Sunday, January 4, 2009

5 Reasons of Why Not Taking the Public Bus


Filipinos are willing to pay for comfort regardless how small their income is. In Dubai, our “kababayans” set a side an adequate amount for taxi fare in case their patience will be put on test to the limit while on the road.

Public buses are still the cheapest and the most famous mode of transportation on this side of the planet. But there are 5 major reasons why most of our “kababayans” opt not to take this.

1. So Slow. The Public Bus in Dubai has 2-3 bus stops for loading and unloading in every kilometer. For a 5-kilometer destination, expect that you will stop for at least 2 minutes in 12-15 stop over along the way. Not to mention the road signs and the traffic that made this gigantic vehicle moves like a turtle.

2. Jam Pack. Since this is the cheapest mode of transportation in Dubai, it is always full not unless during slack period which usually starts at 10:00am to 3:00pm or from late night to early morning.

3. Foul Odor. The buses are fully air-conditioned and pack most of the time. It produces a very bad odor that can give you lung cancer, asthma, etc (heheh...exaggerating!). You can see our “kababayans” covering their mouth with a towel or spraying perfume every 3 minutes to avoid suffocation. They will also find time to smell their clothes after take off and check if the odor inside the bus is not with them.

4. Unreacheable. Not all the streets in Dubai you can find bus stops for you to wait the public bus. Sometimes, it can be your secondary mode of transportation for a single destination because it will not stop on your desired location. Public bus and a taxi to reach a single destination is usual routine of some people working here in Dubai.

5. Turn-Off. If you have a date, don’t take a public bus. Definitely, he/she will turn you down after the ride. If you have a meeting at specific point and at specific time, you have to plan it out in advance if you are planning to take a pubic bus. Spare 1 ½ hours for a 5-6 kilometer destination.


Dubai Road and Transport Authority impose excessive fines for private vehicle that will transport taxi passengers. But still, countless of them are present on the major streets of Dubai. Private drivers with their private vehicles are not afraid of the fines because the demand is quite high. In fact car lift, as what they called is more convenient and more affordable than those taxis. You can even hire them regularly if you need.

In the 1st quarter of 2010, metro railway will be opened. This can ease not only the traffic of Dubai but also the burdens that commuters are facing every time they took the public bus.

3 comments:

yAnaH said...

that is why i soooooooo hate those freakin buses especially early morning... lalo na yung mga double decker na buses..

yAnaH said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tsinitoboy said...

Hay naku, wala pa yan compared sa Sharjah Bus No. 14. As in sardinas to the max lagi tapos 90% ng mga pasahero eh mga pana at patan na mababaho.