CHA - Trade Show Day 3 & Super Show Day 1

Thursday was the last day of the trade show and I spent a lot of time going around and picking up flyers and order forms from various companies on behalf of Custom Crops. I found a new line of paper called Lillie Bee  that I really liked, the new e-craft machine (the new die cut machine that does not use mats), the Spellbinder's new really big cutting & embossing machine, and peel-offs - awesome gold and silver card or page embellishing strips.  There were so many amazing products.  I found some "must have" tools and the papers - OMGosh!  The papers were so pretty, so varied, and so amazing.  And the papers were used in such creative ways, like this "store" with it's paper flowers.

I love this Christmas banner - the glitter and elegance of the design.

The trade show ended at 3:00 pm and then it was time to set up the booth for the Super Show.  The staff at Custom Crops did a super job of setting up the booth - it is open but has lots of product.  It has the most unique and fabulous paper, wood, and tag tree.  I just love it.  It is truly a work of art and I would love to take it home.  I suspect the airline would not be as excited about the trees.

One of the elements of the "Centers" theme booth layout (or stations if you prefer - DVD Stations, Demonstrations, Pink Stamper, Retail lines, and make and take area) that I particularly like is the Framed Photo area.  There is a Custom Crops contest for those who use the frame and post photos to the Iternet.  Below the uber-talented Amy Chomas and I are goofing in the photo booth while we were trying to get it into position.

Thursday night included dinner out with part of the Custom Crops group; I just hated that Maria couldn't be there because she is so nice. Kelly took us out for authentic Chicago pizza and it was FABULOUS!

( Maria McGuire, Me, Donna Mundinger, Diane Campbell Payne [Capadia], and Melanie Brown.)

Friday morning I had a two special treats - I attended the Cricut Circle gathering.  It was really nice to see so many Circle folks present.  Mike from Provo Craft spoke for quite some time attempting to dispell rumors and such.  I have enjoyed getting to know him this week.  He is such a nice guy.

(Me, Joy Tracey, Diane Campbell Payne and Melanie Brown circling.  I loved spending time with these three women.  Diane was my roommate and Melanie & Joy are just fabulous!)

We had a special guest at the circle gathering and he was so amusing:  The Cricut!  The photo below was taken on the floor of the show but he was so cute I decided to use this photo instead of one from the gathering.

My second treat on Friday morning was my friend Peggy from home was in Chicago for a few days and she was able to join me at CHA for a few hours of shopping and make & takes!  It was so nice to be with a good friend and she had fun seeing the new products and viewing all of the booths.  As a HUGE bonus, Peggy took two large shopping bags full of products home so that my luggage will not go over weight and my carry-on will not dislocate my shoulder.  While Peggy was here, of course I HAD to photograph her with the Cricut!  You cannot come to CHA and miss the Cricut!

We also had to visit the Custom Crops photo booth!

I purchased a two of these AWESOME stamps, but I wanted to purchase more! 

After Peggy left, I helped out in the Custom Crops booth.  The CC booth was one uber-busy place!  Each of the five areas was constantly packed.  It was awesome.  The next few photos are from the booth:

And now I am off to day two of the Super Show and then tonight I fly home.  If all goes well I will be in my own bed tonight!!!

Al Tayer: Public transport users top 56m in the first half of 2010, 119m forecast by the year-end

Al Tayer: Public transport users top 56m in the first half of 2010, 119m forecast by the year-end

Al Khawaneej & Jebel Ali Bus Depots to open this August

Bus punctuality reaches 62%, accidents rate equals 1:100k km

Journey numbers drop by 29%, kilometers done drop by 25.7%

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that public buses have commuted about 56 million passengers in the first half of this year and it is forecasted that the total number of public bus commuters would hit 119 million passengers by the end of the current year. Al Tayer also revealed an increase in bus punctuality as high as 62% coupled with a drop of accidents rate to 1 accident per 100 thousand kilometers done. Besides that he announced that the bus depots at Al Khawaneej & Jebel Ali would be opened in August this year.

Al Tayer elaborated: “Results of public bus service operational indicators revealed that in the first half of this year the bus ridership increased to about 56 million passengers lifted in 1.8 million journeys, of whom 44 million passengers used domestic bus routes “urban transport’’ operating over 80 domestic routes covering various districts and towns of the Dubai Emirate. About 7 million passengers used inter-city buses; which operate over 13 routes covering main cities across the UAE Emirates. The number of commuters using metro stations feeder buses amounted to 4.8 million passengers approximately. The monthly number of passengers using urban & feeder bus service during last March, April and May broke the barrier of 8 million passengers; as the number of passengers clocked 8,723,000 in March. In April the number of bus commuters clocked 8,515,000 passengers, whereas the number reached 8,158,000 passengers in May, 7,973,000 passengers in June, 7,784,000 passengers in February and 7,633,000 passengers in January. Metro stations feeder bus service showed increased ridership with passengers count jumping from 622,000 in January to about one million in May.

“RTA strategy has succeeded in improving the performance of public bus service, increasing bus operational efficiency, and reducing fuel consumption & maintenance costs. Public transport routes have been restructured in 2010 with a view to reducing the number of kilometers done, realizing operational efficiency, redistributing the frequency of the service in urban routes and metro feeder service, and redistributing routes & buses on depots to reduce the wasted mileage. This strategy has contributed to reducing the number of kilometers done from 8,889,000 km last January to 6,600,000 km last June recording a drop of 25.7%. Equally the total number of journeys dropped from 347,172 journeys last January to 246,393 journeys last June, recording a drop of 29%,” commented RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

Al Tayer further added: “The operational results in the first half of this year revealed that bus punctuality reached 62% and the safety & security indicator showed a drop in the accident rate to 1 accident per 100,000 km; which is attributed to the increased drivers training exposure, and higher traffic safety awareness amid drivers”.

“In August this year, RTA will open the two bus depots at Al Khawaneej and Jebel Ali. Al Khawaneej Depot has a parking yard for 284 buses; comprising 146 standard buses and 138 articulated buses in addition to an electromechanical workshop capable of accommodating 20 buses at a time, a supply line for 13 buses at a time, a cleaning and washing bay for 12 buses at a time and an administrative building for about 40 employees,” he continued.

“Jebel Ali Bus Depot has a capacity to accommodate about 300 buses of the three bus types; standard, articulated and double-deckers. It also has a 24 bay for accommodating 36 buses at a time for cleaning, washing and refueling services. The depot has office buildings to house 50 employees and residential units for about 1200 bus drivers employed at Public Transport Agency,” stated Al Tayer.

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director further added that these projects were part of the comprehensive plan developed by the RTA to enable bus mass transit systems attract additional numbers of passengers with the aim of reducing traffic bottlenecks. “Such a plan warrants deploying sophisticated buses with high quality, affordable cost and wide geographical coverage so as to contribute to the provision of integrated multi modal transit systems spanning public buses, Dubai Metro and marine transport. The plan also envisages expanding the construction of air-conditioned bus shelters & bus depots, and developing electronic systems & programs such as the Journey Planner (Wojhati), Auto Vehicles Management, Unified Card, and Real Time Passenger Information System in addition to Sharekni and Awselni schemes,” said Al Tayer in a final remark.

Captions:
- Mattar Al Tayer
- Considerable growth in public bus ridership
- Air-conditioned bus shelters
- Wide ranging electronic to systems to ease passenger mobility