The vertical movement in Haifa
In the city of Haifa there are hundreds of public staircases, several wadi paths, almost two cable cars and one Carmelite. All this leads me to the obvious conclusion that vertical movement in Haifa is just as important as horizontal movement.
Who is Haifai - the one who goes up or the one who goes down the stairs?
The Haifa stairs are a first class urban asset. The experience of walking up the stairs is bound to reveal unexpected vantage points, acquaintances with different buildings and people, and opportunities for a historical journey that spans hundreds of years. In my opinion, the staircases represent not only a correct concept of urban planning but also reflect a social idea. An idea expressed in a clear preference for foot traffic that brings a person closer to his neighbor and to his city view. What's more, the issue of foot traffic is back in fashion in a big way!
The stairs are on the Haifa agenda as of today
It seems that the thinking of the current municipal government in relation to the stairs is an essentially infrastructural thinking that places only a limited emphasis on their cultural value. In light of this, the government in Haifa initiated two main programs. The first deals with encouraging the development of commerce along several individual staircases in the city. Trading will take place in the buildings adjacent to the stairs, which will be able to use their spaces for trading. For this purpose, a request was submitted last year to the Ministry of the Interior for a significant reduction in property tax for potential businesses, but it has not yet been approved. The second plan deals with the construction of escalators (escalators) along several other staircases. Even in this case it is an idea that is still in very early stages.
"The group for revitalizing the Haifa stairs" (look for us on Facebook)
During my journeys up the stairs in Haifa I am repeatedly exposed to the misery of most of the public staircases in the city. The state of maintenance of the stairways branded as tourist routes also does not add any respect to us. This situation made me realize that although the municipal plans talk about a certain change in the situation, they only refer to a very small number of staircases in the city - so what about the rest? In addition to this, the advancement of these plans depends on huge budgets that are not within the reach of the city as of today (approximately NIS 6.5 million for escalators only).
So instead of getting upset, I decided to wake up the community of stair fans of the city, and motivate it to revive the Haifa stair culture. I am sure that with a much smaller budget than stated in the city's work plans, and with the help of volunteers and a lot of good will, we will be able to lead a much wider change.
stairway to Heaven!
So what are we doing tomorrow morning? First of all, make sure that there is a proper mapping of all the public staircases in the city. The mapping should not only be geographical, but should also refer to the physical condition of the stairs, the existence of ancillary aids such as safety rails, the condition of lighting and signage, the condition of cleanliness, etc. After we have an appropriate mapping, we should think seriously about expanding the map of the branded stair routes to other areas of the city while creating appropriate maps, signage and branding.
Some of the staircases will also receive a spiritual upgrade. Do you know Gan-Sivor in Holon? So why shouldn't there be stairs-barbers in Haifa? After all, two stories can be woven into each staircase! One for the immigrants and one for the immigrants. Along other staircases, the story of the city can be told, games adapted to the stairs can be scattered, views of the city can be presented - and this is just the beginning.
The stairs in Haifa are much more than infrastructure
In addition to easy accessibility, I would like the Haifa stairs to provide space for many and varied activities for the different populations in the city. If we manage to refer to the Haifa staircase also as a park, a community activity center, an educational attraction, a sports facility and more, then we are definitely on the right track. But it is most important that the stairs be much more accessible for the Haifaites themselves. It is part of our DNA.
Making the Haifa stairs accessible is important for preserving the uniqueness of the city, for developing sustainable infrastructure and improving the quality of life for all of us.
Walking should be returned as the preferred alternative to motorized transport. Those who have not yet experienced vertical walking in Haifa have not yet discovered that this is the fastest and simplest alternative in Haifa.
It can be demonstrated as a competitive challenge on a rather long route even - an elderly person against a private vehicle, electric bicycle, bus, etc. On the descent the walk will always (!) win, and on the ascent we will reach the destination a few minutes later or with Carmelit even before everyone else.
The infrastructure in Haifa is also poor to say the least, there are dangerous roads to drive on and nothing has been done about it for years and there is no lack of examples, Dori Road, Electric Street, even Route 22, not to mention the industrial pioneers and the technical road of the Air Force. For drivers, the Histadrut road has right lanes on both sides. For years, they have done nothing in this city, which has long since declined from its size as the third city in the country. It is a shame that such a city with potential and beauty has been neglected for years and is full of management and care problems from the mayor who promised a mountain and did nothing.
What a stupid response
You contradict yourself in your own words and don't even notice.. on the one hand: "We haven't done anything for years" and on the other hand blame Kalish, who has been in the position for nothing for a year and a half.. and received a neglected and corrupt "inheritance". what did you expect That in a magic wand she will right the wrongs of decades?
I don't expect that it will be possible to fix everything, but you have to start, and a manager full of consultants doesn't fix anything.
For example, let's take the issue of stairs. It's nice to give property tax discounts to businesses for 6 staircases (out of 300 in the city). But is it really a treatment of the subject? You need to work in an orderly manner on such an issue. Make a serious master plan of what you want to achieve. Budget every year for the restoration of 5-10 staircases: extension, lighting, signage, vegetation, drainage
And to say okay in 5 years there will be 50 restored and renovated staircases from which we will create a tourist route. Nothing happens overnight. Tel Aviv began to rehabilitate its city center in the early 90s. 30 years have passed and they have still renovated and restored approximately 50%. A lot, but 3 decades of hard work.
If Klish becomes responsible and starts implementing long-term plans, the mayor after her will be able to enjoy the fruits. This is how responsible mayors work, thinking 2-3 decades ahead and then formulating budgets and a schedule to get there.
Thanks for the information, indeed a unique asset for the city that deserves to be nurtured and developed.
The urban stairs in Haifa are a real and stable asset
I was happy to read the article and in particular to get ideas on how to upgrade the stairs.
In my opinion, first of all you need to make the stairs something pleasant to walk on and make sure the stairs are in good condition
Includes railings.
Only later can you add attractions and commerce along the way.
At this time, I also suggest adding paintings in sections on the steps of the stairs and perhaps also on accompanying walls.
How many times I went up and down the Haifa stairs, how I loved running down them when I rub the soles of my shoes on the stairs. What a wonderful memory, when today I have mobility difficulties.
I love Haifa. Haifa is my only city, I was born there, I have lived there all my life, and one can assume that I will die in its arms. There is nothing as beautiful as my city, there are no people like the people of Haifa. Its streets are all well known and familiar to me like the back of my hand. I dream of its alleys at night and miss walking again in its familiar and beloved streets.
I love you, my only city
Esther, one of your loyal residents.
The idea for escalators was first raised a decade ago in "Haifa Urban Blog" on the basis of a similar project that exists in Hong Kong.
In the same blog it is also explained why the current cable car in Chek Post is a failed and problematic venture. The idea of a set of escalators between the university and the Technion through the forest is also a much cheaper tourist route than operating a cable car. From the check post to the Technion, it was possible to mark a simple traffic stop on Dori road in the right lane during morning and afternoon rush hours. A bus makes the route faster than the gondola lift that is installed. worth reading:
http://www.tapuz.co.il/blogs/viewentry/1542044
Regarding the staircases: Mitzna promised us that the Bahá'í gardens would allow a continuous walk from the Carmel to the moshavah, and it turned out to be a shriveled up. They closed the possibility of passing through the gardens and also refused to build open stairs next to the gardens. Yahav did not touch any staircase for 15 years, complete neglect. At Cafe de Marker, the subject of a stair race came up and Nichlis Jr. produced the stair race for a million shekels a year, which was problematic because some of them are narrow and broken. Even the almost successful race did not convince Yahav to invest in the restoration of the stairs beyond the PR event of the race.
Those who want to delve deeper into the field of stairs in Hadar and its surroundings have another blog from Ma'alot Hadar
https://hirom.info/?cat=3
You have to distinguish between 3 types of staircases if you want to be precise and in-depth and not do superficial work for communication or knowledge-as it were. One is purposeful, a simple and usually very narrow strip of stairs next to the fences of houses bridging a slope. The second is a street staircase - a cause that may have been Once a street or a road and became a very wide staircase, there are usually entrances to houses and businesses around it because it was a street. And a protective staircase, which is a reason that it is part of a topographical garden that includes slopes through which paths and stairs pass. Now that we have put it in order, everyone can easily identify the types The different ones in Haifa. In Carmel there are many protective staircases. In Hadar there are all three types. In the lower city and Saliv, mainly the narrow purpose type A.
The planning department at the municipality does a terrible job when it comes to stairs. Some of them are destroyed, blocked, displaced and closed by pirate takeover. Another problem is that instead of it being a tourist feature it has become a crime feature. The stairs are scary dark and neglected. In winter instead of drainage there are rivers and mud. The railings are broken or rusted. And untrimmed vegetation obstructs the passage. As mentioned, for 3 terms, Yahav was simply not interested in the stairs and did not promote anything. In many cases they removed pillars and even allowed vehicles to park at the entrance to the stairs and block them. In other words, not only did they not repair, they also added damage.
I don't know what Einat is planning on the stairs. There is a lot of talk about walking, but they do not provide a safe, pleasant and well-lit environment for walking at night. There was an idea to mark routes with colors but residents objected so that there would be no tourists. This is the secret here that buildings near staircases really don't want tourists and pedestrians. The less the better. Some of them even deliberately neglect and make it difficult to walk on the stairs with debris so that they don't get passed over and "make noise".
No staircase in Haifa has a roof for shade in the summer and protection from rain. Perhaps it is also an idea to have at least one set of stairs with drainage, roofs, railings, cleaning, which can be used by tourists all year round.
Thank you very much for all the information, very important. For me, everything is fluid and dynamic in terms of settings, but the potential is huge in any case.
You should study the website that centers all the information https://hirom.info/
I definitely know this site and it is very important.
The truth is that I would expect the municipality to have an organized map in the system
The municipal GIS and on the basis of this map it is possible to work on the management of the staircases
including the things indicated in the column. At the moment I can't get confirmation that there is such a map.
I think and assume that you are hoping to get the job of stairmaster?
Hello to Erwin,
I don't know you, so I won't comment on your words. At the same time, I live on the stairs in Haifa, and Dr. Yariv Sagi, whom I don't even know, writes witty things, what is your real goal, Erwin? Are you looking for a job in the municipality? You think and guess who you are as a mind reader. You will learn to accept constructive criticism
What does a doctor of psychology understand about stairs, escalators and elevators?
By the way, there are also diagonal lifts and not just vertical ones.
My PhD deals with the psychology of decision-making in local authorities so it came out
I can deal with almost all the areas that make up the activities of the local authority.
You are welcome to browse it on the Internet, search by my name and you will reach it easily.
By the way, you can say that the Carmelite is a kind of elevator diagonally, though
Its name as a means of transportation is funicular, but it is completely similar to the principle of an elevator or an underground cable car.