Bus Ridership in Israel Grows Slowly Despite Transport Subsidies and Reforms
How 6 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
By חופית כהן אולאי
First reported by Behadrei Haredim · Aug 18, 2026
What happened
Bus ridership in Israel rose slightly by 1.4% in 2025 to 780.9 million trips, with urban routes dominating usage. Senior citizens increased their bus use following free fare reforms. Jerusalem’s light rail ridership fell due to line closures, while Tel Aviv’s light rail grew. The first segment of Jerusalem’s green line will open next week, though the network remains incomplete. Overall, public transport growth remains slow despite government investments and reforms.
- 01Bus ridership in Israel grew by only 1.4% in 2025 to 780.9 million trips.
- 02Urban bus lines accounted for 82.4% of trips, with Jerusalem leading in usage.
- 03Seniors’ bus trips increased to 110 million due to free fare reforms.
- 04Jerusalem light rail ridership dropped 23.7% due to a 14-week shutdown.
- 05Tel Aviv’s light rail ridership rose 21%, averaging 3 million trips monthly.
- 06Jerusalem’s green light rail segment opens next week but network remains incomplete.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 6 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
