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Soon, travel in Dubai buses without punching Nol card

Dubai - The new system will automatically read your phone or smart card in your pocket.

Public transport users in Dubai will soon be able to walk in and out of RTA buses without punching their Nol cards.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority is presently working on developing a Proof Of Concept (POC) initiative that will enable this feature.

RTA uncovered this initiative on the sidelines of its participation in the 36th Gitex Technology Week that takes place on October 16-20, 2016 the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) along with other smart initiatives.

"This prospective smart ticketing concept is Be-in/Be-out or you may briefly call it (BIBO) is still at its fledgling stages at RTA. We consider the GITEX platform as a great opportunity to get our public acquainted with the latest and sophisticated technologies the RTA always seeks to harness to make them fully satisfied and happy," according to Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems at RTA's Public Transport Agency.

"When fully rolled out, the public bus commuters in Dubai would enjoy using BIBO system by simply carrying smart cards or smart phones, the fare collection system would check them in and out via a completely hands free enjoyable fare payment," said Shakri.

"Once the commuters hop in the bus with smart cards/ smart phones in the their pockets, the onboard smart fare collection system immediately registers the time of riding and the location of the bus, and processes automatically the fare payment required. No user interaction, as simple as that," he explained.

"The BIBO concept represents the latest innovation in fare collection system of the public transport. The passengers who possess a smart card/smart phone just need to walk IN and Out of the bus and the system fare would deduct the fare automatically based on the trip. There is no need to physically punch the (nol) card at the time of boarding and alighting the bus. This concept would certainly boost and promote the Smart Dubai concept that seeks to explore, evaluate and implement the latest technologies and concepts in the public transport," concluded Shakri.