New mobility in Israel – a travel report

Totinia Hörner, moderator and expert on mobility and innovation, took a close look at Jerusalem’s public transport system.

I have barely arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and, as in many other cities, cabs are milling around the exits. Somewhere at the back is a row of large yellow minibuses. They are sheruts, or share taxis, which offer cheap rides to Jerusalem. Once they fill up with around ten seats they depart for their requested destination in Jerusalem. Sheruts operate in and between cities and are a fascinating alternative to cabs. Stops are requested in the conventional manner, with a wave or shout. However, I decide to take public transport and follow the large yellow signs pointing me there. A highspeed train to Jerusalem is the best option. In service since 2018, it takes barely 30 minutes to reach Jerusalem and, depending on the time of day, is quite full. It turns out it is much cheaper and faster than a cab or share taxi to Jerusalem, each of which requires 40 minutes.

Rav-Kav multi-service card

In early 2019 Israel introduced a uniform ticketing system in metropolitan regions such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, which made it easy to manage and make use of public transport and did away with cash payments on buses. Nowadays, it is no longer possible to pay the bus driver in cash anywhere in the country, the aim among others being to improve road safety. In Jerusalem, Rav-Kav multi-service cards can be purchased at the main hubs and individual kiosks and supermarkets. They are also available from the airport service point.

For only five shekels, about EUR 1.20 depending on the exchange rate, one can buy a rechargeable smart card valid for eight years, similar to London’s Oyster card. Recharging is possible at ticket machines or can be easily done using the Rav-Kav app, which also makes it easy to check remaining credit.

Apps

Other apps besides the Rav-Kav app make using public transport easy. The HopOn app for instance can be used instead of a physical Rav-Kav card. Passengers scan the QR code on a bus or train in order to make a direct payment. The Maas app Moovit is also very popular. Established in Israel in 2012, the startup behind it provides a platform for shared mobility which has become integral to many people’s everyday lives. It combines all the city’s public transport services, including carsharing, bikesharing, cabs and others, offering a suitable option for every route. It also provides real-time information on public transport routes and times.

The role of buses

Once I am in Jerusalem one thing rapidly becomes clear: buses are very popular transport, most likely because they are cheap and reliable and run on time. With the Moovit app and Google Maps able to monitor movements and arrivals of buses in real time there is a sense of transparency, and it makes using them easier and bus transport a genuinely attractive option.

Light rail in Jerusalem

Besides buses, light rail is also a popular mode of transport. Whereas Tel Aviv’s light rail project is currently behind schedule, Jerusalem has benefited from its light rail system since 2011. Stretching 14 kilometres, it criss-crosses the city’s north and west. The line also crosses a very busy pedestrian zone, usually to the accompaniment of a tooted horn. As no barriers exist between the tracks and pedestrian zone, the horn is sounded the moment the train arrives, signalling to all pedestrians to stay clear. As soon as it passes they crowd the tracks again.

Other mobility solutions

In addition to the many people on public transport I witnessed great enthusiasm for privately owned e-scooters and e-bikes. I saw relatively few electric and hybrid cars however.

On the subject of driverless vehicles, Israel has several companies working on automated driving technology, including Mobileye, which was taken over by Intel in 2017. The Israeli government financially supports research and development in this field. As part of a two-year pilot programme, four groups comprising tech companies and bus operators are running driverless buses on public transport in order to relieve traffic congestion. Analyses will decide whether it works or not.

Summarising, one can say that Israel’s new mobility forms benefit from a wide range of digital solutions that are often developed by Israeli startups. They reduce the burden on the transport sector and make it possible to create intelligent transport solutions. By exploiting the advantages of digitalisation Israel’s metropolitan regions have succeeded in creating a rapid-growth, sustainable and innovative public transport system. I will be keenly watching future developments.