London has launched a new bus route targeting Orthodox Jews in a bid to improve their safety amid rising anti-Semitism.
The move was spearheaded by London Mayor Sadiq Khan in an effort to help the city’s Jewish residents feel safer while on the move. The 310 bus, which has been running for a year on a trial basis, connects the Stamford Hill and Golders Green areas, where there is a large concentration of Orthodox Jews.
Sadiq Khan told the BBC in London that Jewish communities in the area had been pushing for a direct transport link between Stamford Hill and Golders Green for 16 years. He also said that conversations with representatives of the Jewish community in recent months had shown him how frightened they were by the sharp rise in anti-Semitism that began on October 7 last year.
We are delighted that after fifteen years of advocacy on behalf of the community, bus route 310 has been launched, providing a direct service between Golders Green and Stamford Hill. We appreciate @SadiqKhan and @TfL for his commitment to the strictly Orthodox Jewish community pic.twitter.com/ZvfqtP32aK
– Jewish Forum London (@JewishLondon) September 2, 2024
Khan said he was given examples of families who changed buses for fear of threats and intimidation. He also stressed that Jews in London often face abuse and that some are even afraid to leave their homes for fear of their safety. Khan said he did not want anyone in London to live in fear because of concerns about using public transport.
The introduction of a new route was one of the mayor’s campaign promises. In the past 12 months to July 2024, anti-Semitic crimes have increased by 278.9% compared to the previous year, according to the London Police.
Despite the new route, community groups have expressed concern. The British NGO Campaign Against Antisemitism has said that the situation in London is so bad that the Jewish community needs additional routes, as the existing ones have become unsafe for them.
Previously, Kursor spoke about how a taxi driver in Moscow refused to give a ride to a rabbi because he was Jewish.
