How the start of the school year changed public transport travel patterns in Israel

An analysis of Moovit Pango data reveals that the start of the school year shifted the public transport peak hour back to 07:00 AM, with a 72% surge in trips compared to August. Teenagers increased their morning trips fivefold, and bus usage rose by 14% at the expense of trains. The average fare dropped by 3.2% to 6.05 shekels.

An analysis of Moovit Pango public transport data reveals a dramatic shift in travel patterns with the start of the school year on September 1. The peak hour moved from 5:00 PM (typical of summer vacation) back to 7:00 AM, with a 72% increase in trip volume compared to August. Among teenagers under 18, the number of morning passengers quintupled, and their share of total users rose by 6%. The adult population also returned to routine with a 40% increase in morning usage. The return to school also changed preferred modes of transport: urban bus usage rose by 14%, while light and heavy rail usage slightly declined. Shared family trips dropped by 66% compared to summer, and the Carmelit and cable car saw declines of over 90%. The average fare dropped by 3.2% from 6.25 to 6.05 shekels, due to a shift from long train trips to short bus trips. Moovit-Pango CEO Eyal Ziv noted that the data reflects a clear transition from vacation to routine, affecting travel timing, transport modes, and destinations.