There is a very interesting ritual that takes place here on the little mini-bus -- I can't imagine it working in NY.
Little mini buses follow the regular bus route but the advantage of these little vans is that they can stop just about anywhere. Along the route, just stick out your arm (like hailing a taxi) and the van stops and you get in. The number 5 on Rothschild comes a bit more frequently than the regular big bus, so I use it quite often. These photos don't do justice to the action -- a little YouTube video would be better... but let me try to explain.
Since the bus needs to keep moving -- the driver opens the door quickly and the rider gets in. Nothing unusual about that. The passenger then takes his seat and fumbles for change to pay the driver. If the passenger is sitting in the back, the ritual is more pronounced. He passes his fare forward to the passenger in front of him, and then that guy passes the fare forward and so on, until the driver gets the money. Each using the very specific "back-hand money transfer move".
If change needs to be made (and most often this is the case, as the fare is 5.5 shekels) the procedure then repeats in reverse, with each passenger handing the money back to the original passenger. With each "pass" you hear "Toda" "Toda" "Toda". No one turns, or looks backwards... eyes forward... just "Toda". When another passenger gets on the bus, the whole things starts again. I tried to take a few pics of the action -- I am not sure I was successful in capturing it. But try to visualize!
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