor management, or ICM, according to Mr Havinoviski.
“It not only addresses the major commuter route for travellers in cars, but also improves public transport services and streets that run parallel to and connect with the major commuter route,” he said. “Some key ICM elements are providing park- and- ride facilities in suburban areas and real-time updates on the next bus, next boat and next train information.”
‘ The government is making Abu Dhabi safer for tourists and residents Emirati retail supervisor