Bus On-Demand Service

About the city. The mobility landscape of Dubai is taking an innovative shape. Its role is being observed as central in shaping the future of global mobility. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the implementation of 40 initiatives. All of these aim at becoming the future mobility drivers in Dubai. The launch of all 40 initiatives is expected this year (2020), Bus On-Demand service is one of them.

Goal

The goals of the project are:

• Increase the frequency and coverage of existing transit service.
• Make it easy for less mobile riders to get around.
• Reduce cost due to underutilized buses or taxis.
• Help the environment and decrease congestion by reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips.
• Reduce the walking distance and waiting time of passengers

Implementation period. Formal operation of the Bus On-Demand service started in March 2020.

Fact

The new service “Dubai Bus on Demand” solves the city’s first and last-mile challenge, connecting more riders to transit hubs throughout the rapidly growing metropolis.

Solutions

Passengers can hail the bus to any area within these select locations by the app, without having to go to or wait by a bus stop. They can then select their destination and pay through the app, much like an e-hail taxi service. The data entry enables riders in these areas to locate themselves on the system and track the movement of the bus until it arrives at their sites.

The service has flexible routes that can be tailored to the needs of certain categories.

The smart system for responding to the demand of riders is based on the concept of connecting some areas by mini public buses from selected points through a smart app. The service provides an innovative solution to the first and last-mile journeys in those areas and connects with the nearest public transport station

The bus is smaller and consumes less fuel, and the smart scheduling system reduces wasted kilometres. As for the environment, the initiative reduces carbon emissions and private vehicle journeys within service coverage points.

Challenges

Riders cannot use the bus to travel between separate areas: service operates only within each covered area. For example, users in Al Barsha 1 can request a bus to reach them at the pick-up location nearest to them within Al Barsha 1. Their final destination also has to be within Al Barsha 1.

Team

The Dubai Bus on Demand service is operated and managed by United Trans, a subsidiary of the Alserkal Group, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)

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