Bus (file)
Bus (file)Meir Sela

About 70 private bus drivers drove through the streets of Jerusalem in a protest convoy. The Jerusalem bus drivers union demanded that the municipality cancel all outstanding parking tickets against the drivers.

Moshe Sinai, a member of the bus drivers' union, explained that unlike the Egged drivers, private bus drivers have no regulated places to let passengers off. "We have been given promises for 20 years, and nothing has been done. We have nowhere to stop to pick up or let off students, travelers, or soldiers."

"For example, we stop by the Western Wall or at Ammunition Hill to pick up or let off passengers, and they slap us with a ticket for hundreds of shekels. When we finish a day's worth the municipality has taken everything we've earned.

Sinai called on Mayor Nir Barkat to cancel all parking tickets against the bus drivers and to stop what he termed "the cruel enforcement policy."

"We came to Ammunition Hill this morning to cry out in our pain. The Jerusalem municipality issued insane and cruel enforcement orders. The inspectors come to write up tickets for us at midnight, and also during the day when we're picking up or dropping off students. They don't care - they just 'shoot' and run.

"We not not even allowed to stop at Egged stops. Our drivers have received more than 4,000 tickets so far, and each ticket is a minimum of NIS 250 ($70). We have addressed the authorities and the ministers, but everyone just laughs in our faces,

Sinai said that the drivers would strike as long as the tickets remained in effect. "We provide a public service and ease the tremendous burden on Egged, but instead [of thanking us] they make us the financiers of the City Treasury's deficit. We have corresponded with the mayor's office since 2013 and nothing has happened. We have no places to stop and the inspectors are celebrating."

The Jerusalem Municipality said in response that "the Jerusalem Municipality has carried out extensive work on the matter in order to provide a response to the needs of tourists and transporters in the city. The municipality coordinated all the requests of the Tourism Ministry and various organizations regarding parking and stops for buses, and 90% of complaints were responded to the satisfaction of all parties."