Buses to run in Jerusalem on Shabbat

The “Shabus” bus line will begin operating with 3 mini-buses from an east Jerusalem transportation company from 8 pm Friday night to 2 am on Saturdays.

 

The Cooperative Transportation Association of Jerusalem will begin operating its new “Shabus” program next weekend, introducing buses that will run between Jerusalem neighborhoods and the city’s nightlife destinations on Friday night.

Members of the Cooperative Transportation Association of Jerusalem holding signs for the new bus line that will run on Shabbat, called “Shabus” – Photo: Ori Katzman

Public transportation in the vast majority of Israeli cities does not operate on Shabbat.

Members had to make a contribution to the online fundraising campaign for Shabus to be eligible to use the bus line. The inaugural Shabus ride will start Friday evening and will go from Pisgat Ze’ev to the city center, passing through the French Hill neighborhood. The bus will then continue on to the German Colony, Arnona, Talpiot, Kiryat Yovel, Beit Hakerem and Rehavia neighborhoods, and then back again to the city center. The bus line will run from 8 p.m. Friday night to 2 a.m. on Saturday. The first phase of the new project will see the use of three mini-buses from an east Jerusalem transportation company, with Arab drivers.

“So long as we operate according to the law I am not worried,” Hovev Yanai, one of Shabus’ founders told Israel Hayom.

Jerusalem city council member on behalf of the Meretz party Pepe Alalu said, “We will not pass through haredi neighborhoods and we have no intention of stirring tension, but we cannot always shut up out of fear that something will offend the haredim.”

Chairman of the Committee for the Sanctity of Shabbat in Jerusalem Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld said Shabus will not succeed. “This is one of many attempts that have not succeeded in the past and neither will this one. Moreover, we call on the Transportation Ministry to oppose this [project].”

 

View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=25149