""The Israel Police's conduct towards private transportation companies is being done aggressively and without any minimal consideration for the tens of thousands of passengers who will travel with them to Meron this year," public figures told the newspaper this morning.''The Informant'' - and sharply criticize the Israel Police.
• For the special channel: Celebrating Lag BaOmer among the Haredim 10
According to them, "The police's intentions are good and their goal is to prevent a collapse on the road to Meron, but stretching the rope to the limit will only cause people to prefer to stay in their homes, and then the congestion will decrease anyway - and we hope that this is not the police's intention. Because if so, this is extremely serious. The police are supposed to provide solutions on the ground and not discourage people who would prefer to stay at home.".
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Transportation officials clarified to Hamodia that "no one has a problem with the police trying out the pilot of blocking access to private vehicles for one year, to check whether they are the ones causing congestion on the northern roads and the collapse of transportation in the Meron area. However, the police announcement that buses from private transportation companies will only be able to park in the remote parking lots in Ein Hozim and Sepsupa is outrageous and has no logical explanation.".
""People don't have the strength to get up and down twice, even if they get on the buses at the first starting point, and then have to walk with the whole family from the parking lot to the shuttle, find a place to sit, etc. Instead, the police should authorize the buses to drop off passengers either at the entrance gate to the settlement or allow them to enter the parking lot near Meron, and after they drop off the passengers, allow the buses to reach the Ein Hozim parking lot - and on the way back, the passengers will get there with shuttles," say transportation officials.
The police decided to go to the limit this year, and that's a bit too much, they say. "The very decision that private vehicles will not reach Meron already seriously reduces the volume of transportation, which gives room for maneuver to allow private transportation company buses to drop off passengers near Meron, without causing unnecessary traffic congestion. There is still a week left until Lag B'Omer and the police can still decide to change their policy.
""The decision to only allow Agad and Nativ to reach the parking lots near Meron is utter recklessness. These two companies will not be able to provide enough buses for the Haredi public, and there is no reason for tens of thousands who travel with the other companies to inconvenience themselves and their families in vain.".
Egged, by the way, clarified that this year they are managing transportation to Meron on Lag BaOmer for the Nativ Express company, which owns the line to Meron, after it won the tender. Egged is renting buses from all the companies to try to meet demand, although there has been a severe shortage of buses due to the fact that this year Lag BaOmer is a regular school day, and they are used to transport students.
Netiv Express told the newspaper 'Hamodia' that they won the tender for the lines to Meron, and according to the original plan they were supposed to operate these lines starting in a month and a half, but at Egged's request they began operating the line over a month ago, and this was on the condition that Egged would be the one to manage the transportation to Meron on Lag BaOmer, since Netiv Express did not have time to prepare properly.
The police's conduct succeeded in infuriating the ultra-Orthodox members of Knesset, who demanded that a special hearing be held tomorrow in the Knesset's Interior Committee, to try and see if things can still be changed in favor of private public transportation.
Police announce: Everything you need to know about transportation
The Israel Police stated: "As part of drawing lessons from previous years and for the personal safety and security of road users, significant changes have been made to traffic arrangements and access routes. Access to the Hilula will only be possible by public transportation and organized shuttles. Access to the Hilula site and its vicinity will not be possible by private vehicles.".
""There is significant importance in conveying messages and emphases to the public of road users and the public celebrating - prior to the event due to the blockage of main traffic routes for private vehicles:
● Highway 65 – from Golani towards Kadrim.
● Highway 85 – from Rama Junction to Amiad Junction, in both directions.
● Highway 866 – from the Hananya intersection towards Meron.
● Highway 89 – from Hiram Junction to Elifelet Interchange, in both directions.
● Highway 886 – from Rahaniyeh Junction to Ein Hozim Square.
● Highway 8900 – from the Biriye intersection to Ein Hozim Square.
● Exit from Safed to Route 89.
● Entry or exit from Safed will be possible via Highway 8900, from the direction of Rosh Pina only.
Road closure dates:
On Friday, May 16, 2014 – from 7:00 AM until dusk.
Saturday, May 17, 2014 until Sunday, May 18, 2014 at midnight.
Hundreds of police officers will be deployed on the roads leading to Meron in order to provide service to road users and the celebrating public. Drivers are asked to be patient and obey the police's instructions and guidelines. Residents living near Meron will be allowed to travel on the roads that are blocked to private vehicles, upon presentation of an ID card only.
In light of the changes in traffic arrangements, drivers should pay attention to the directional signs and roadside signage. The police will provide ongoing and vital information to the public, before and during the event, and it is therefore recommended to be attentive to the media.
As for the celebrating public, it is clarified that traveling by public transportation will bring them to the celebration site safely, quickly, and with maximum comfort. To this end, the police, with the assistance of the Ministry of Transportation, have worked to significantly strengthen public transportation lines in the northern region.
For passengers on public transportation, refreshment stations have been arranged on Highway 6, Golani Junction, Elifelet Interchange and Lake Monfort. Parking of private vehicles will not be permitted on the sides of the road. Vehicles parked in an unregulated manner will be towed.
Disabled people, with a disability certificate, who are limited to walking only, will arrive at the "Frud" parking lot via the Sheva intersection, where they will board the "Ezer M'Zion" shuttle to the grave site. VIPs who have received regular permission from the Israel Police will arrive by prior arrangement at the Sheva intersection (Hanania).
Since many buses will be heading towards Meron, pedestrians are strictly prohibited from walking on the routes leading to the site for fear of putting their lives at risk.
Also, for the public's information, starting today until next Sunday - 18.5.14, a citizen information center on this subject will be operating - 1700500679.
