People are waiting. And waiting. Public transportation in Jerusalem is breaking records – but in the wrong direction.
The city’s transit routine has become a chain of frustration, heat, waiting and unjustified fares
Almost every hour, the same scene: mothers holding sweaty babies, elderly people searching for non-existent shade, countless passengers waiting endlessly
From Ramot Junction to the Dung Gate: everyone is waiting
At Ramot Junction, late morning. Dozens of passengers wait, eyes fixed on the bus lane and the digital timetable.
Time passes. No bus. No shade. No solution. Just exhaustion
At the Jerusalem Central Bus Station, the situation is even worse. The platforms are packed. Chaos reigns. No one knows where to stand or how to board
In Ma’ale HaShalom, outside the Dung Gate, the wait for buses 1 and 3 defies logic
Tiny benches for men and women, the rest are left standing. 35°C heat
Babies cry in their mothers’ arms, empty bottles of formula
Toddlers scream, faces flushed, dragged between exhausted adults
People step into the street – there’s no room left on the sidewalk
And no, this isn’t a rare occasion – this is the norm
No buses, no logic – and no end in sight
When a bus finally arrives, the chaos intensifies
Survival instinct kicks in: everyone pushes toward the doors, blocking passengers trying to get off
A traffic jam on the bus steps
There’s no space. No air. No privacy
“I was sitting so close to a stranger’s face, I could see the world through his glasses,” writes one commuter
It’s sardine-level overcrowding – while inspectors check travel passes
No way to grab a small water bottle or catch your breath
This isn’t London or Switzerland. No one’s dreaming of opening a book – it’s more like a commute in India
Official reports promise the future – reality denies it
Fares are no less absurd: 8 shekels for a short ride within the city
Yes, there are discounts for seniors, veterans and peripheral residents – but what good is a discount if there’s no bus
And what do the official numbers say
The Ministry of Transportation’s website speaks of progress: “Green public transport,” “bright future projects
But on the ground – a brutal present, a system that cannot handle demand
The gap between official reports and everyday life in Jerusalem is simply unbearable
Meanwhile, promises of upgrades and modern transit infrastructure are stuck in the same traffic jam
right there with hundreds of thousands of Jerusalemites, sweating at the bus stop
