RTA launches Bus On-Demand service in Dubai

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has begun operations of its Bus On-Demand service in select locations across the emirate including Al Barsha 1, Dubai Internet City, International City, The Greens and Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The service can be accessed via the Bus On-Demand app, in partnership with the RTA.

Once users download the app, they can request for a minibus within the designated areas where it now operates.

. @rta_dubai introduces Bus On-Demand service at several Dubai localities including Al Barsha 1, Dubai Internet City, International City, The Greens, and the Dubai Silicon Oasis. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/EEdQXPhFNu

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 1, 2020

The app displays information including the expected time of arrival of the bus as well as journey time to your destination once you board the bus.

Users can select their destination and pay through the app itself, much like they would through a regular e-hail taxi service.

Read more: RTA, Careem launch bike rental service in Dubai

RTA entered the geospatial data of the localities in which the new service will operate, thereby allowing users to pinpoint their precise locations within the designated areas.

However, the buses service only a limited area and hence if a customer is picked up in Al Barsha 1, then the drop-off point must also be within Al Barsha 1.

The same rule applies to the other areas covered under the service.

The service will be available even if a single user summons the bus, though the bus will make stops along the route in case other users have summoned it as well.

Read: Dubai’s RTA, UK-based BeemCar partner to develop skypods

The official roll-out of the new service follows a period during which it was tested to ensure that it fulfilled its objectives and customer expectations.

“The Bus On-Demand service is a mobility mode that contributes to easing the first and last-mile challenge. During the trial operation phase, RTA verified the service efficiency parameters namely accessibility to riders, response time and the transit time. RTA adopted top global practices prevailing in countries like Spain, Germany, USA and Finland,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA.

Read: Dubai’s RTA launches real-time bus updates on Google Maps

Last week, RTA announced that it begun offering real-time updates of bus timetables on Google Maps, in partnership with Google, making Dubai the first city in the Middle East to use open data in public transport.