Israel’s recent bike craze met with resistance
The growing trend of biking in Israel has also considerably increased the number of accidents with pedestrians on sidewalks.
Insufferable traffic jams, growing awareness of healthy lifestyles and the new generation of chic bikes have contributed to the growing bicycle craze that has gripped Israel in the last few years. What once was a children's activity or a specialized sport now attracts a wide range of cyclists who are part of one of Israel’s biking clubs or professionals commuting to work.
In Tel Aviv, for instance, bikes are a particularly efficient means to beat the traffic and circumvent a shortage of parking. Across the country, amateur riders join groups that unite fellow bike lovers, who take part in early morning nature rides or evening city tours.
Electric bicycles are popular with the younger generation. But in the hands of these youngsters, the electric bikes become a hazard — not only do the youths drive dangerously and ignore the traffic rules, they also put themselves at risk by not wearing a helmet.
As bicycles have become a preferred means of transport for many, the Israel Bicycle Association was endorsed by 61 Knesset members and initiated in June a new Knesset bill. According to the bill, every local authority with more than 30,000 residents would have to submit a plan for constructing new bike paths and improving the ones that exist in its jurisdiction, and build bike racks near major buildings and train and bus stations. The bill was blocked in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, but Yotam Avizohar, the association’s director, believes he can convince the minister of finance to remove his objection to the bill. Even so, Avizohar knows that the road is still long until the State of Israel becomes a bike-friendly country.
