United Arab Emirates: Public transport rebounds from Covid-19, remains preferred mode of transport – News

On the day the Dubai Metro celebrated its 12th anniversary, another milestone boosted people’s confidence in the emirate’s public transport system.

Dubai has seen its highest number of daily riders on public transport since the start of the pandemic, with more than 1.3 million passengers registered on various means of transport on Thursday.

The numbers speak for themselves – public transport remains the preferred mode of transport even during a pandemic.

Anjali Nair, an international student from New Delhi, India, said she has fallen in love with Dubai’s transportation system since setting foot in the city last year.

“I love taking the metro because it helps me get to my destination on time, saves a lot of money and it’s clean, which should be a priority given the current situation,” he said. she declared.

Dubai metro stands out

Anjali added that the Dubai Metro has helped change his perception of public transport.

“I have traveled and used metro stations across India, but the Dubai Metro is much cleaner, faster and more organized,” she said.

Although the public transport industry may struggle to implement social distancing guidelines, Anjali said authorities in the UAE have been successful.

“They have ensured that the Covid protocol is mandatory and followed in public transport even during peak hours,” she said.

Apprehensive at first

Algerian expatriate Rayane Tchanchane, a mechanical engineer, feared using public transport at the height of the pandemic.

“I was applying for jobs, but had to stop using public transport during the pandemic. I had a lot of difficulties because of this as I was called for job interviews, ”said Rayane.

Although she hesitated, the 21-year-old regained her confidence to start using the metro again.

“When I saw how the Dubai Metro staff members sanitized and made sure all common areas were cleaned, I started using it regularly again. It’s still my favorite way to get around Dubai because of its efficiency and fast service, ”she said.

Fewer accidents on the road

Road safety expert Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, said he was delighted to hear about the increase in the use of public transport, as it means fewer vehicles on the road and less accidents.

“It’s amazing to take vehicles off the roads, mostly private cars, and we have to think about how many people can get into a metro or a bus. This means that a lot of vehicles can be taken off the road, ”said Edelmann Khaleej weather.

Edelmann also said the use of school buses, carpooling, micromobility and incentive programs could get more vehicles off the road.

“But there is still a lot to do, especially with regard to the refueling system and the creation of incentive programs to make more use of public transport, especially in school zones,” he said.

Don’t let your guard down

Dr Nazeeya KA, a general practitioner at the Aster Clinic, in Al Qusais, said people should continue to follow safety protocols when using public transport.

“Most people have been vaccinated against Covid in the United Arab Emirates, which is the main reason the infection has decreased and people have regained confidence. Although we all slowly start to enjoy this freedom after a long time, we still have to be very careful, especially when it comes to using public transport, ”said Dr Nazeeya.

She added that all runners must obey the protocols in place, which include the correct wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, hand sanitizing and avoiding the use of public transport if symptoms occur. such as fever, cold, cough or body aches.

According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Metro served 458,060 passengers on Thursday, including 311,090 on its red line and 146,970 on its green line, while 15,932 passengers used the tram.

Public buses handled 254,420 passengers, while 21,502 used maritime modes of transport and 66,590 passengers used electronic call and car-sharing services. Thursday also saw a total of 516,409 taxi passengers.

james@khaleejtimes.com

James jose