The Ohr Yarok organization conducted a study to determine the efficiency of Israel’s public buses, measuring travel time from one’s home in certain areas to work or school via bus, car and scooter. The average result shows that bus travel is twice as long as the same trip in a private vehicle.
Traffic experts were called in to assist in the study. For example, travel from Tiveria to the medical school in Tzfas takes 40 minutes by car and 60-130 minutes in a bus. A Holon student studying in Tel Aviv University for example will require 30 minutes to get to school in a private vehicle and 46-53 minutes if traveling in a bus.
Some of the other similar comparisons conducted were from Ofakim to Beersheva, Rosh Ha’ayin to Hod HaSharon, Rechavia, Yerushalayim to Mount Scopus and Kiryat Chaim to Haifa.
Ohr Yarok stresses the need for the government to make improving bus service nationwide a priority. The organization explains that more commuters using public transportation results in fewer cars on the road, less pollution and less accidents to name some of the benefits.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
It takes about 25 minutes to drive from Midwood, Brooklyn to Sunset Park, Brooklyn. By MTA Bus, it takes 60 minutes minimum — sometimes as much as 90 minutes.
Those who can’t afford private transportation — car or taxi — must endure a long commute.
I don’t understand how it’s possible to make bus service the same speed as a car/scooter.. The Bus has to keep stopping to drop off and pick up. In light of that, I think some of the bus times are actually not too bad…
The bus doesn’t go direct. Of course it takes much longer.
The bus system in Israel is pretty good considering the demand. It’s a small country.
To #2
With special bus lanes sometimes buses will get you there faster than a car