In April, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiled plans to expand dedicated bus and taxi lanes across Dubai, aiming to reduce journey times by up to 60% on certain routes.
However, recent developments along First Al Khail Street in Al Quoz have raised questions.
Motorists have reported that the solid yellow lines marking the dedicated bus lane on First Al Khail Street have been replaced with broken white lines. Photographs taken on Tuesday show that private vehicles are now using the former bus lanes, though signs warning of a Dh600 penalty for misuse remain in place. The RTA has yet to comment on these changes.
Initially, the dedicated bus lane, which ran from Al Quoz Bus Station to the bowling centre towards Za'abeel, lacked the bright red markings found on other major roads. The lane was introduced temporarily during Metro closures caused by heavy rains on April 16 to facilitate transport between Metro stations.
In June, the RTA clarified that the yellow lane was temporary and under review. Dedicated bus lanes are designed to enhance public transport reliability, as noted by Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE. He emphasized that these lanes not only expedite bus travel but also improve punctuality, reduce road congestion, and decrease pollution.
The RTA's plan to introduce more dedicated lanes on key roads including Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and Al Satwa streets aims to further boost public transport usage and efficiency, potentially increasing usage by up to 30% on certain routes.
News Source: Khaleej Times
