Cycling to work

Riding a bike as opposed to driving eases traffic congestion and parking problems, reduces air pollution and offers health benefits.

By YAIR ASSAF-SHAPIRA
riding bike to work_521 (photo credit: Courtesy)
riding bike to work_521
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Riding a bike as opposed to driving a car eases traffic congestion and parking problems, reduces air pollution emissions and offers health benefits as well. Jerusalem is a hilly city, but despite the obvious difficulties such a terrain presents to bike riders, their numbers have been steadily increasing in the city. Unfortunately, more riders also means more road accidents. Between 2003 and 2005, the average number of cyclists (ages 20+) injured on the road was 3.3 a year. Between 2008 and 2010, their number jumped to 8.3. By way of comparison, the number of pedestrians and car occupants (ages 20+) injured in traffic accidents over the same time period dropped.
In 2008, some 0.6 percent of Jerusalem’s working population commuted to work by bicycle (about 1,400 cyclists). Israel’s national average in 2008 was 1.0%. Among the country’s larger cities, Tel Aviv-Jaffa stood out with its high numbers of cyclists: 3.5% of its working population commuted to work by bicycle. But then, Tel Aviv-Jaffa also has a flat landscape and a relatively well-developed network of bicycle paths.
Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan and Rehovot also had rates that were higher than Jerusalem. Other large cities, including Holon, Netanya and Petah Tikva, had numbers that were closer to Jerusalem’s average, and some cities, such as Beersheba, Bat Yam, Rishon Lezion, Ashdod, Haifa and Ashkelon, undershot Jerusalem’s average.
Within Jerusalem, cycling to work was significantly more popular in the neighborhoods situated south of the city center. In some neighborhoods, 2% or more of the working population commuted to work by bike. These included Nahlaot, the eastern belt surrounding Rehavia, Talbiyeh, Katamon, the Katamonim, Baka and Talpiot. These neighborhoods are situated east of Nahal Rehavia – Sacher Park and west of (or along) the watershed line that crosses Jerusalem, which means that their terrain is relatively level.
The number of bicycle commuters among the residents of Katamon and west of Nahlaot (in the area situated between Rehov Nissim Bachar and Sderot Ben-Zvi and Rehov Hamadregot) was particularly high. The recently opened bicycle path running along the old railroad tracks should serve the many cyclists in those areas.
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