Enjoy a free ride in Dubai today

Lily B. LIbo-on / 1 November 2013

RTA mobilises 100 volunteers to manage Public Transport Day crowd; used book expo at Burj. 


The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is ready to deploy its crowd management team to assist an expected huge crowd that will be taking the free ride in the Dubai Metro, water taxis and public buses today, the Public Transport Day.
Dr Yousif Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of  the RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said today, the crowd will be going more out of Dubai. “Since the Public Transport Day falls on Friday, the intercity trips to other emirates will be overcrowded. It will increase by approximately 10 per cent as experienced on a Friday.”
More than 100 volunteers have been mobilised for the Public Transport Day to support the transport marathon, and manage and control the crowd. “Police, security and other logistics will also be there.
We have allocated parking places in different areas, including one behind The Dubai Mall for those who are coming to the events at the Burj Plaza from 4pm to almost midnight.”

New ferry, water bus routes  The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced new lines for the Dubai Ferry and Water Bus from today, coinciding with the fourth Public Transport Day. Making the announcement, Hussain Khansaheb, Acting Director of the Marine Transport Department at the Public Transport Agency, said, “The agency will open two new lines for the Water Bus at Dubai Creek and Dubai Marina. The first line will offer a service from 7am from Al Seef Station heading towards Bani Yas Station and the Dubai Old Souq in round trips with a 15-minute service frequency. The second line at Dubai Marina will be expanded to link four stations, Marina Terrace, Marina Walk, Marina Mall and the Marina Promenade, in both directions, with a 15-minute headway. “The revamped Dubai Ferry line will shuttle between Dubai Marina and Dubai Creek. In Dubai Creek, the line will move from Al Ghubaiba Station to Dubai Marina starting at 11am, with the other journey starting at 10.30am towards the Floating Bridge, continuing up to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and back to Al Ghubaiba Station in a one-hour trip. Passengers will be served with coffee and tea on both journeys. Another journey will start at 3pm from Al Ghubaiba Station in the direction of the Floating Bridge and up to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and back to Al Ghubaiba Station.” Khansaheb continued, “As for Dubai Marina, the first morning journey of the Dubai Ferry will start at 11am in the direction of Al Ghubaiba Station, and an internal journey will start at 3pm and last for one hour. At 4pm, a journey will start from the Marina featuring a much more tourist-oriented cruise which will pass by the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis, the Palm, offering passengers many opportunities to shoot stunning pictures of these iconic tourist landmarks in Dubai in a trip that takes about one hour in both directions.” — Wam

Dubai Metro will be open from the regular time of 1pm to midnight, but hordes of Nol cardholders are expected to increase by 10 per cent, which will include 74 teams participating in the public transport marathon by 4pm. Participants will all be taking public buses, Dubai Metro and water taxis to win.
“The RTA targets to reduce road accidents by 10 per cent and carbon footprints by 10 per cent as car users will use the public transport. Even the use of salik will be reduced. We have encouraged all to give a weekend break for their cars and join the fun of free public transport ride,” he said.

He also urged the public to go and see the events of the Public Transport Day at Burj Plaza, which will include an exhibition of used books. “The proceeds of the exhibition will not go to the RTA. It will all go to the Rashid Special Needs Centre. So, go, buy the used books and help the special needs kids.”—lily@khaleejtimes.com