User:(WT-en) Daniel575/Bus travel in Israel

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This article deals with travelling through Israel by bus. There are several bus companies in Israel: Egged is the largest. Other companies include Dan, Kavim, Superbus, Margalit and Metropolin. Egged is also the world's second largest bus company. Currently, this article deals mainly with Egged lines; it will expand to include lines of other bus companies as well.

Buses are the most common form of public transportation for Israelis and travellers alike. The extensive national bus system is run by a public corporation called Egged (pronounced "Egg-ed"), the second-largest bus network in the world. Additionally, a bus company called Dan operates solely in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. The bus transport system is slowly being changed, however, as Egged phases out of many of its former routes to be replaced by cheaper and faster companies.

Each bus line is classified by Egged as either 'Regular' (measef), 'Express' (yashir) or 'Direct'. The word measef literally means collecting, i.e. the bus either enters each town it passes, or stops at almost each intersection along its route, which usually makes it very slow compared to express buses. Express buses, are usually on long-distance routes and might travel at certain sections along the same stretch as other bus routes, but they do not stop at each intersection. On top of that, an Express bus is not obligated to pick up short-distance passengers and the driver cannot sell a ticket for a short ride along his route. The express lines are not usually pure non-stop routes, but might have a minimal amount of stops while leaving and entering the different cities. Direct buses have no intermediate stops at all.

Many if not most of Egged's bus lines originate or end in a central bus station/terminal (CBS/CBT). Tel Aviv Central Bus Station is the largest such terminal, also being the largest in the world.

Some lines, mainly running between major ultra-Orthodox Jewish population centers, are classified as ultra-Orthodox buses. These buses are public and can be used by anyone, but travellers should note that men and women (with the exception of husband and wife, or parents with children) are not supposed to sit next to each other, and women may be expected to sit in the back of the bus, whereas men are supposed to sit in front. For women, a modest style of dress would also be recommended (meaning, no miniskirts or bare shoulders).

The level of passenger information provided by the companies, especially Egged, is very poor, especially for those who do not understand Hebrew fluently. A (growing) list of bus lines found below shows some of Israel's bus lines. It is is intended to be a source of information that the official company websites lack.

NB: Without being unduly alarmist, buses and bus-stops have unfortunately been the targets of suicide bombers in recent years. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, or discover an untended parcel, notify the driver, a soldier or police officer immediately. If you can, avoid standing in large crowds of people in order to further minimise any risk. For the past years however, the number of suicide attacks on buses has steadily declined, and the last suicide attack on a city bus in Jerusalem was 2 years ago.

Internal

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Jerusalem

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  • 1: CBS - Malchei Yisrael Street - Meah Shearim Street - Damascus Gate - Kotel (Western Wall) - HaNevi'im Street - Strauss Street - Malchei Yisrael Street - Jerusalem CBS
  • 2: Har Nof - Givat Shaul North - Jerusalem CBS - Kiryat Mattersdorf - Kiryat Tzanz - Bar Ilan Street - Shivtei Yisrael Street - Damascus Gate - Kotel (Western Wall)
  • 7: Har Chotzvim - Kiryat Tzanz - Kiryat Mattersdorf - CBS Yaffo Street - King George Street - Emek Refaim Street - Ramat Rachel
  • 8: CBS - Yirmeyahu Street - Bar Ilan Street - Levi Eshkol Bld. - Pisgat Ze'ev
  • 11: Har Nof - Givat Shaul North - Jerusalem CBS - Yaffo Street - Strauss Street - Golda Meir Bld. - Ramat Shlomo
  • 15: Har Nof - Givat Shaul North - Jerusalem CBS - Malchei Yisrael Street - Meah Shearim Street - Damascus Gate - Yaffo Street - Strauss Street - Malchei Yisrael Street - Jerusalem CBS - Givat Shaul North - Har Nof
  • 29: Har HaMenuchot Cemetery - Givat Shaul North - CBS
  • 35: Har Nof - Givat Shaul South - Jerusalem CBS - Yaffo Street - Strauss Street - Golda Meir Bld. - Ramot

Intercity

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Short distance

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Long distance

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Notes

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  • Egged bus station translate measef as Regular, while the official website uses Collecting. Similarly, yashir literally means direct and is translated as such on the Egged website. There are many other discrepancies between the Egged website and its bus station tabloids.
  • Line 417 has multiple stations within Ramat Beit Shemesh, while 418 does not.
  • Morning-only lines: 159, 423.
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