RTA reports that around 88% students in Dubai use private transportation to get to schools, which adds to the congestion and environmental pollution issues. Only 1% of the total number utilizes School buses. According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the school transport division in Dubai copes with multiple hurdles including the geographical distribution of institutions. For instance, around 62 per cent of schools are located in Deira, while 38 per cent are around Bur Dubai, which makes the road networks adjacent to these areas highly congested in the morning.
Moreover, users of school buses in Dubai only account for 11 per cent, which is too low compared to countries like US, where 32% school trips are made on school buses. The low occupancy rate of school buses puts more pressure on the roads, thus adds to traffic jams and more pollution.
“The RTA has upgraded the technical specifications of school buses and defined the responsibilities of operators, schools and parents to improve safety and security,” Mr Al Tayer said. “[We] are poised to enact legislation and incentive programmes to streamline the school transport sector and encourage students to use school buses and mass transit means.”
RTA is also looking to implement a number of new measures for more efficient means of school transport. A comprehensive study of the distribution of schools and how they connect to the road networks is also intended to figure out better traffic solutions for congestion problems. The authorities are also trying to get more students and parents incline toward the usage of school buses in Dubai and encourage them to utilize mass transit means to minimize the traffic and pollution issues.