The Transport Ministry is expanding the pilot to make intercity bus lines accessible. Starting next month, dozens of intercity bus lines be accessible for people in wheelchairs in cities across the country.

As part of the pilot, from 1st December 2024, dozens of intercity lines will be made accessible for wheelchair users in about 30 cities across the country. This is part of the Ministry of Transport’s plan to make all public transportation in Israel accessible to people with disabilities. Currently, buses in urban areas are wheelchair accessible, in accordance with the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act. Although the law only requires wheelchair accessibility for local bus lines, Minister Regev decided about a year and a half ago to launch a pilot for accessible intercity bus lines.

Now, the pilot has been expanded to include 15 additional intercity lines, bringing the total number of accessible intercity bus lines to 60, with nationwide coverage. The buses participating in the pilot will be equipped with an electric lift for boarding and disembarking passengers in wheelchairs.

The new lines joining the pilot will be in cities including Kiryat Shmona, Hatzor HaGlilit, Safed, Rosh Pina, Nahariya, Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Ata, Afula, Haifa, Nazareth Illit, Yokneam Illit, Zichron Yaakov, Binyamina-Givat Ada, Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Hadera, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Modiin Illit, Jerusalem, Beitar Illit, and Beit Shemesh.

Minister Regev said: "Expanding the pilot for accessible intercity bus lines is part of our commitment to people with disabilities, aimed at reducing disparities and expanding the freedom of movement for wheelchair users."

Each accessible bus will allow only one passenger in a wheelchair per trip. Therefore, travel on an accessible intercity bus requires a reservation 24 hours in advance. Reservations can be made by phone to the bus company's call centers. Reservations are possible Sunday-Thursday until 4pm the day before travel, and on Fridays until 12:30pm for travel on Motzei Shabbat or Sunday.

The fare for the journey is the same as for regular travel and can be paid using all standard payment methods in public transport, including phone apps.

In Beit Shemesh the accessible bus routes will be to/from Bnei Brak - route 690 and 691. Call Netiv Express: *3553

You can see the complete list of accessible intercity bus lines here: https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/
 

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