Image: TimeOut Abu Dhabi

Transport in Abu Dhabi is getting better with every week that goes by.

In the latest good news, Bolt for taxis is set to launch in Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks.

The development is an extension of the growing relationship between Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) and Bolt, who launched their services in Dubai in late 2024. This week, DTC announced a Dhs1.45 billion deal to acquire National Taxi.

In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, Group CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi said: “We are going to launch Bolt officially on the taxi [side].” (adding that the company had already soft-launched Bolt on the limousine side in Abu Dhabi).

“Once Bolt is operating in Abu Dhabi, of course, it will be a very good opportunity for us to be ready by plugging our taxis, plus other operators who would also be on board with us,” he said.

For Abu Dhabi residents, this means it’s easier than ever to hail a taxi. The Bolt app allows users to book a ride in seconds. You can select a pick-up location and be matched with a driver within moments.

It makes sense: with Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing population, it’s more important than ever to be able to secure quick, reliable transport around the developing city.

Bolt’s arrival in Abu Dhabi is just one of a flurry of high-tech transport initiatives in the city. From flying taxis and high-speed rail to Bolt’s launch, it’s never been easier to get around Abu Dhabi.

Source: TimeOut Abu Dhabi

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Dawn Sherman, Director of Operations at the The Black Car Fund

The IATR would like to congratulate Dawn Sherman for being named as one of City and State’s Tomorrow’s Leaders.

Ira Goldstein, Executive of The Black Car Fund, said, “Dawn’s recognition as one of City & State New York’s 2026 Tomorrow’s Leaders is well deserved. I have known Dawn for 25 years, dating back to our time together at the Taxi and Limousine Commission, and throughout her career she has consistently demonstrated dedication, compassion, and leadership in serving New York’s for-hire drivers. Since joining The Black Car Fund in 2012, Dawn has played a vital role in expanding many key driver initiatives and helping build a more inclusive culture within our organization. We are proud to see her contributions recognized and look forward to her continued leadership on behalf of the drivers we serve.”

Matt Daus, President of IATR, said, “Congratulations to Dawn Sherman on this well-deserved recognition. Dawn is a true professional and an amazing manager. From the days of NYC TLC Adjudications, to heading TLC Consumer Relations and now working with my good friend Ira at the Black Car Fund - she has been an inspiration to me and to many! Through her leadership at The Black Car Fund, Dawn has played a critical role in advancing driver safety, education, and access to essential benefits for tens of thousands of for-hire vehicle drivers. On behalf of the IATR, I commend Dawn for her dedication and continued impact on the transportation sector.”

Since joining The Black Car Fund in 2012, Dawn Sherman has helped the workers’ compensation insurance provider deliver crucial benefits to more than 100,000 for-hire drivers. Sherman led the rebranding of the Driver Education Center, which offers a course with safety instructions and the health benefits available to its participants. She also spearheaded its Driver Resource Fairs, which connect drivers to educational opportunities and safety resources. Sherman hopes to bolster driver outreach, prioritize diversity and foster an inclusive culture.

Source: City & State

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LIRR Strike Looms As MTA, Unions Squabble over Cash Payments

Talks between New York City’s transit system and Long Island Rail Road workers have hit a snag over disagreements on cash payments versus wage increases, as the nation’s biggest commuter rail faces a potential shutdown as soon as Saturday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s transit network, and five LIRR unions have been negotiating for months with a federal mediation board on salary increases but have yet to reach a deal. The union will be free to strike after Friday, when a “cooling off period” is slated to run out.

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Nominee for City Transportation Commissioner Confirmed after Getting an Earful from Alders

The veteran bureaucrat chosen to lead the Chicago Department of Transportation sailed through his confirmation hearing Wednesday, but William Cheaks Jr. still got an earful from City Council members about everything from speed cameras and potholes to ill-timed bridge closings.

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Private Transportation Service for Students in Columbus Area Impacted by Higher Gas Prices

While gas prices in the Columbus area are slowly decreasing, they are still higher than they were one month ago. The bump in prices is adding up for those who drive for a living. "I fill up about three and a half to four times (a week)," said Lotoya Lampley, a driver for Precious Cargo Children's Transportation. "Honestly, I don't even look at it anymore. I just fill up and I'm just like, it is what it is at this point because there's nothing we can actually do about it but pray that it goes down."

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Calgary Mayor Calls Province's Focus on Bike Lanes 'Symbolic Virtue-Signalling'

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas wants the province to pump the brakes on any plans to rip up local bike lanes. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen confirmed on Monday the province plans to introduce a bill this fall that would give it more oversight to approve future bike lanes, and the power to remove existing lanes. Decisions of where to introduce bike lanes typically rests with municipalities planning their own transportation networks.

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TTC, Union Look to Strike Deal As Clock Ticks on FIFA World Cup

The Toronto Transit Commission and the union representing its maintenance workers say they’re hoping to come to a deal on a new collective agreement, but the clock is ticking as the FIFA World Cup is just weeks away. No deal has been reached between the TTC and CUPE 2, and the talks are raising concerns about possible transit disruptions during the event. The union represents about 700 people who install and maintain the TTC’s electrical, signal, and communications systems. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he hopes the commission and the union “come to their senses,” before the tournament in June. 

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Montreal's Metro Is Falling Apart, and the STM Says It Needs $7 Billion to Fix It

If you've ever stepped onto a Montreal metro platform and wondered why that escalator has been taped off for three months, or why the ceiling in one of the older stations looks like it belongs in an abandoned building, the STM's new annual report has your answer. According to the local transit system's 2025 annual report released last week, the STM network's infrastructure is now an average of 48 years old. When the STM went through its latest inventory, 46 percent of metro assets came back rated in poor or very poor condition.

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Fancy Exploring Europe by Boat? Now You Can via Uber

Uber and Click&Boat have teamed up to launch the Uber Boat service, allowing travellers to set sail on water-borne getaways. According to the request-a-ride platform, users in Europe will soon be able to see the option to reserve an Uber Boat in-app.

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Lyft Expands in London with £40 Million Gett UK Acquisition

Uber’s biggest rival Lyft has made a third UK acquisition in the past 10 months with the £40.7 million takeover of taxi app Gett. The move means the majority of London’s black cabs are now signed up to a Lyft-owned app – either Gett or Freenow, which Lyft bought last July.

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Chinese Flying Taxi to Take Off in Spain

China's Ehang is the world's first company to create a certified airworthy passenger-carrying flying taxi. Here in Lleida, northern Spain, they've just opened their new European Operations Center and there's a real buzz of excitement for what's ahead.

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Uber Hong Kong Warns Proposed Permit Cap Risks Triggering 70% Rise in Fares

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan stressed on Tuesday that the government did not currently have a “specific preference” regarding the quota limit, but pledged that a cap would be adopted in consideration of cabbies’ demands and the impact on the taxi industry. A day after the government submitted a regulatory framework to the Legislative Council that cited suggestions to issue between 10,000 and 15,000 ride-hailing permits, Uber warned that this range would slash its workforce of 30,000 active drivers by as much as 50 per cent.

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Kenyan Taxi Operators Revving Up Fares to Cover High Cost of Fuel

Ride-hailing companies in Kenya have started raising fares to cushion themselves and drivers against the effects of the rising cost of fuel, caused by recent adjustments in oil prices. Bolt, one of the big on-demand mobility companies operating here, has announced a 6% upward adjustment in fare pricing to cushion driver partners amid sustained increases in fuel costs.

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GO App-Only Taxi Stand Debuts at Shin-Osaka Station

A new experiment aimed at the future of transportation began on May 12th at JR Shin-Osaka Station, where a dedicated taxi pickup area exclusively for the ride-hailing app GO has been introduced. The existing taxi stand on the third floor of JR Shin-Osaka Station is limited to taxis authorized by JR West, with long queues of passengers often forming while waiting for rides.

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Image: Bar and Bench

In a major order to augment public transport safety, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all States and Union Territories to ensure the strict implementation of a rule requiring location tracking features and panic buttons to be installed in taxis and other public service vehicles [S Rajaseekaran vs. Union of India and Others].

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan today said that it was disturbing that less than 1 per cent of transport vehicles have vehicle location tracking devices.

Such features could ensure the safety of passengers, particularly women, elderly and children, the Court pointed out.

"We direct all States and Union Territories to strictly enforce Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 by ensuring the installation of vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons in a time-bound and verifiable manner in both new and existing public service vehicles," the Court proceeded to direct.

It added that no public service vehicle can be granted a fitness certificate or transport permit unless it is fitted with Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and emergency/ panic buttons.

The installation of these features must also be reflected in the Vahan app, the Court said.

Source: Bar and Bench

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