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Must read: The life and times of the Dubai bus since 1968
It’s comfortable, it’s big, and in many cases, buses drop you at your doorstep. What began as a rickety 17-seater mini bus plying from Al Ittihad Road to Al Sabkha in 1968, the Dubai bus service has now evolved into a sophisticated mode of transportation, travelling across emirates, ferrying thousands of passengers everyday.
People travelling in a Dubai bus in 2004
Dubai saw its first public transport buses in 1968. Four 17-seater minibuses plied on two routes, linking predominantly Asian expatriate residential localities to Al Sabkha with a fare of 25 fils. The bus was operated by Tata-manual.
After 30 years, the minibuses made way for bigger and buses. Public transport slowly progressed and air-conditioned Nissan buses were introduced in 1990. At that stage, the Dubai bus network had a total fleet of 30 vehicles and registered around 6.6 million passenger trips a year.
As per latest figures, the Public Transport Agency (PTA) of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) operates a fleet of 1,299 vehicles, with 1,050 vehicles on the road during peak hours. It generated around 135 million passenger trips in 2014 through 107 routes.
“The RTA itself was formed in 2005. Back then, a fleet of 500 vehicles plying over 60 different routes were handed over to the PTA (when it was formed) ... I can proudly say that we have come a very long way,” said Dr Yousef Al Ali, CEO of the PTA.
According to Dr Al Ali, the public bus occupancy in Dubai in the first four months of 2014 went up to 42.6 per cent, while in the same period in 2013 it was 39.3 per cent. Dubai ranks third in the world in the public bus occupancy rate after Germany and France.
To facilitate easier access and to encourage people to use the buses more often, the RTA has provided its passengers with air conditioned bus stops, journey planner mobile applications like the Wojahati app, easy connectivity with the Dubai Metro and door-to-door connectivity.
Mohammed Al Ali, Director of buses at the PTA, said: “The PTA fleet progressively increased over the years and we are maximising the availability to match the growing demand.”
Free shuttle services on Shaikh Zayed Road in 1998
Growth of the fleet
Articulated buses (which have two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint) were introduced on Dubai roads in 2007 and double-decker buses in 2008. In the current fleet operated by the RTA, 66 per cent are standard buses, 21 per cent articulated, nine per cent double-decker buses and the rest coaches.
Even in terms of technology, the buses plying on Dubai roads have crossed many milestones.
Mousa Al Raeisy, Director, Transportation System, said: “The buses are controlled with an automated bus management system which manages the services of the buses to be smooth for the customer (when it comes to) ... time and communication. The automated fare collection lets the customer pay electronically without carrying cash. Customers also have access to Wi-Fi services.
“The real time passenger information system is used to provide information about the arrival time of the buses and delays when they occur. This is done by tracking the location of the bus using GPS signals.”
Information is displayed on 399 screens fitted in bus stops and 97 screens in Metro stations.
Residents boarding a bus in 2005
Passengers in numbers
On an average, passengers make 365,000 trips every day on the RTA’s buses. Interestingly, Thursday is the busiest day, with 390,000 passenger trips, while Saturday sees the least passenger trips at 320,000. Fridays see an average of 330,000 passengers.
The PTA operates a special schedule during the holy month of Ramadan, when passenger demand is generally seven per cent less.
Eleven bus routes are operated to/from other emirates, which generate between 30,000 to 35,000 passenger trips per day.
Training drivers
Drivers undergo a pre-service training, through which new drivers are trained in line with the latest standards of public service operations. “(This training) ... enables drivers to provide quality customer service; carry the passengers safely and comfortably to their destinations; and (get) familiar ... with the route network, fare structure and the organisation’s policies,” said Mohammed Masoud Al Janahi, Director of Drivers’ Affairs.
“As for in-service training, drivers ... are scheduled to undergo annual refresher training on different topics which include defensive driving, customer relations, fire safety, emergency evacuation, fuel economy, specialised vehicle training and asset management, among others.”
Drivers involved in “irregularities” like accidents, public complaints, disciplinary problems and traffic violations are brought in for corrective and rehabilitative training, he said.
Drivers are also trained when new buses are added to the fleet and new operation equipment is introduced.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
Dhanusha Gokulan
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