Transportation on Shabbat

From Halachipedia

Bike

  1. The Minhag is not to bike on Shabbat. [1]

Boat

  1. See Taking a cruise over Shabbat

Car

Electric Subway and Train

  1. It is forbidden to travel in an electric train which will make scheduled stops whether it's a intercity or within the city train. [2]
  2. If one needs to travel for a mitzvah (such as a doctor to the hospital, or a Mohel to a Brit) it is permissible to take an electric subway, where the driver is non-Jewish, majority of the passengers are non-Jewish, and it only travels within the city, as long as one pays before Shabbat and is let on without giving money or a card. Additionally, as much as possible a person should do this in private. [3]

Airplane

  1. One may not travel by airplane over Shabbat whether or not the plane departs before Shabbat. However, if the plane arrives after Shabbat there is some opinion which is lenient, but in any case one should consult one's Orthodox Rabbi. [4]
  2. If an airplane arrived on Shabbat, one shouldn't get off the plan until after Shabbat, however, if one is unable to do so one should stay in the airport.[5]

Traveling in a dangerous area

  1. If by traveling in a caravan in the desert and one will certainly come to violate Shabbat because of a Pikuach Nefesh (life threatening) situation, according to Sephardim one may begin the trip during the first three days of the week. However, according to Ashkenazim one should not begin should that trip any day of the week. [6]

References

  1. Or Letzion (vol 2, chap 42, note 1), Sh"t Yabea Omer 10:54(12), Yalkut Yosef (Shabbat, vol 5, pg 56)
  2. Yalkut Yosef (vol 1, pg 55)ת VaDaber Davar (Rabbi Shmuel Pinchasi, 1:21), Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 1:21
  3. Chazon Ovadyah (Shabbat vol 1 pg 130)
  4. Yalkut Yosef (vol 1, pg 52). See also VeDaber Davar (Rav Shmuel Pinchasi 1:26) and Chut Sheni (Rav Nassim Karlitz, vol 1, pg 72) seem to forbid whether or not the plane arrives on Shabbat.
  5. Yalkut Yosef (vol 1, pg 53)
  6. The Rivash 1:17-8 originates based on the Baal HaMoer’s concept that it would be permissible to travel with a caravan into a desert as long as one leaves during the first three days of the week even though it will certainly come to a violation of Shabbat because of a life threatening situation. Shulchan Aruch 248:4 codifies the Rivash as halacha that even when there’s certain violation of Shabbat it’s permitted if one begins in the first three days of the week. [Mishna Brurah 248:26 quotes the Radvaz who argues that if there’s certain violation of Shabbat even for Pikuach Nefesh it’s forbidden to begin any day of the week and the Mishna Brurah seems to side with the Radvaz. However, the Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 1:5) and Sh”t Yabea Omer YD 5:23(1) rule like Shulchan Aruch.]