As per  Roads and Transport Authority (RTA),  Over 440m passengers used public transport in Dubai in 2013.   Mass transit systems of the RTA - comprising the Dubai Metro, public buses, marine transit modes and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies taxis) - have all lifted  440.672 million passengers in 2013. The figure compares well with previous public transport ridership which amounted to 367.657 million, and 346.500 million in 2012 and 2011 respectively. The average daily ridership of public transport in 2013 amounted to 1.3 million compared to one million in 2012 and 963 thousand in 2011. 

Moreover, the RTA managed to bring about a change and evolution in the culture and attitudes of all segments of the community towards using public transit means. Peoples have started to grasp the benefits and positives of using public transport such as the psychological and physical comfort, financial gains, higher safety, and lesser expenses associated with the use of vehicles such as fuel, maintenance and others.

The average daily ridership of public buses amounted to 321 thousands compared with 299 thousands in 2012. Marine transit means, comprising abras, water bus, water taxi and Dubai Ferry, were used last year by 13.223 million riders which is the same ridership level reported in 2012. Abras accounted for the lion share in the marine transit modes ridership last year, lifting about 12 million riders, and the rest is shared between the water bus, water taxi and Ferry Dubai.  The total ridership of taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies fleet) amounted to 174.018 million riders last year compared to 137.390 million riders in 2012.

UAE authorities are delighted with these indicators which validate the effectiveness of plans and programs implemented by the RTA towards offering a variety of mobility options for Dubai residents.. But UAE  believes in constant improvement so still lot more is being done to encourage people to rely on public transport to ultimately reduce carbon footprint . Plans like :

1.       Plans also seek to implement policies capable of limiting the semi total reliance of the public on private vehicles by increasing their reliance on other transit means including public transport, and car-pooling, particularly in a city like Dubai where private vehicle ownership is more than 1 vehicle per 2 persons of population.

2.    The last quarter of this year will see the introduction of a brand new mass transit mode with the launch of the Dubai Tram which serves vital communities such as the Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village among others. The Tram will link with the Dubai Metro in the Dubai Marina as well as the Jumeirah Lakes Towers stations. The Tram will also intersect with the Monorail of the Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm off Al Safouh Street.

3.       RTA has launched an initiative today  called "Dubai Youth for Public Transport "(DY4PT)to encourage more young people to hop on public transport. The DY4PT scheme is inviting Emirati (nationals of UAE)volunteers aged 18-30 to promote the use of public transport through a variety of recreational and educational activities. The scheme aims to 'promote sustainable transport culture among young  generations'. DY4PT volunteers would be involved in planning programmes and activities that support public transport , promoting the use of public transport , and taking part in conferences , workshops and events.

Sources :Emirates News Agency, WAM , 7days