From Shoresh to Jerusalem, Friday 16 July 2010

Last Friday, 16 July 2010, I wanted to travel from Shoresh/Shoeva Junction (on Road 1, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem) back to Jerusalem. I got to the stop at around 16:45.

Two buses were supposed to stop there still: line 433, at 16:42 and at 17:12. I knew the 16:42 bus likely still had to come, since line 433 is often late on Friday afternoons (I've taken it multiple times from Latrun to Jerusalem). So, I sat and waited.

At 16:57, bus 433 passed - it literally passed, on Road 1, without leaving the highway at all - bypassing the bus stop without even looking at me. The bus was absolutely not full. So I waited. And waited. Assuming the 17:12 bus would come.... Was I wrong!

Many other buses passed, of all lines - 400, 402, 480, 405, 947, and many others. But no 433. At 17:40, a 'monit sherut' (shared taxi) of the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem service stopped to let someone off, and I could get on. (Tens of moniot sherut had passed before that on the highway, without stopping.)

Thanks to the shared taxi, I only waited 55 minutes. Had I relied on Egged, I would probably have stood at Shoresh Junction until Saturday night.

SHAME ON EGGED!