Anyone who lives or works in Tel Aviv or even just visits the city from time to time can't help but notice that the place is awash with cyclists. Some have placed the figure of Tel Aviv residents who regularly bicycle around town at close to 40,000. While he says he doesn't have precise research material to back up that claim, Motti Ambram notes that using bicycles as a regular mode of transport or for keeping fit is definitely on the increase in Tel Aviv. “We know that around 7 percent of people in Tel Aviv get to work by bike,” notes Ambram, “and we expect that number to continue rising.” There is also the matter of the Tel-o-fun bicycle rental facility. “We know that over 20,000 people use Tel-o-fun every day,” Ambram continues. “We are also working on setting up a criterium bike race in the South Park, and we have plans to build a BMX bike riding facility.” That constant surge in popularity will be reflected in the number of cyclists who will take advantage of the Sovev Turki cross-Tel Aviv mass bicycle event on Wednesday. “I reckon there will be upwards of 20,000 people cycling around the city on the day,” says Ambram who, as director the Municipality of Tel Aviv's Sports Department, has a professional vested interest in Sovev Turki and in promoting cycling in the city year round. Next week's annual cycling fiesta has, in fact, been evolving for quite some time. This is the fifth time it will take place in its current format, but there were earlier attempts at raising awareness of the importance of non-motorized pedal power, such as the far smaller Ha'ir Lelo Rechavim (Carless City) and Ha'ir Al Ofnayim (The City on a Bicycle) cycling events. “It all started around 15 years ago, but there were very few people in authority back then who were willing to support it,” Ambram recalls. “We wanted to close off part of the Ayalon Highway to create a route that would be exclusively used by cyclists, but people didn't want us to interfere with the flow of traffic on the highway.” How things have changed – for the better. Sovev Turki features four routes across the city, with some sections taking in parts of the Ayalon Highway. Experienced cyclists aged 16 and over can do the grand urban tour, which takes in a full 41 km. of the city, leaving at 7 a.m. Then there is a 21 km. route for families and anyone from the age of eight, with the proviso that under- 12s are accompanied by a parent. And if your cycling experience amounts to popping down to the corner store or commuting between work and home, you may want to make do with the leisurely 8-km. slot. There is also a 21-km. route for roller skaters. “They are not cyclists, but they still take part in a healthy activity that doesn't pollute, so we thought it was appropriate to include them in the event,” Ambram notes. All routes start and finish at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds on Rokach Boulevard in north Tel Aviv. The municipality is clearly keen to make the most of the annual cycling exposure event. The riding day will be preceded by the three-day City Cycling Festival, which will take place in Rabin Square from Sunday to Tuesday. Participants in the rides will be able to pick up their riding kits there, and there will all kinds of cycling gear and paraphernalia on display over the three days. As any serious cyclist knows, aesthetics play a big part in the activity, so the public can enjoy some amusing and colorful artistic representations of cycling at an exhibition of works by well-known artist Dudu Gerstein. While Ambram and his colleagues at city hall want Tel Avivians, as well as visitors from out of town, to have fun on Wednesday, the event is also geared to raise the long-term profile of cycling and to spur people of all ages to make the transition from the steering wheel to handlebars and to encourage children to cycle to school and to friends' homes safely. “There will be a cycling workshop for children at Rabin Square. We want as many children as possible to use bicycles, but in a responsible and safe way,” says Ambram, adding that he would like cyclists to be as self-sufficient as possible, too. “There will also be a bicycle repair and maintenance workshop. It makes sense for people to know how to take care of their bikes.” And it won't be just locals taking over the major arteries of the city on Wednesday. There will be a colorful contingent among the cyclists wearing bright orange uniforms. The 20-plus group will comprise members of staff from the Dutch embassy, including Ambassador Caspar Veldkamp. Veldkamp is only too pleased to be on board Sovev Turki and says the popularity of biking is far from a flash in the pan. “Cycling is hot again. It is not just in fashion,” notes the ambassador, adding that there are practical reasons for the spreading phenomenon “There is an economic logic to it, too. The innovative sectors of today's economy are taking an urban turn. Cloud-based applications enable start-ups to succeed with smaller footprints than before, with small teams combining entrepreneurs, engineers and designers. They flourish in urban-like areas. Their staff does not want to work in boring suburban office parks anymore. They feel attracted to cities that generate creativity and interaction. You can find this in cities such as Amsterdam or Tel Aviv. These people want to get an apartment and walk or cycle to work at some place that provides plenty of options for socializing, sparking new ideas. The bicycle is their ultimate means of transportation. The bicycle is back!” he asserts. Veldkamp says he is impressed with the development of cycling in Tel Aviv and notes that his compatriots had a say in things from the start. “You have come a long way. In the mid-1990s, Dutch experts advised the Tel Aviv Municipality on the use of bicycles and urban planning. They came back last spring and noticed that much progress has been made.” Even so, there are pitfalls in the making. “Tel Aviv will soon arrive at its point of saturation. At this moment, cyclists and other users of public space seem to get along well. But if the number of cyclists continues to grow, Tel Aviv will face a problem. The Dutch experts held workshops on cycling and urban planning at Tel Aviv's city hall and came up with a report full of recommendations. Much of their advice can also be applied to other cities, such as Haifa, Beersheba or Jerusalem,” says the ambassador. Naturally, we still have a long way to go to achieve the bike-friendly mind-set of the Dutch. “For people from the Netherlands, cycling is a natural thing to do. We grow up with it. We have almost 35,000 kilometers of bicycle lanes throughout the country. A quarter of all Dutch citizens use a bicycle to go to work every day. My staff here continues this habit. Several of my staff members come to the embassy on their bicycle every day, even all the way from Herzliya Pituah and beyond. Almost all of them registered to participate in the Sovev Tel Aviv cycling tour,” he says. So if you're taking part in one of the Sovev Turki cycling sections or just observing, watch out for an orange blur as the Dutch embassy guys and gals whizz by. “Our flag is red, white and blue, but on special occasions we add an orange banner to it. We will be wearing orange shirts while cycling through Tel Aviv. I know that Mayor Ron Huldai will be proud,” says Veldkamp.
