OT: Ramon airport is being built in the Negev
May 7, 2019, 2:54 am
#154
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Zichron Yakov, Israel
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 808
Traffic delays on roads from Eilat cause passengers to miss flights
https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001284814
The travel time from downtown Eilat to Ramon airport should normally be 20 mins but in peak times during holidays can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
And taxis are refusing to do the trip during those times due to the traffic jams.
The travel time from downtown Eilat to Ramon airport should normally be 20 mins but in peak times during holidays can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
And taxis are refusing to do the trip during those times due to the traffic jams.
May 7, 2019, 5:17 am
#155
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001284814
The travel time from downtown Eilat to Ramon airport should normally be 20 mins but in peak times during holidays can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
And taxis are refusing to do the trip during those times due to the traffic jams.
The travel time from downtown Eilat to Ramon airport should normally be 20 mins but in peak times during holidays can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
And taxis are refusing to do the trip during those times due to the traffic jams.
May 8, 2019, 10:45 am
#158
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
The mere existence of buses does not constitute a public transportation link. For these buses to link the town of Eilat to ETM they have to convenient and available to the public. Lack of bus lane between the town and ETM all but guarantees poor time performance and thus lack of true availability. The convenience of these buses is also questionable as a proper airport link bus has to allow rapid alighting and boarding with bags. Did Egged or any other company invest in such buses or do they use their regular IC buses where pax have to stow the luggage first? Or low floor urban buses that do not fit the task at hand?
May 8, 2019, 10:46 am
#159
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
May 8, 2019, 1:39 pm
#160
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,470
Is it illegal also for intercity travel? E.g. lets say that a person gets into a taxi in Haifa and demands to go to Eilat, is the driver obligated to take the passenger there?
May 8, 2019, 3:08 pm
#161
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
The mere existence of buses does not constitute a public transportation link. For these buses to link the town of Eilat to ETM they have to convenient and available to the public. Lack of bus lane between the town and ETM all but guarantees poor time performance and thus lack of true availability. The convenience of these buses is also questionable as a proper airport link bus has to allow rapid alighting and boarding with bags. Did Egged or any other company invest in such buses or do they use their regular IC buses where pax have to stow the luggage first? Or low floor urban buses that do not fit the task at hand?
I wonder how often there are such bad traffic jams and whether it really justifies having a public transport lane.
May 9, 2019, 1:31 am
#162
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
Why do they need "rapid alighting and boarding with bags" ? All of the buses operating from AMS airport a normal buses that operates elsewhere, even the 197 which is advertised as the "AMS to Amsterdam line" is simply a long bus with no dedicated cargo space at all.
I wonder how often there are such bad traffic jams and whether it really justifies having a public transport lane.
I wonder how often there are such bad traffic jams and whether it really justifies having a public transport lane.
The story says it happens at every rush hour , that means Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings , Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings , and pretty much all July , August and other holiday periods.
This further pushes Israelis to drive to Eilat rather than fly ( which is a form of public transport).
May 9, 2019, 1:56 am
#163
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
It isn't a wrong comparison, most of the trains in AMS are also very far from being "luggage friendly", and most hotels/AirBNBs aren't within a walking distance of a train station anyway. (and that's where 197 becomes quite useful, and many tourists are using it)
And if it really takes 1-1.5hrs 4 times a week + during the entire holiday season then yes a public transport lane should be a priority.
For your latter point, wouldn't those Israelis have to stand in an even bigger traffic jam? I don't see how that pushes anyone to drive rather than fly.
And if it really takes 1-1.5hrs 4 times a week + during the entire holiday season then yes a public transport lane should be a priority.
For your latter point, wouldn't those Israelis have to stand in an even bigger traffic jam? I don't see how that pushes anyone to drive rather than fly.
May 9, 2019, 4:22 pm
#164
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
It isn't a wrong comparison, most of the trains in AMS are also very far from being "luggage friendly", and most hotels/AirBNBs aren't within a walking distance of a train station anyway. (and that's where 197 becomes quite useful, and many tourists are using it)
And if it really takes 1-1.5hrs 4 times a week + during the entire holiday season then yes a public transport lane should be a priority.
For your latter point, wouldn't those Israelis have to stand in an even bigger traffic jam? I don't see how that pushes anyone to drive rather than fly.
And if it really takes 1-1.5hrs 4 times a week + during the entire holiday season then yes a public transport lane should be a priority.
For your latter point, wouldn't those Israelis have to stand in an even bigger traffic jam? I don't see how that pushes anyone to drive rather than fly.
The Israelis are already part of the jam - it is just that while ETH was a valid alternative to avoid those, which is now lost, more will choose to spend the time in the convenience of their vehicle rather than in the inconvenience of the bus, and if you add to that the amount of time they have to spend in the airport - for anyone living south of Rishon LeZion and relying on TLV - a car is a no brainer. Those to the north may still opt for SDV, but even then, the difference is not compelling for them to take the flight. Hence I bet the jams will only get worse until a proper public transport link is established. But that is the least of Eilat's problems when it comes to attracting tourists.
May 9, 2019, 4:24 pm
#165
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
Good point, not sure about it. I guess long distance trips provide drivers with more leniency. I would not say Eilat town center to ETM falls into that realm...