Ministers approve ban on biking with headphones

Bill also calls for additional bike lanes, requires cyclists to wear reflective clothing

Moran Azoulay|Published: 05.21.12 , 10:03

The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved on Sunday a bill that bans cyclists from using headphones while on the road, Ynet reported.

If passed by the Knesset, the legislation would also require police to designate parts of certain existing roads as specially protected bike lanes. Moreover, cars would be required to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters from cyclists.

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The bill is sponsored by Knesset members Zeev Bielski (Kadima) and Yariv Levin (Likud). Following the ministerial committee's approval, the legislation will now be brought to the plenum for a preliminary reading.

The legislation aims to make bicycle riding safer in light a noticeable rise in the number of accidents in which cyclists were injured, Bielski and Levin said in their notes to the bill.

Apart from the ban on the use of headphones while riding, the bill would also require cyclists to wear reflective clothing.

"I believe these reforms will encourage many people to ride bicycles and reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists," Bielski said.

The bill was co-sponsored by local cycling organizations.

Aviad Glickman contributed to the report