Filipina expat Cheryl arrived at the Ibn Battuta station on Tuesday morning, planning to take the inter-city bus to Abu Dhabi. However, she knew she would have to wait at least an hour due to the rush. Instead, she opted for the newly introduced taxi-sharing pilot service by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). “I frequently travel to Abu Dhabi for work and usually take the bus,” she told Khaleej Times as she hurried to the taxi. “Often, fellow passengers suggest sharing a taxi, but I never agreed because it was illegal. When I read in Khaleej Times that the RTA had launched this service, I was thrilled. So, today, I decided to give it a try. I asked a few people if they wanted to share a taxi with me, and they agreed immediately.”
On Monday, the RTA announced the pilot service, allowing up to four passengers to share a taxi between Ibn Battuta Centre in Dubai and Al Wahda Centre in Abu Dhabi, saving them up to 75% on taxi fare. Each person pays only Dh66 if shared by four, and Dh88 if shared by three. “This is truly one of the best initiatives,” Cheryl said. “It helps me save time. Looking at the queue here, I would have to wait for at least three buses, which could take 45 minutes to an hour. I would be late for my appointment if I waited. This taxi share initiative is perfect for me.”
Her co-passenger, British expat Greg, was heading to the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec). “I’m staying with a friend in Discovery Gardens and came here to get a taxi to Abu Dhabi,” he said. “My friend told me it would cost around Dh250. When Cheryl asked if I wanted to share a taxi, I thought it was a good idea. We also had a tourist couple with us, so we each paid just Dh66. That’s less than a quarter of the original cost.”
The RTA plans to test the service for six months and then adjust or expand it based on feedback. A driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said the taxi-sharing option was very popular. “We often got requests to share taxis, but I had to refuse because it was illegal,” he said. “Now, this move by the RTA is appreciated. It’s good for us as we can legally take more passengers, and it means savings for people.” He noted that the rush to Abu Dhabi usually peaks between 7am and 8am. “Most people want to reach their offices by 9am,” he said. “From here, it takes about an hour to get to Al Wahda Mall without stops. The bus has two stops and moves slower, so taxis are more popular.”
Through this initiative, the RTA aims to reduce traffic congestion by promoting shared rides, benefiting the environment with reduced carbon emissions and limiting unlicensed transport services.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
