RTA’s bus operation rate reaches 89% during first half of 2015, which is ahead of global average

Over 66,500 riders in Dubai have been transported by the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) buses from January until June of this year. That's a Bus Operation Rate of as high as 89%, says the authority. The figures show the RTA’s effective strategy of increasing public transport ridership and reducing the use of private vehicles. “The Bus Operation Rate Index is one of the indicators of the availability of the fleet’s buses and their readiness for service during peak hours; which reflects to a great extent the effectiveness of maintenance operations conducted to buses to keep them ready for offering seamless services to clients,” said Abdullah Al Maazami, director of maintenance and services at RTA. “Studies and benchmarks of the best global practices of the industry reveal that the internationally acknowledged standard of the Bus Operation Rate is 85%; which is considered by the World Bank as ideal and good under all conditions. "However, this rate drops sometimes in developing countries to 75%, whereas in cities like Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Montreal, Paris, Rome and Sydney is 84.3%. So the rate we have achieved reflects the rise of our bus operation rates to record levels worldwide."