The Jerusalem Bus and Tram Map 2012

The tram travels forth and back from Mount Herzl to Chayal HaAvir (after Pisgat Ze'ev) but it seems as if the Municipality is planning to extend the tram's route in the near future.

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A brief update on the public transportation system in Jerusalem. Most of us inhabitants used to have our surprise at quite a few mornings when suddenly our buses had changed their routes overnight.

Here you can look up all Jerusalem bus lines:

http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpisraelpics/jlembusmap/

Although the tram is not part of EGGED, but of a company called  CITYPASS, you are able to use your one - way - ticket for both companies. If you buy a one - way - ticket from EGGED, you are allowed to change either bus or tram once in one direction. The same with CITYPASS: If you purchase a tram ticket, you are allowed to switch onto a bus once by using the same ticket. 

A one - way - ticket costs 6,60 Shekels (approx. 1,15 Euro or 1,65 $).

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Link:

EGGED Trip Planner

Traffic Chaos in Agrippas Street / Jerusalem

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It has become harder to enjoy any freedom of space in downtown Jerusalem. Especially in the Nachlaot neighbourhood across the Machane Yehudah Market. 

Additional floors are being built on top of older buildings. Within the past years, Nachlaot has experienced a booming real estate demand whereas in previous years, in 2002 when I used to live there, a new flatmate could hardly be found. In those days, people looking for shared apartments rather preferred living in Old Katamon, the German Colony or the French Hill. Suddenly everything changed and now Nachlaot is the top address for sharing and new immigrants from the US buying houses. 

The hood has become an expensive area to live in. Carlebachers, self – appointed healers and artists, and now also plenty of Haredim have turned the former Kurdish and Moroccan immigrant slum into an overcrowded neighbourhood. Not only that but since Jerusalem’s new tram has started its job, almost the entire Egged bus traffic is going from King George / HaNevi’im Street through Agrippas Street up to the Central Bus Station. 

The Machane Yehudah Market is surrounded by Jaffa Road and by Nachlaot’s Agrippas Street on the other side. Agrippas Street is a long but narrow road and even before the buses came, the road was almost unable to manage all the car traffic. Let alone the masses of delivery trucks reaching the market every morning. Since last summer, the road has been constantly packed with thousands of Egged buses every day. Buses making their way from the Central Bus Station to Katamon, the outskirts, the German Colony, Talpiyot, Armon HaNatziv and vice versa. In times of rush hour, buses are standing in an endless line waiting to reach their destination which is the next bus stop across the Machane Yehudah Market. 

Right next to the road traffic, you find the sidewalks with thousands of people walking. Coming from the market with all their groceries, crossing the road in between the buses, bus stops located at the busy road … Agrippas Street has turned into a jungle. I rather prefer not to imagine a case where a bus is going wild, is having an accident and running into all those people on the sidewalks. 

Letting all the downtown traffic running through Agrippas is a big mistake but a real disaster has to happen until our Municipality may start thinking. Until then, people and buses continue making their way right next to each other.

I took all these photos last Thursday afternoon.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Back after the Accident

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A bus came rolling upon me last Monday evening. Location: Jerusalem, Central Bus Station. 

Three buses were involved in the accident and I got caught between two of them. One bus threw me against the second one and I was very lucky to have survived. Bruises and cuts, this is the result and I still suffer from the pain. However, my thoughts are with the young woman who got crushed between two buses. I saw her and it was a terrible experience being so full of pain and totally unable to help someone else. 

I was in hospital for one night due to my back injuries. Nothing was broken but bruised. However, I still have to manage with taking medication against the pain. Dr. Feelgood, so to speak. 

What I learned from this terrible incident ? That each of us needs to enjoy life. A day later I said BIRKAT HA'GOMEL with a friend although I know that one rather does this during the Torah reading. 

My decision, however, is to blog a bit less but concentrate on the book I am writing. Thus, I won't be blogging on a daily basis but 1 - 2 per week. More informative articles and getting my book together. 

Regarding the accident: The police are still investigating and I need to take a lawyer in order to deal with the legal stuff. What I won't do is concentrating on all the negative sides concerning life in Israel but rather on the positive. Society is not sending a bus after you every day.:-))) Meaning, Israeli society is not as bad as its reputation. 

It is necessary to look into the future in order to overcome the trauma and the shock of what kind of pictures I saw in the middle of the "bus battlefield". 

I want to dedicate this short article to the young American woman who is still hospitalized. I very much hope that her condition will improve !


Here a brief article about the bus accident:


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157668#.UAV-UfUrqnZ

Changing Bus Routes in Jerusalem

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Starting this Friday (29 June), Egged - Jerusalem is, once again, changing certain bus routes. 

The bus lines 15a, 15, 10, 9a + 2 will be totally canceled and the 5a bus is going to turn into number 51. 

Please note that the following bus lines are due to changes: 3, 7, 9, 14, 17, 35, 40, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 60, 74 + 75. A few of them will be new lines going especially through haredi areas such as Har Nof, Ge’ulah, Kiryat Belz or Sanhedria. Those bus lines will NOT have separate seating. At least not officially. 

At the moment, you will find at almost each bus stop young people handing out the new schedules. Also in English ! For further information please call the Moked *8787 (Kochavit 8787) !

Jerusalem Bus and Tram Lines

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All information about buses and the tram in Jerusalem

http://jet.gov.il/Web/En/Default.aspx

Passing a KOSHER bus

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On my ride to Jerusalem this morning, our "unkosher" Egged bus passed a private KOSHER bus where men and women sat separately. My photos didn't come out that great but enjoy the scene.:-)

Women in the back.

Guys in the front.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Jerusalem Tram at Night

Haredim and the new Tram in Jerusalem

The tram has a stop at Shivtei Israel Street (on the main road up to Ma'alot Dafna and Ramat Eshkol). For those of you who are not familiar with the Jerusalem map: Shivtei Israel Street leads right into Mea Shearim and you can find almost the whole Toldot Aharon community there. Furthermore, many families of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak populate the area.

So far, many Haredim have been tyring out the tram. Entire families and the kids were excited. I saw Karliner Chassidim as well as a Toldot Aharon or Toldot Avraham Yitzchak woman. 

Photo: Miriam Woelke

My first ride on the new Jerusalem Tram

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Jerusalem has its new tram and for the next upcoming ten days, anyone may get on for free. I went on my first two rides yesterday and have to admit that I was impressed. After years of contruction work and wasting millions of Shekels, the tram is turning Jerusalem into a modern era. I saw happy and proud people getting onto the tram. No matter if Jews, Palestinians, tourists or Haredim, each one of them was excited. I have never seen Jerusalem so advanced and peaceful despite yesterday's terror alert. 

It is the time of summer vacations and entire families got on the tram in order to enjoy the new attraction. Even Jaffa Road has changed its face and looked more international. Street cafes and people are able to sit outside everywhere. Without traffic, noise and pollution smell.

I really enjoyed my tram rides although it was packed. As soon as something is free of charge, people are there. :-) The Municipality employed security guards for the tram. Furthermore, lots of youth are helping the customers with information. What the Jerusalemites still have to learn is not to run around on the tracks. The constant "Mind the Gap !" warning from London's underground is missing in Jerusalem. :-)

I asked one of the information people for the ticket price after the free of charge period but she didn't know the answer. A former working colleague of mine seemed to know the answer: 6,90 Shekels for a ride.

And how is the new tram ? I loved it. The trains are sliding around quietly. No noise but it does waste a long time at stops and traffic lights. Or in other words: It is not that fast yet.

And here comes the tram rolling.

At Jerusalem's Central Bus Station

Chic and new: Inside the tram. An electronic board shows the stops in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

 

Have a look how Jaffa Road is finally changing.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Ride on Jerusalem's new Tram

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The tram started running last Friday and the rides are for free for the next two weeks. I will try it out tomorrow and make some photos.:-)

Jerusalem Tram is starting to run

 

The new Jerusalem Tram

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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Miracles happen; especially in Jerusalem !

After years of construction work and millions of Shekels wasted, the new Jerusalem tram is finally starting its service. For the first two weeks, the rides are FREE OF CHARGE ! 

On Monday I will be in Jerusalem for a few hours in the morning and may get on the tram in order to try it out. Its for free anyway and where do you find a free ride from Mount Herzl to the Pisgat Ze'ev neighbourhood ?

1st July 2011: Public Transport Reform in the Tel Aviv Area

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Starting on JULY 1st:

The Tel Aviv Public Transportation System is undergoing severe changes. Some bus routes are going to be cancelled or changed. On other routes, new buses will be added.

One of the most important changed:

The ticket price is going up from 6 Shekels (at the moment) to 6,40 Shekels !!! The purchase of one ticket for 6,40 Shekels grants you unlimited transfer within Tel Aviv and the neighbouring towns such as Bat Yam for 90 minutes.

See all the changes and new schedules here:

http://tahbura.wordpress.com/english/public-transport-reform-in-the-tel-aviv-area/

and here

http://tahbura.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/tel-aviv-center.pdf

Jerusalem Tram Update

 

Last preparations

Copyright / Photo: Miriam Woelke

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The last preparations seem to come to an end and officially Jerusalem's new tram is due to start its public transportation in August. However, tickets are already available. 

Lastest Photos from the Tram in Jerusalem

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I am in Jerusalem for a few hours today. The ride from Tel Aviv took a long time, as we were caught in an endless traffic jam on the highway to Jerusalem. When we finally arrived in the capital, I saw the new tram on a test ride. Officially the tram is only going to work in another few months.

Here are a few impressions from about 1,5 hours ago.

The new tracks in front of the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. In the background: the new ugly bridge serving as the new crossing into Herzl Boulevard (Sderot Herzl).

 

The tram driving onto the bridge. 

Under the bridge

 

Brand new stops for the tram in Sderot Herzl (Herzl Boulevard) in the Kiryat Moshe neighbourhood. Many part of the tram stop are still wrapped into their original packaging.

And here is the new tram on a test ride in Sderot Herzl. 

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Sarah Einfeld: "SORERET"

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Those of you who know Hebrew are now able to watch the entire "SORERET - Rebellious" documentary about the gender separation on haredi buses in Jerusalem. Chassidut Gur runaway Sarah Einfeld is playing an important role in this documentary consisting of five parts (on Youtube).

Many Haredim were watching the movie when it came out in 2009. Many loved it, others found it far too exaggerated and others simply hated it. Nevertheless, haredi society is extremely curious and its members were anxious seeing the documentary. Most of them secretly.

I met Sarah Einfeld last year and going to repeat this soon. Not only because for writing reasons but mainly because we have a kind of the same problem and lots of experiences and ideas to exchange. It always helps talking to someone who went through a similar experience, as he is able to understand you whereas the secular press just wants a story and doesn't care about the person.

What is Sarah doing at the moment ? She lives in Ramat Gan, works hard in order to support her two children and gives lectures to psychology students. 

For those of you only speaking English: There is a short "Soreret" trailer in English showing Sarah (with dark hair) and another runaway constantly taking photos.

May I suggest that even if you don't know Hebrew, you should still watch the five parts of "Soreret".

Personally, I have never really come in touch with gender buses. When I took the Egged buses 15, 1, 2, 35 or 36, only an inofficial separated seating is taking place. Those Haredim preferring a separate seating have found their own solution long ago by hiring private bus companies. Moreover, there are many of those Haredim who wouldn't use an Egged bus anyway, as, for them, Egged is a Zionist company. This is why you won't necessarily find any Neturei Karta, Satmar or Toldot Aharon on an Egged bus. Maybe just in case of the severest emergency. I know from a Dushinsky friend that they prefer taking a taxi or the private Sherut taxis to Bnei Brak.

The "Soreret - Rebellious" documentary is interesting but, according to my opinion, too much concentrating on the negative sides of haredi society. It neither mentions those thousands of Haredim being against separate seating on buses nor does it show that there are quite a few haredi women who very much support separate seating.

Links:

Meeting Sarah Einfeld

Jerusalem Tram News

Photos: Miriam Woelke

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In about three months time, the new Jerusalem tram is due to travel up and down Jaffa Road. For the time being, the price for one ticket will cost only 1 Shekel. Just wait, in the near future I am going to a drastic raise and one ticket may cost at least 7 Shekels !

Large parts of downtown Jaffa Road have become a mall and no further cars are allowed. However, many shopkeepers complain about less customers and profits. In the long run, the new Jaffa Road shopping mall will be successful and when the present shopkeepers complain about less profits, they should rather check the goods they sell. Most of it is cheap garbage and the Ben Yehudah area deserves more than cheap crap Made in Taiwan.

The Tram and new Buses in Jerusalem

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Unfortunately, I am forced to stay in Jerusalem for a few days because I am still dealing with the arrangements for my separation leave. However, this should be solved soon and then I am returning to Tiberias. 

Yesterday I had some things to do and was running through Jerusalem. On my way, I saw a test ride of the new tram. The tram is not yet officially running but yesterday I saw it going over the new controversial bridge.

By the way, the bridge is still standing and hasn't collapsed yet.:-)

New buses are also around:

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Downtown Jerusalem and the new Tram

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Jerusalem, Downtown:
 Jaffa Road now with tracks for the new tram.

After at least four years of traffic chaos and enormous investments, Jerusalem's tram is still not running. Now the official opening date is suppose to be in spring or summer 2011. Nobody knows when the tram will be running but everyone is very much aware of the fact the the immense costs almost ruined the city.

A few photos of Jerusalem's future tram "Made in France":

Photos: Miriam Woelke