Legislation introduced by Hadash to encourage the use of bicycles is set to be voted upon by MKs on Tuesday, July 19, after the Ministerial Law Committee approved it on Sunday. The bill is intended to expand options for bike travel by commuters to get to work, as well as for leisure. The law includes provisions for expanding bike routes and transportation options for bikers, including enabling them to take their bikes onto trains and buses.

Bike route near Tel-Aviv University (Photo: Ahuzot)

The law was proposed by Hadash MK Dov Khenin (Joint List), who said: “Bicycles are a healthy transportation option both for people and the environment. They are inexpensive and easily accessible. We need to ensure that there are more bike lanes and paths that are safe for riders, and expand their use in the public sphere, while ensuring that they do not endanger pedestrians and that bikers are safe from vehicles.”

As part of the law, local authorities with at least 30,000 residents will be required to provide bike paths for commuters. The law will also require buses and trains to accommodate bikes, and empower local authorities to provide incentives for either public transportation companies or individual riders. The bill is currently supported by 43 MKs from the coalition and opposition, and is almost identical to that which MK Khenin proposed in the last Knesset in name of the Hadash parliamentary fraction.