Israelis Name Rothschild Boulevard Tel Aviv's Favorite Street
A large-scale survey conducted by Israel's Planning Administration has identified Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv as the country's most beloved street, with thousands of Israelis participating in the online poll. The survey, which ran from December 2024 to January 2025, collected 2,808 responses after data refinement, with participants marking their favorite street on a map and explaining their choice. Over 800 streets nationwide were mentioned in total.
While Tel Aviv dominated the top rankings, the survey revealed a surprising preference for green spaces and pedestrian-friendly features. When asked what makes a street enjoyable, over 50% of respondents cited shade, trees, and vegetation. Other key factors included public transport and bike paths (33.94%), mixed-use services (28.85%), and walkability and quietness (23.33%). Notably, parking was mentioned by only 1.92% as a desirable element.
The study also delved deeper into 18 selected streets, analyzing physical characteristics. Florentine Street in Tel Aviv, while ranking lower in the overall survey, was chosen as a case study for its active street life and commercial presence. Streets like Jaffa Road and Arlozorov Street were also among those mentioned, though not necessarily in the top rankings.
Respondents frequently described their favorite streets as "green" and "pleasant." When asked about desired improvements, nearly half focused on walkability and transportation, with 17% requesting better sidewalks and infrastructure, and 13% advocating for more or improved bike paths. Around 45% of suggestions for improvement also included adding trees and shade (19.5%).
The Planning Administration suggests that urban planners should reconsider classic street typologies, such as the traditional urban boulevard with pedestrian areas amidst trees, and narrow commercial streets, which are less common in contemporary planning. However, the administration cautions that the survey results are not a definitive scientific measure of street quality due to demographic biases, with a significant overrepresentation from Tel Aviv and its metropolitan area, and underrepresentation from the periphery and the Arab community.
