The RTA has introduced a shuttle microbus named Al Freej, which serves residents of remote areas, and areas with a high demand.
The bus route is dubbed J01, which begins in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and travels to Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3, and upto the vicinity of Mall of Emirates along a 12.2km long route, serves total of 23,000 residents in three districts of Al Barsha, the Director of Planning and Business Development of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, Adel Shakri revealed.
Al Freej Buses are 12 to 17 seaters, with the size of a microbus, but carries a distinguished RTA logo.
Although there are specified stops along the route, the driver may stop at any place, depending on request of rider, provided, the driver ensures that the stop will be safe and does not undermine the safety of those on-board, or road users, nor cause any accidents, Shakri said.
Further, it may divert its route, if required, like stopping for elderly or disabled people, he said.
The service is highly popular as an efficient transport link was the need of the hour in certain communities in Dubai. The service was introduced with the aim of offering mobility service to seniors, families, the disabled and housewives by transporting them from their homes to business centres, health centres, schools, recreational facilities, government offices, by offering a range of public services among others, RTA explained.
As it was launched in July this year, it picked up more than 50,000 riders, and daily ridership increased from 428 riders during start of the operation to as many as 765 riders three months later, and recorded 79 percent growth rate.
The fare is payable through NOL cards, as is the standard practice in the emirate, said Shakri.
Al Freej Bus travels through Al Barsha 1, passes several areas of interest for tourists like Mall of Emirates, Matajer, 3 to 5 star hotels, restaurants, hotel apartments, schools and residential buildings.
The Barsha 2 and 3 Al Freej Bus moves through series of residential villas, schools, hospitals, retail outlets, particularly inhabited by UAE nationals and GCC citizens and others.
One noteworthy aspect is that Al Barsha is already served by various bus routes including 84, F29, F30 and F33, thereby rendering Al Freej Bus a value addition to safe and smooth mobility aboard public buses and Dubai Metro.
