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Bus Ridership in Israel Grows Slowly Despite Transport Subsidies and Reforms
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.
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What happened
- 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.
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.
The coverage
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- LeftNone
- Centre3
- RightNone
- Haredi1
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