Parents toting their children around in baby carriages and strollers on buses and trains in Jerusalem will now be able to save some money. On Monday, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz signed an order exempting carriages – and the children in them – from paying fares on public transportation.
Until Monday, parents were not charged for carriages that were folded up and placed in baggage bins below buses. They were charged a half fare for open carriages.
The order will first take effect in Jerusalem, where, according to Transportation Ministry figures, there are more strollers and carriages “riding” the buses and trains than anywhere else. The order will apply to all buses and light rail lines in the city, and will eventually be expanded to the rest of the country. After the order is signed by Finance Minister Yair Lapid, the order is expected to come into effect at the end of July.