5 ms·
One of the most interesting experiences in my life was visiting Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur. On that day all car traffic is prohibited (also TV stations are offline
by elcapitan 8y ago
One of the most interesting experiences in my life was visiting Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur. On that day all car traffic is prohibited (also TV stations are offline etc). It was absolutely amazing. Tel Aviv is a city with large roads and usually extremely busy. On that day, cyclists ride over the highway, kids play on the streets. I never felt that directly before how invasive the normal car situation is.
Here's a photo https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2015/09/F141003FFDS008-e1442908153128-640x400.jpg https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2015/09/F141003...
- chadash 8y agoJust to clarify, there is no law that I know of prohibiting car traffic on yom kippur in Tel Aviv. However, since this is the most important holiday of the year, even many Israelis who don't celebrate other holidays will celebrate this one. I believe that virtually all businesses are closed that day, even those that don't close on other Jewish holidays (again, not illegal to operate, but customary). So in practice, few people will be driving that day/night.
- elcapitan 8y agoThanks for the clarification! Strong moral code though, I haven't seen one non-official car that day.
- jimmaswell 8y agoMoral code or just social pressure - the discomfort of the thought of disobeying the tradition and everyone glaring at you as you drive down the road outweighs the benefits of doing so even if you don't believe in the tradition.
- Double_a_92 8y agoWhat about hotels? E.g. if somebody wants to visit especially for that holiday.
- chadash 8y agoGenerally hotels will run with a skeleton staff.
- expathacker 8y agoSure, the Jewish Israelis celebrate and observe Yom Kippur. The Muslims in occupied Palestine? The military makes uses force to ensure they don't leave their ghettos. "Strong moral code". https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-close-of-west-bank-gaza-for-yom-kippur-holiday/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-close-of-west-bank-g...
- mendelk 8y agoFYI in case you weren't aware, Yom Kippur is celebrated tonight / tomorrow this year.
- elcapitan 8y agoI'm aware :)
- tomc1985 8y agoReminds me of walking the Bijlmermeer near HVA in Amsterdam on a Sunday morning. No cars, no people, no traffic, absolutely empty streets. The only sound was that of the wind streaming through steel canyons, and my footsteps. A positively divine experience
- icebraining 8y agoBrussels had a car-free Sunday last year, it was fantastic. Cars are like sugar, something great that we massively abuse.
- stevenwoo 8y agoIt seems to be an annual event now? https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2018/sep/16/car-free-in-paris-and-brussels-in-pictures https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2018/sep/16/car-fr... https://www.brussels.be/mobility-week-and-car-free-sunday-2018 https://www.brussels.be/mobility-week-and-car-free-sunday-20...
- jimmaswell 8y agoKids can play anywhere else when cars are on the road. What's so attractive about playing on a big patch of hard material that gets so hot in the summer you can't touch it without burning yourself? What's wrong with parks and people's yards? I never understood the pining for the days of playing on streets.
- 7dare 8y agoIt's about reclaiming the space -- playing near a road is noisy, smelly and dangerous for kids. "Outside" has become synonymous with car traffic, which is why children playing on the road feels so refreshing
- jf 8y agoyou can't touch it without burning yourself That's why I wore shoes or rode a bike when I played in the streets. I grew up in places with small yards and no parks nearby. The street is where we'd ride our bikes, have water balloon fights, play roller hockey, etc.
- DoreenMichele 8y agoWhen I played baseball growing up, the street was level and hard and so on. The backyard with grass had a steep hill and poor traction, etc. The street in front of my house made a much better baseball field than my steeply sloped, grassy and uneven backyard. Yet, it was right in front of my house, so I could use the bathroom, get a snack and remained under the watchful eye of my mother, unlike, say, some distant park with a proper baseball field.
- anoplus 8y agoIts amazing how divided Israel culture is yet the idea of having no cars for one day is totally embraced by anyone. Gives me a feeling of how polluted my daily life is with noise and gas. Fun fact: today is Yom Kippur.
- rospaya 8y agoHow accessible is Tel Aviv for pedestrians? I'm visiting soon and wonder how complicated it will be without a car.
- elcapitan 8y agoThe main parts are well accessible. There are some districts which are very car-centric, but the "old" part is well walkable. Or you can rent a bike, as I did.