Israelis Shifting Away From Public Transit, Preferring Cars

A significant portion of Israelis are increasingly opting for personal vehicles over public transportation for their work commutes, according to new data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Over the past decade, the percentage of workers relying on public transit has declined from 20% to 16%, despite ongoing expansion of the transport network and worsening road congestion.

Among working Israelis over the age of 20, personal or company cars are now used by 62% of commuters, an increase from 58% ten years ago. Another 22% utilize alternative methods like corporate transport, bicycles, e-scooters, walking, or remote work. Public transport use stands at 12% for buses and minibuses, and 3.5% for trains.

The decline in public transport's popularity is most pronounced in the Jerusalem District, dropping from 30% to 23%, and the Central District, from 19% to 12%. Tel Aviv District saw a decrease from 26% to 22%, and Haifa District from 21% to 18%. Northern Israel reports only 8.1% usage, with Judea and Samaria showing extremely low rates.

The survey, which included 6,452 individuals representing approximately 6.3 million Israelis, also highlighted varying public perceptions of different transport modes. While bus usage has fallen from 57% to 50% over the last decade, with daily ridership down from 19% to 15%, 52% of respondents view bus services positively, though only 31% are satisfied with intercity route frequency.

Light rail satisfaction varies by city, with 43% of users in cities with trams finding it adequate. In Jerusalem, 50% are satisfied, compared to just 28% in Tel Aviv. Conversely, train usage has grown, with 44% of Israelis over 20 using them in the past year, up from 39% a decade ago. Train services receive a 66% positive rating, with 86% of passengers satisfied, though station accessibility remains a concern for 71% of users.