DUBAI 7 August 2017: Some 275.772,000 riders used public transit in Dubai = Metro, Tram, public buses, marine transit modes (abra, ferry, water taxi, water bus) and taxicabs (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies) – in the first half of 2017.
Mattar Al Al Tayer, RTA Director-General and Chairman, said figure during the same period last year was 273,452,791 riders. The daily ridership recorded in the first half of this year clocked 1.507 million riders.
Dubai Metro accounted for the lion share in public transport ridership in as much as 36.4%, followed by taxis (31.7%) ahead of public buses finished third (28%).
The Red and Green Lines of the Dubai Metro have lifted 100.558 million riders in the first half of this year, showing a healthy growth compared with the figures reported for the same period last year (96.486 m riders). The Red Line was used by 64.378 million riders, and the Green Line was used by 36.18 million riders.
The Dubai Tram has lifted 3.087 million rides compared with 2.535 million riders during the same period last year.
Public buses have served during the first half of this year 77.695 m riders compared with 69.922 m riders during the same period last year.
Marine transit modes, comprising abra, water bus, water taxi and ferry, have lifted 6.638 m riders. Taxis (Dubai Taxi, Hala Taxi and Franchise companies taxis) have lifted 87.792 m passengers in the first half of 2017, compared with 85.196 m passengers used taxis during the same period of 2016.
“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,” Al Tayer noted.
“The huge & diverse projects undertaken by the RTA have contributed to the sustained increase in public transport ridership that has leapfrogged from 6% in 2006 to 16% in 2016, and if we add taxis, the share would shoot to as high as 24%. RTA is endeavoring to push the share of public transport (metro, tram, buses, and water transport) to 20% by 2020, and 30% by 2030,” explained Al Tayer.
By Rajive Singh