The Roads and Transport authority in Sharjah has launched a new initiative whereby elderly people shall be exempted from transport fees on public buses.

A lower tariff shall be charged on the taxis assigned for the people of determination as per the promising drive as well, according to a senior official here.

Yusuf Sulaiman Al Hammadi, head of the procurement and administrative services, said the ‘age considering public transport’ drive is in support to the emirate’s effort to show consideration to elderly people.

“Sharjah has become the first Arab city to be eligible to this international consideration in line with the Year of Zayed. The kind gesture is in pursuance of the directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to turn the emirate into an ideal environment for elderly people,” he added.

“The emirate of Sharjah has deservedly won the title of the city friendly for people with motor disabilities and amputations by the World Federation of the Disabled.

“This has been the fruit of a joint tireless work of a number of government entities, including RTA Sharjah in all the projects and initiatives that consider elderly people and those with disabilities,” he explained.

“Special permits shall be soon issued for the beneficiary people,” he said. “Until these special cards are issued, elderly people and children can show their ID cards when booking tickets. The people with disabilities can avail the same discounts and special tariffs by simply showing their Disabled cards, he elaborated.

62-year-old Hassan Abdallah, an Egyptian resident staying close to Al Jubail bis station, said he sometimes take Sharjah public buses to visit his relatives in Bur Dubai.

“The special tariffs will encourage me to use RTA Sharjah public buses more often.”