Over 1.535m use public transport everyday in Dubai

Public transport in Dubai was used by 277.91 million people during the first half of the year, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said.

The figure represents a slight growth compared to 275.242 million users during the same period last year.

A current average of 1.535 million people use one of the public transport modes including – metro, tram, buses and marine transit means (abra, ferry, water taxi, water bus) and taxis – on a daily basis.

In the first half, Dubai Metro accounted for the biggest share of public transport users (37.17 per cent), followed by taxis (31.61 per cent), and public buses (27.48 per cent).

The metro red and green lines transported 103.292 million users during the first half of this year, up from 100.558 million in H1 2017. Burjuman station saw the highest traffic at 6.369 million, followed by JLT station (5.524 million) and Union Station (5.488 million).

The Dubai Tram was used by 3.207 million – almost the same as last year.

Meanwhile public buses were used by 76.38 million, marine transport means ferried 7.183 million, and 87.849 million used the Dubai Taxi service.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of RTA said: “The diverse and extensive projects undertaken by RTA have contributed to the growth of public transport riders. The share of public transit means (metro, tram, buses, marine modes) in peoples 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,” he added.

Al Tayer said the RTA was focussing on widening roads networks, crossings, and improving public transport.

It is also introducing 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.