Regular bus services increase student ridership in Jordan

The Land Transport Regulatory Commission reports a 103% rise in passengers using regular inter-governorate transport services in Jordan following the start of the university semester.

Students traveling between different governorates now use fixed schedules and more direct routes to reach campuses like Yarmouk University and Al al-Bayt University. These regular services have replaced the need for students to wait for buses to fill up or rely on expensive private cars.

Passengers report that predictable departure times help them organize their academic days, while features like electronic payments, surveillance cameras, and free internet access improve safety and comfort. The commission shows that passenger numbers jumped from 99,414 in September to 202,133 in October. Specific routes saw massive growth, such as the Jerash. Irbid route, which saw a 423% increase in passengers.

While many students benefit from these reliable schedules, some note a lack of available trips after 5 p.m. which creates difficulties for those with evening lectures. Hashemite University and other institutions work with the commission to align bus schedules with lecture times and monitor overcrowding. The university provides data on student distribution to help authorities organize routes. To lower costs, a royal initiative provides a 50% subsidy on transport fares for students.

Officials are also working to provide free transport cards to students in need and are planning to increase the number of buses during peak morning and afternoon hours.