The Roads and Transport Authority launched a six-month trial for a new taxi sharing service that would make travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi more affordable and accessible. Under the new service, launched on Monday, riders can share rides from Ibn Battuta Centre in Dubai to Al Wahda Centre in Abu Dhabi and save up to 75 percent of their usual travel cost.
Taxi sharing is designed to help the daily commuters between the two emirates save on their transport cost. According to Adel Shakri, director of planning and business development at RTA, it saves money for passengers while also encouraging people to share rides, thereby reducing congestion on roads and cutting carbon emissions.
An example to illustrate the convenience is that three passengers would end up paying as cheaply as Dh66 and not the usual set fare. If two individuals form a sharing group, that automatically translates to Dh132 a head, while, when three people share together, it becomes Dh88 each end.
This is the service that connects two main transport hubs, which have also been connected with public transport facilities and parking, to be paid by Nol cards or by bank cards. The pilot might go further and extend its wings to other routes in view of its success. In line with overall objectives aimed at promoting eco-friendly modes of transportation and reducing dependence on unlicensed transportation services, the initiative by RTA does stand well.
The RTA offers practical options as it evolves to provide commuters with the services demanded by them in a fashion that is consistent with environmentally beneficial outcomes.
