The dedicated bus lane marked by solid yellow lines on First Al Khail Street in Al Quoz has been transformed into standard broken white lanes, as reported by motorists to Khaleej Times. Images captured on Tuesday reveal the absence of the bus lane, now occupied by private vehicles. However, the signage warning of a Dh600 penalty remains in place. Khaleej Times has requested a statement from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The previous dedicated bus lane ran in a single direction, from Al Quoz Bus Station to the bowling center en route to Zaa’beel, crossing Al Meydan Road, but lacked the bright red markings and solid yellow lines seen on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, Naif Street, and Al Ghubaiba Road.
In a June statement, the RTA informed Khaleej Times that the yellow lane was temporary, with ongoing studies to determine its final use. These bus lanes were established during Metro closures following heavy rains on April 16 to transport affected individuals between Metro stations. Motorists violating the dedicated bus lanes face a Dh600 fine. A solid yellow line prohibits passing, while a broken yellow line allows lane changes or overtaking if the solid line is not on the driver's side. The former bus lane on First Al Khail Street features broken yellow lines to accommodate right turns onto Latifa bint Hamdan Street towards Al Khail Road or access to the service road near the Galadari office.
The implementation of dedicated bus lanes is viewed positively by commuters and road safety experts, enhancing the reliability of public bus transport in Dubai. In April, the RTA announced plans to expand dedicated bus and taxi lanes across Dubai, aiming to reduce travel time by up to 60% on certain routes. These new lanes are planned for Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 2nd of December, Al Satwa, Al Nahda, Omar bin Al Khattab, and Naif streets. The extension of these lanes is also expected to increase public transport usage by up to 30% on some roads, according to the RTA. Ensuring bus punctuality, Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, highlighted that dedicated bus lanes not only reduce travel time but also ensure the timely arrival of buses, potentially leading to fewer vehicles on the roads, reduced traffic congestion, and lower pollution.