Dubai - Dubai Metro accounted for the biggest share of public transport users at 37.17 per cent.
Published: Sat 28 Jul 2018, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Sun 29 Jul 2018, 9:06 AM
Over 1.5 million people use public transport means in Dubai on an average daily, latest figures from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have suggested. The ridership on public transport means clocked 277.91 million in the first six months of the year.
"The figure shows a steady growth compared to the ridership reported during the same period last year, which was 275.24 million," said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.
The Dubai Metro has accounted for the biggest share of public transport users at 37.17 per cent, followed by taxis at 31.61 per cent, and buses at 27.48 per cent. The Metro served 103.29 million riders in the first half of the year as opposed to 100.55 million it lifted during the same period last year. The Red Line accounted for 66.86 million riders, while the Green Line served 36.43 million.
Interchange stations of the Metro lines received the largest number of riders. The Burjuman Station served 6.36 million riders, while the Union Station received 5.48 million riders.
The JLT Station jumped to the top of the list of the busiest stations, serving 5.52 million riders, ranking ahead of Al Rigga Station (4.92 million riders) and Burj Khalifa-Dubai Mall Station (3.93 million). On the Green Line, Al Fahidi Station topped the list by serving 4 million riders, followed by the Baniyas Station (3.3 million riders) and the Stadium Station (2.89 million).
Other means
During the first half of 2018, public buses served 76.37 million riders and marine transport means ferried 7.18 million. Over 87.84 million riders used Dubai taxis.
The ridership on the Dubai Tram touched 3.2 million, which is similar to the figure reported last year.
'Healthy growth'
Al Tayer expressed happiness over the "healthy growth" of public transit means of the RTA, "which are shaping into a backbone and the first choice for mobility in Dubai".
"The diverse and extensive projects undertaken by the RTA have contributed to the growth of public transport riders. The share of public transit means (metro, tram, buses, marine modes) in people's mobility has leapfrogged from 6 per cent in 2006 to 16.4 per cent in 2017. When adding taxis, the rate will jump to 25.8 per cent. The plan is to sustain the growth of public transport ridership of the said four modes to 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030," explained Al Tayer.
Al Tayer said that the RTA's concept of integrated mobility was an integral part of projects for widening roads networks, crossings and improvements of public transport.
"Achieving smooth mobility also hinges on the use of sophisticated traffic and transport systems and the introduction of policies to curb the semi-total reliance on private vehicles by migrating people to the use of public transit means. Policies also include car-pooling, especially in Dubai where car ownership rate is one car per every two persons of the population," he added.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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