RTA explains why buses fail to stop for passengers

RTA also made it clear that bus drivers do not intentionally elect to refrain from picking passengers, but there are other associated factors to consider.

Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, Director of Buses Dep't at RTA Public Transport Agency, said:

"Failure of bus drivers stopping to pick up commuters waiting at bus stops is attributed to a host of reasons including the bus being loaded with the maximum permissible number of passengers; a situation warrants the bus driver to continue a non-stop trip, otherwise he will be in breach of applicable regulations. Other reasons include lack of passengers at bus stops at the time the bus passes through the stop, or the bus stop might not be designated as a stop for a specific bus."

The Public Transport Agency receives 30 to 40 complaints every week about bus drivers not stopping to pick up passengers and most of these complaints are repeated. Bus drivers recheck the actual number of passengers on board through the number of tickets issued and when they are certain that the number of passengers has reached the maximum level, they do not stop to pick up more passengers.

Among other possible reasons for this phenomenon is that the bus stop is being occupied by vehicles or buses of private companies making it difficult for RTA buses to stop, triggering further traffic bottlenecks and delays to most RTA scheduled bus services. However, one shall also notice that some bus stops are designated for Inter-City buses; which have distinctive marking in the front, side and rear sides.

The Agency is considering launching a campaign to educate commuters on this aspect through the distribution of leaflets & flyers, as well as posting ads on board the buses, at bus stops and external stations showing the steps required to be taken by passengers for stopping the bus at external stops in accordance with the schedules posted in the waiting areas. More stringent penalties will be taken against offensive, bus drivers who are now subject to a Dhs300 fine if it known that the driver failed to stop at any stop without justification.

"While Public Transport Agency is attaching high priority to upgrade the level of services offered to bus commuters in Dubai, commuters are also requested to come in terms with the circumstances that refrain bus drivers from picking them up to their intended destinations," concluded Al Ali in a final remark.