Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a comprehensive platform for overseeing and managing soft mobility operations in cooperation with relevant stakeholders and service providers.
The platform’s objective is to promote sustainable mobility by utilising AI technologies as part of the city’s efforts to boost its reputation as one of the world’s smartest cities and achieve the UAE’s vision of becoming a leading global player in AI by 2031.
This platform is a crucial initiative under the umbrella of RTA’s Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3), aimed at enhancing the quality of services and smooth, safe, and secure mobility for users. It assists in the preparation of technical studies and promotes the integration of multiple mobility means. Ultimately, it leads to a seamless and integrated travel journey for public transport riders and ensures the safety and security of all users of Dubai’s roads.
Mr. Hussain Al Banna, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at RTA, shared.
“The soft mobility integrated platform links the systems of service providers to the EC3. The initial phase linked five providers of soft mobility services including four shared e-scooter operators and one shared e-bike operator. Over 2,500 e-scooters are operated across 21 regions. Shared e-scooters made more than one million trips in 2022. In Addition, the 1,750 shared bikes provided in 28 areas across Dubai recorded over 1.3 million trips in 2022,” the CEO added.
Mr. Al Banna further stressed the significance of the initiative in monitoring and managing soft mobility across the emirate in real-time. According to the CEO, the platform contributes to improved performance and traffic safety on all crossing lanes and tracks designated for pedestrians and bikers by verifying compliance with the geographical zone designated for each provider and monitoring the numbers permitted in each zone.
RTA began the plan for soft mobility by redesigning the road networks in various districts to meet all soft mobility needs. The initiative has already been executed in three districts of the emirate, including Al Qusais 1, Al Mankhool, and Al Karama. In these districts, the bike usage rate surpassed 100% at Al Qusais, and the pedestrian satisfaction rate was approximately 87 percent in the areas where soft mobility was implemented. The RTA’s aim is to extend the initiative to cover an additional 31 districts over the next five years.