Bike Law Set for Knesset Approval

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

The law was proposed by MK Dov Hanin (United Arab List), who said that “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 law is being supported by 43 MKs from the coalition and opposition, and is almost exactly the same as a law Hanin proposed in the last Knesset, when he was head of the Hadash party.