The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) launched special channels through ‘Youtube’ & ‘Facebook’ websites as a further tool of interaction with the public & customers and reach to wider segments of the community targeted by services, educational campaigns and several other issues.
Mr. Beyman Younes, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication Department at RTA Corporate Support Services Sector, said that RTA opted to unleash initiative out of the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, calling for setting up a knowledge-based community capable of developing, exchanging and utilizing knowledge for the welfare & prosperity of people.
‘Providing Youtube and Facebook services are a part of wide-ranging media campaigns and initiatives currently launched by the RTA through a number of media means such as newspapers, radios, and television channels with a view to establish constructive interactive links with the public and media. In fact they are part and parcel of RTA strategy & drive to provide all the latest know-how that concerns the RTA.
‘The public is a key partner of the RTA. Interacting with the public through multimedia, such as daily papers, portals, radios and television channels, is extremely important. Therefore we considered to deal with these global portals, which are accessed by age groups of 20-35 years; who account for around 50% of UAE population.
‘Through launching this Youtube and Facebook service, RTA is seeking to establish a solid knowledge database in order to build a knowledge community capable of developing, sharing and applying knowledge to achieve further development. Visitors of these websites form the cornerstone of a knowledge-based exchange and interaction. Today media is largely dependent on the internet, with all the new multimedia such as movies, photographs and social networking.
Using Youtube and Facebook portals could redefine the geographical dimension, enhance & speed up communication and create an atmosphere for proactive interaction.
‘RTA assigns much attention to such type of technology enabling it to better reach customers, let alone other technological features such as the method through which users screen or receive the service content. The e-service of Youtube, Ipod and P to P are shaping up as alternatives to the traditional television and radio devices’ added Beyman.
Tags: Beyman Younes, Facebook, Roads & Transport Authority, RTA, YouTube
Right Angle Media, the revolutionary out-of-home media provider and the company behind one of the largest public-private utility initiatives ever embarked on - the air-conditioned bus queue shelter - has commissioned its 110th shelter to the public.
The 110th bus shelter was opened in the Abu Hail district and reflects Right Angle Media’s close coordination with the RTA and DEWA.
Operational shelters now cover more than half of Dubai in high-traffic areas, such as Deira, Jumeirah Beach Road, Mankhool and Dubai International Airport; as well as areas spanning the Palm Jumeirah to Port Al Hamriya.
Right Angle Media’s CEO Raman Multani explained, ‘The fully operational 110th bus queue shelter is indicative of Right Angle Media and RTA’s commitment to truly service the public, by providing world-class public transport amenities.
This move will encourage commuters and tourists alike to embrace public transport, by making their urban travel activities convenient, healthy and more comfortable.’
The announcement comes as Right Angle Media installed its 500th shelter in Al Qusais area and the company is hopeful the majority of shelters will be fully operational for public use by the height of summer.
Jim Davies, Right Angle Media’s Director of Operations said ‘Right Angle Media continues to work at record speed, recently installing 14 shelters in a day.
We are extremely pleased to announce that 110 bus shelters have been made available to the public across Dubai.
To date, we have exceeded our installation targets by bringing the number to 500 installed shelters. By the end of the year, we expect 1,000 operational bus shelters to accommodate the growing population of Dubai.’
Key benefits and conveniences of air-conditioned bus shelters include improved air quality, offering protection against vehicle emissions, as well as noise and air pollution all in an ambient temperature of 22 degrees.
Every shelter site is also fitted out with Right Angle Media’s recycling units. These units include separate bins for glass, metal and plastic waste, which encourage commuters to be environmentally - conscious. Extra utilities such as ATMs and vending machines are also under development.
Protecting commuters’ health and safety is a key priority of Right Angle Media. Every shelter undergoes a rigorous testing process prior to ’switching it on’.
Once the shelter is ’switched on’, Right Angle Media has a team of over 100 employees whose sole responsibility is to ensure shelters are clean, hygienic and functional. The shelters protect commuters from potential heat exhaustion and sunstroke during the day and offer a safe and visible transport point both day and night.
The bus queue shelters also offer marketers a compelling advertising proposition with the innovative and eye-catching crescent-shaped design that draws the public’s attention, creating a unique advertising impact. With 1,000 bus shelters in strategic locations, Right Angle Media presents a true broadcast ‘All People’ medium in Dubai.
With the number of tourists to Dubai projected to increase to 15 million by 2010, the air-conditioned bus shelters will prove to be a welcome and, no doubt, much talked-about attraction. Dubai is the first city in the world to offer the luxury of air-conditioned bus shelters for passengers. With shelters’ pick up and drop off points at key tourist destinations, Right Angle Media’s bus shelters will make it easier and more practical for tourists to enjoy the city’s landmarks.
By summer’s peak, more shelters will be installed throughout Dubai, which is part of Right Angle Media’s plans to have 1,000 bus queue shelters fully operational- a plan which is on schedule and, once complete, will cover practically the whole of Dubai.
Tags: DEWA, Raman Multani, Right Angle Media, RTA
