Work on unique bicycle park pedals ahead

Work on the first stage of Netanya's new bicycle park has been completed and a tender will soon be issued for work on the second stage, reports www.mynet.co.il. The unique park, which is being created in eastern Netanya adjoining the Vatikim neighborhood, aims to become a drawcard for thousands of cyclists from across Israel. According to the report, work on the first stage of the park began one year ago, and involved removing all the garbage from the area, building drains and infrastructure, laying down paths, installing lighting, creating parking areas for the bicycles and fencing off the park. In the second stage, a public tender will be held to find an operator to run the park, and a cycling club with "extreme" installations, a coffee shop, a bicycle repair and hire store, and bathroom facilities will be constructed. There will also be a children's club offering instruction in riding bicycles and in bicycle safety. Deputy Mayor Eli Dalal, who until recently headed the Netanya Development and Tourism Company that is constructing the park, said that over the next few weeks existing bicycle paths in surrounding neighborhoods would be marked with signs to integrate them with the park.