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NEWS
New Egged Bus Routes in Jerusalem Do Not Benefit Chareidi Passengers
By S. Fried
Extensive changes have been introduced to Jerusalem bus lines, particularly on routes serving the chareidi public. Various lines have been completely cancelled or curtailed and rerouted, new and express lines have been added and existing lines have been replaced.
The changes apply most to lines that pass through Har Nof, Gival Shaul, Ramat Shlomo and Ramot. This is to be the first phase of a comprehensive set of changes in preparation for the launch of the light-rail system in two years.
The main idea is to create express lines that travel along main routes as well as neighborhood "feeder lines" to bring passengers to express lines. Planners refer to the concept as the "transfer system," since it requires passengers to take a combination of two or three bus and train rides in order to reach their destination, instead of one. Nonetheless, experts claim that the average duration of a ride goes down under this system.
With a very low rate of car ownership, the chareidi sector is the leading user of public transportation (besides the elderly, teens, Arabs, new immigrants and National Insurance dependents) and stands to lose the most as a result of the new plan. Yet the planners who drew up the transportation master plan did not adequately consult with neighborhood representatives for the chareidi public or with the Rabbinical Committee for Transportation Affairs, though Egged's official announcements refer to "full collaboration with community administrators and representatives of the chareidi public."
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