More than 275m trips have been made on Dubai’s public transport in the first half of the year.
According to the Roads and Transport Authority, an average of 1.5m people use the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport — including water taxis, ferries, abras and buses — and taxis daily.
The numbers are a steady increase from the same period last year which saw almost 274m trips made.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said the figures showed that public transport has “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.”
Infographic: The number of users of mass transportation in #Dubai during H1 2017 pic.twitter.com/iynT2hfuSl
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 5, 2017
Dubai Metro proved to be the most popular mode of transport, making up some 36 per cent of the journeys superseding taxis which made up almost 32 per cent.
Public transport ridership has jumped from 6 per cent of all journeys in 2006 to 16 per cent in 2016 (24 per cent including taxis).
Mr Al Tayer said the RTA hoped to increase the share of public transport to 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030.
“RTA’s plans are also focused on encouraging journey-sharing practices especially in a city like Dubai where people ownership of private vehicles is as high as one vehicle per two persons,” he said.
