Dateline Jerusalem — Morning rush hour to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem is not unlike the mostly stop-and-rarely-go traffic to Los Angeles or New York City.
During rush hour, the trains and buses are standing room only. Most people do not own a Car. So rekevet (train), bus, monit (taxi) or sherut (mini van taxi that follows the bus route) is the mode of transportation. Those families able to afford a vehicle in Israel usually share one car with other family members.
Yet, the highways are overcrowded. Without public transportation, the situation would be dire.
The cost of a vehicle in Israel is more than that in the U.S. Add taxes to the initial cost, and the price of a car here is double what it would be in the States. Therefore, people tend to own their vehicles until they are no longer drivable.
The cost of gasoline here is also more expensive. Although not priced by the gallon but by the liter, as the entire country is on the metric system, the conversion would be equivalent to about $6 a gallon in the U.S.
However, hybrids and electric cars are becoming popular, and Israeli scientists have recently found new fuel and energy alternatives to gasoline.
‘I Promise Free Parking’
The availability of free parking is almost non-existent.
One of the candidates in a recent mayoral election in my city based his entire campaign platform on free parking! Even paid street parking is scarce.
It is commonplace to see cars drive onto the sidewalk for a place to park.
Maybe that is why it is also not unusual to see people walking down the middle of the street. Sometimes that can be safer than on the sidewalk.
Sports cars are rarely seen, mini vans are gaining popularity, but the average vehicle is what I call a “compact compact.” That means it is so small that sardines would feel claustrophobic. The cars also come from almost as many countries as does the population of Israel. Sometimes Americans ship their vehicles here. But, from what I understand, the cost of shipping, cost of taxes, cost of customs, and scarcity of parts for repairs has made that an undesirable option.
Since I do not have an Israeli driver's license, I walk everywhere in town. When I go to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, I travel by bus or train or both. During non-rush hours, the trips are comfortable and scenic. Buses and trains are air conditioned. They have colorful, padded velour seats, and the trains have tables so a person can work while commuting.
Once in awhile I need to take a taxi somewhere. When I first moved here, I found a taxi driver who barely spoke English. Somehow we were able to communicate. I left my king size bed in the States because I knew it would never fit into these small Israeli bedrooms.
I was looking for bedroom furniture, and the taxi driver drove me to a mattress and bedroom furniture outlet store he knew had discount prices.
He turned off the taxi and waited over an hour while I completed my business transaction.
Then he drove me to the supermarket to shop.
He did not keep the meter running and only charged me for the actual driving time!
Now all I do is call him and say “Hi, this is Shachar.” Within minutes, he arrives at my apartment to take me wherever I need to go.
L'hitraot. Shachar.
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who moved to Israel 2 1/2 years ago.
