The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) recorded a significant rise in the number of people opting for public transport last year.

Abdulaziz Al Jarwan Director of SRTA for Transport Affairs said over 42.7 million passengers used the public city and intercity buses and taxis in 2015. "Our bus and taxi fleets transported around 117000 passengers every day last year. This was 21 per cent higher than the passengers transported in 2014."

He said the four franchise taxi companies operating 5009 cars in Sharjah ran just under 36 million trips and covered 469832km in 2015 - or 16500 daily trips. The maximum number of trips was recorded in May at 3.2 million.

Al Jarwan said the authority ran 300722 bus trips on nine city routes or 422 stops including a 24-hour route from Al Jubail to Al Ghubaiba in 2015. "Up to 5.6 million passengers were transported on 98 SRTA public buses which covered 23000km last year." December recorded the maximum number of bus passengers in Sharjah last year at 2.6 million. SRTA ran 253370 intercity trips in 2015. "Up to 15800 passengers were transported on intercity routes last year - a rise of 23 per cent as compared to 2014."

Sharjah's public transport means in numbers

Means Fleet Strength Number of trips/passengers Taxis 5009 36m trips City buses 98 5.6m passengers Intercity buses 130 5.7m passengers Over 5.7 million passengers were transported by 130 intercity buses on 14 routes or 192 stops last year. During the Eid Al Fitr holiday alone 142000 passengers used the intercity buses.

Al Jarwan noted that people are increasingly saying yes to public transport because of improved service. "The SRTA adwded 39 intercity buses to its ... fleet last year." The frequency period for intercity public buses was reduced to 25-30 minutes. "Up to 130 buses are now operated on our 14 intercity bus routes." Users of Sayer prepaid e-cards on SRTA public buses now enjoy a 25 per cent discount on their trips he disclosed.

Al Jarwan said the SRTA assigned 55 quality inspectors to provide safer trips for the public and curb violations. "Our inspectors issued 2268 fines against bus and car drivers for illegally transporting passengers ... particularly in hotspots such as Al Rolla Al Jubail Sharjah International Airport Al Saga and the industrial areas."

Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here I worked as an English language instructor chief En/Ar translator proofreader reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media Cairo University 2014 a bachelor degree in English language and translation Ain Shams University Cairo 1996 and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation interpretation EFL instruction and reporting. I am interested in technology aviation politics as well as community parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading writing exercising and surfing the web.