Bicycling movement sweeps Lebanon
As Lebanon is hit hard by a series of crises, fuel shortages aggravated by the Ukraine war have pushed many Lebanese to use bicycles as transportation.
BEIRUT — Faced with fuel shortages caused by the war in Ukraine, dozens of Lebanese drivers stuck in front of gas stations on Mar Mikhael Street wait impatiently to fill up their vehicles — a situation echoing last summer's “queues of humiliation.” As a consequence of the fuel shortage, many Lebanese have turned to bicycling — a less expensive and more environmentally friendly way of getting around.
Ramzi Alieh, a young Lebanese architect, uses his bicycle to traverse Beirut.
“I started cycling right away in Beirut … when the fuel crisis hit Lebanon. Thanks to this mode of transportation, I was much less affected by the shortage,” Alieh told Al-Monitor.
“Now, with the war in Ukraine, mobility is becoming an issue again. Since I am already used to riding my bike, I don't have to worry about queues, rising fuel prices or expensive repairs,” he said.
