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Discuss this article (16 Comments)59% Dubai residents still to ride metro - poll
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 05 November 2009
PASSENGER POLL: 59 percent of Dubai residents have still to take their first ride on the Dubai Metro, according to a new poll. (ITP Images)
Fifty-nine percent of Dubai residents polled in a YouGov lifestyle survey said they had yet to travel on the city's metro system.
The poll, which quizzed 1,500 UAE residents during October, also revealed that just three percent of Dubai residents used the rail link daily.
Seven percent of respondents living in the city said they used Dubai Metro, which opened on September 9, 2-3 times a week, another seven percent said they travelled on the system once a week while 25 percent used it "less often".
Related: Dubai Metro special report
Asked whether they would use the transport link regularly once all the stations opened - only 10 of 29 stations are currently open on the Red Line - 29 percent of Dubai respondents said they would.
A further 44 percent said they would consider it while 21 percent said they would still not use the metro.
And only three percent of respondents said they had seen a "great" reduction in traffic on Dubai roads since the metro had begun operations.
A further 21 percent said traffic had fallen slightly while 61 percent of people had noticed no difference.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Dubai Metro train service availability has been 98 percent and more than 95 percent of trains have run on time since its launch.
Ramadan Abdullah, director of operations at the Rail Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), also said more staff have been employed to crack down on passenger violations.
Abdullah added that more than 2.5 million people had so far used the metro station, averaging about 57,000 passengers per day.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
Key Residential Areas
Posted by Mi_Aah, Dubai on Wednesday 11 November 2009 at 16:32 UAE time
Once they open the stations at JLT, ridership will increase as people living in Dubai Marina/JLT would benefit, especially as it's difficult getting a taxi in JLT. I'm surprised this area was not on the list to be opened early.
Posted by Mi_Aah, Dubai on Wednesday 11 November 2009 at 16:32 UAE time
Once they open the stations at JLT, ridership will increase as people living in Dubai Marina/JLT would benefit, especially as it's difficult getting a taxi in JLT. I'm surprised this area was not on the list to be opened early.
Dubai Metro
Posted by Srivatsa, Dubai, U A E on Monday 9 November 2009 at 12:09 UAE time
Some of the suggestions to make metro more sucessful:
1. Let the Abu dhabi Bus Stop moved to Nakheel Harbour station.
2. Inform clearly the Feeder Bus availability at each station and publish the route map for these buses.
3. Even though the frequesny of these buses are good, many are not aware and feel they may have to wait long time for the buses.
4. Inform the charges levied by the feeder buses as whenever I travelled in these feeder buses my NOL card was not debited.
5. The metro advertising is not up to the mark, they do provide the required info.
6. Let all the buses passing near to the metro station stop at the stations. There is no Bus stop at jafiliya Station.
7. Open the Dubai World Trade Exhibition ASAP.
Remove all the barricades at the Green lines as no work is seen being undertaken, especially on Salhuddin Road. Open up the road near Traders hotel.
With these we can see less traffic and more metro users.
Posted by Srivatsa, Dubai, U A E on Monday 9 November 2009 at 12:09 UAE time
Some of the suggestions to make metro more sucessful:
1. Let the Abu dhabi Bus Stop moved to Nakheel Harbour station.
2. Inform clearly the Feeder Bus availability at each station and publish the route map for these buses.
3. Even though the frequesny of these buses are good, many are not aware and feel they may have to wait long time for the buses.
4. Inform the charges levied by the feeder buses as whenever I travelled in these feeder buses my NOL card was not debited.
5. The metro advertising is not up to the mark, they do provide the required info.
6. Let all the buses passing near to the metro station stop at the stations. There is no Bus stop at jafiliya Station.
7. Open the Dubai World Trade Exhibition ASAP.
Remove all the barricades at the Green lines as no work is seen being undertaken, especially on Salhuddin Road. Open up the road near Traders hotel.
With these we can see less traffic and more metro users.
Metro - change in thought process required
Posted by Bong, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 12:00 UAE time
Most of the suggestions that have been thrown up are unpractical eg: cycling @ 40 - 45Deg C, charging AED 10 per pass - where the Metro has not yet opened all platforms and also the Green Line has not started (and there is a Salik gate at Maktoum Bridge as well).
The major opportunity for improvement is in the area of connnectivity from pockets of the city where the major population lives (no - majority of people do not live near Sheikh Zayed Road)and where they work. The routes of bus service needs to be looked into, to provide better and easier service to commuters - paradigm shift in thinking of the think tank required.
Please understand that nobody is willing to be out in the Sun (45DegC) for more than 3 to 4 mins (whether walking or cycling). For example if commuters have to get off on the Sheikh Zayed Road and have to walk to JLT - it will be expecting too much.
I am in no way criticising the Metro - it is a fantastic venture. Opportunity of improvement exists regarding connectivity - which if sorted out will take care of 80% of issues related to usability of Metro for daily commuting.
I am sure that the RTA is looking into it and will come up with solutions.
Posted by Bong, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 12:00 UAE time
Most of the suggestions that have been thrown up are unpractical eg: cycling @ 40 - 45Deg C, charging AED 10 per pass - where the Metro has not yet opened all platforms and also the Green Line has not started (and there is a Salik gate at Maktoum Bridge as well).
The major opportunity for improvement is in the area of connnectivity from pockets of the city where the major population lives (no - majority of people do not live near Sheikh Zayed Road)and where they work. The routes of bus service needs to be looked into, to provide better and easier service to commuters - paradigm shift in thinking of the think tank required.
Please understand that nobody is willing to be out in the Sun (45DegC) for more than 3 to 4 mins (whether walking or cycling). For example if commuters have to get off on the Sheikh Zayed Road and have to walk to JLT - it will be expecting too much.
I am in no way criticising the Metro - it is a fantastic venture. Opportunity of improvement exists regarding connectivity - which if sorted out will take care of 80% of issues related to usability of Metro for daily commuting.
I am sure that the RTA is looking into it and will come up with solutions.
biking can be comfortable in any weather
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 11:02 UAE time
to Sunny, who asked:
"Have you tried riding a bicycle in 45 degree C. ? Can you ride a bicycle for 10 (and more) km? Will you give your wife a bicycle in order to go office? And where in Dubai you can ride a bicycle? I'm sorry but your comments are not appropriate at all."
it would do well for you to try and catch up on your international current events, and read how Qatar intends to do it. this is what I call a special bicycle lane that is separate from the main road and prevents clutter:
http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com/2008/10/article-qatar-to-build-30-km-air.html
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 11:02 UAE time
to Sunny, who asked:
"Have you tried riding a bicycle in 45 degree C. ? Can you ride a bicycle for 10 (and more) km? Will you give your wife a bicycle in order to go office? And where in Dubai you can ride a bicycle? I'm sorry but your comments are not appropriate at all."
it would do well for you to try and catch up on your international current events, and read how Qatar intends to do it. this is what I call a special bicycle lane that is separate from the main road and prevents clutter:
http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com/2008/10/article-qatar-to-build-30-km-air.html
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