Tel Aviv to offer free public transport on a Saturday

Israel's second largest city, Tel Aviv, will offer public transit on Saturdays for the first time after the city approved a 1.5-million shekel (US$430,000) budget for an intercity minibus service last week.

As current legislation stands, Israeli cities and towns are prohibited from operating and charging for public transport on Shabbat (the traditional Jewish day of rest), but some have managed to circumvent the law by providing transport for free.

The proposed free service will initially run for one year, with a view to extend it if there is sufficient demand.

Meital Lehavi, Deputy Mayor of Transportation for Tel Aviv-Yafo told Cities Today: "You can't charge for public transport o...