Will the bus be delayed? Taxi drivers demand free travel on express lanes

The National Taxi Drivers Union is demanding that the Ministry of Transport instruct Netivei Ayalon to allow taxis to travel for free on the new express lanes that have opened, which at this stage are intended only for free shuttles and buses. In addition, the drivers demand that the ministry fulfill its promise from January 2023 and allow them to use all public transport lanes (PTLs) without restriction.

According to the chairman of the National Taxi Drivers Union, Yehuda Bar-Or, taxis are on the road anyway, so delaying them in traffic jams only increases congestion and harms the service they provide, which is defined as public transport. "Is it reasonable for taxi drivers to drive on busy roads and get stuck in traffic with other private vehicles, while these lanes are completely empty?" says Bar-Or. "Taxis must be allowed to use PTLs throughout the country to enable a unique, available, and fast service for citizens, and thereby also maintain the advantage inherent in a special taxi ride."

The demand was also passed by the Taxi Drivers Association in the Histadrut's Independent Forum to the chairman of the Economic Committee, MK David Bitan. The Ministry of Transport informed the committee that it would examine the issue.

In the background remains the promise of Minister of Transport Miri Regev from the beginning of 2023 to examine exactly this issue. At the time, Regev said she had asked her ministry to examine a change in regulations that would allow taxis to use PTLs that are blocked to them. "I will not allow empty public transport lanes, and therefore I think we need to bring creative solutions to relieve the regular traffic lanes," Regev said more than three and a half years ago.

Today, the Ministry of Transport's policy does not grant taxis a blanket permit to use public transport lanes. Permits are granted in specific cases, including assistance vehicles for people with disabilities, ambulances, enforcement and maintenance vehicles, and vehicles with a certain number of passengers. Taxis are allowed to travel in a PTL only when they have passengers, i.e., during operation, and when the sign at the entrance to the lane explicitly permits it. On certain PTLs or on physically separated routes, such as the Metronit, travel is completely prohibited or permitted according to signage.

Regarding the express lanes, according to Netivei Ayalon, which operates them, at this stage entry is prohibited for all vehicles. When entry is opened for private vehicles, the trip will involve a payment of 6 to 105 shekels per segment during peak hours. According to Netivei Ayalon, taxi drivers will also be required to pay.

The debate over the possibility of allowing taxis to travel in public transport lanes or express lanes is not without drawbacks. A public transport lane is primarily intended to provide an advantage to buses and improve the speed and reliability of the service. The Ministry of Transport defines PTLs as a tool for improving travel times and reliability and even for increasing service frequency through more efficient use of the same bus fleet. Introducing many taxis into the lane could increase the number of vehicles in it, create disturbances, slow down bus travel, and harm the advantage for which the lane was allocated in the first place.

Therefore, the question is not only how many taxis will enter the PTL, but also how many passengers they are carrying. A taxi with one passenger actually occupies a road area similar to a private car, while a bus can carry dozens of passengers. On the other hand, when it comes to express lanes that have not yet been opened to the public and are empty most of the time anyway, granting a permit to taxis will not overload the lane, but will allow for more efficient use of the infrastructure.

The Ministry of Transport stated: "Including taxis in priority arrangements intended for public transport could lead to an increase in traffic volume in the lane and harm its functioning and efficiency. The use of taxis on express lanes and public transport lanes is regulated according to the characteristics of each lane and the transport goals for which it was established, and is not permitted on a blanket basis."