Hala, Dubai Taxi’s booking service, in collaboration with RTA is working to support the fight against Covid 19. Hala announced that it will support healthcare workers and the public by offering discounted taxi fares. The taxi service will provide a discount of 20 percent per ride when booked on the Careem app. Riders can choose to commute to over 43 select hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The offer is valid on Hala (Dubai Taxi) and Hala Van Taxi, and is available for a maximum of 10 trips per user. Further, residents can book a Hala only for buying food, essential supplies and going to the hospital. Those working in vital sectors – health, energy, telecommunications, security, and police are also allowed to use the taxi service.
“This initiative is part of RTA’s endeavour to play an active role in easing challenges in the current situation and respond to the directives of our leaders to streamline the delivery of critical services to the public,” said Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA.
What Else?
Meanwhile, the Dubai RTA has also announced new rules for residents using metro, tram, taxis or buses.
In line with the precautions to curb coronavirus, the Dubai RTA has now released a new set of rules. The new rules ensure there is no overcrowding inside the metro. Here’s an overview of the new rules for Dubai Metro, taxis, trams and buses:
- All passengers must wear a face mask while traveling by all public transport including taxis
- Residents having a fever or flu symptoms are advised not to use public transport
- Taxis and limousines are now restricted to only carry two passengers at a time, to ensure social distancing
- Passengers must sit ONLY in alternate seats in metros, trams and buses. Besides, riders are strictly advised against sitting on seats marked with an ‘X’
- Those standing in metros, trams or buses must maintain safe distance by staying on the demarcated floor stickers
As part of precautionary measures against the novel #coronavirus, #COVID19, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, #RTA, announced several proactive and preventive measures to protect the health of public transport riders.#WamNewshttps://t.co/LBnfZcw3Ns pic.twitter.com/POHGhpMqr3
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) March 25, 2020
The Dubai RTA has also included additional services to make up for the reduced capacity. Bus shelters in Dubai have been closed. According to the WAM news site, “RTA has called on public transport riders not to use public transport unless necessary; plan their journeys in advance to avoid peak hours, as delays are expected due to the new measures taken; and cooperate with the supervisors deployed at bus and metro stations or on board these modes.”