BRT offers new commuting experience as trial run continues

AMMAN — A total of 4,370 people used the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Wednesday, its second day of the trial run, Director of the Transportation Operations Department at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Khaled Abu Aleem told The Jordan Times.

Abu Aleem said that the BRT trial run will continue and that the project is “officially launched and it will not stop”. 

The BRT has faced few challenges in the first days of the trial run, such as other vehicles using its devoted lane, nevertheless, Jordanians remain enthusiastic to use it.

According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the Public Security Directorate's Media Spokesperson, Amer Sartawi, said that the Traffic Department has drawn up a plan at BRT intersections with other roads to prevent encroachment on the BRT lanes.

Strict legal measures have been taken against violating drivers where they have to pay fines and face seizure of their vehicles for a week, Sartawi noted.

Jordanians expressed their excitement on social media platforms regarding the launch of the BRT project, which has been under construction for 11 years.

Jordanian citizen Mohammad Qaddoumi, decided to leave his car and commute to work using the BRT, which he described as a “positive experience”. 

“I had many inquiries about stopping places, buying tickets, etc. I found the answers on the BRT’s Facebook page. I downloaded the Amman Bus application, and I was able to find out the nearest bus stop to my house and workplace,” he tweeted in Arabic.

Maureen Tarek, who also used the BRT, expressed her joy and satisfaction with the service. 

“The service is very convenient. I have not gotten stuck in traffic on my way to work for the first time ever,” she tweeted in Arabic.

She encouraged everyone to try the BRT and enjoy the experience.

According to GAM, the Amman Bus mobile application helps plan trips easily and quickly as it provides real time information about bus schedules and expected arrival times, in addition to showing the stations and routes.

In order to use the BRT, a prepaid card must be purchased and charged with the desired amount. The prepaid card is the only way to use the service as cash is not accepted onboard. 

Commuters can download the QR Code for free through the Amman Bus application, GAM stated.