Two large scale projects to be undertaken by the government and local authorities are expected to add hundreds of kilometers of bike paths in the bustling metropolis of Tel Aviv and central Israel.
The projects are being largely supported by the Ministry of Transportation and the Ayalon Highway and are due to begin in the coming months.
As part of the project, 150km of interurban bicycle lanes will be built at an investment of NIS 620 million. The two-lane, 3.5 meter-wide trails will contain electric charging stations and shaded areas for travelers.
A total of 10 paths will connect the cities of Ra'anana, Herzliya, Ramat Hasharon, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Givat Shmuel, Yehud, Or Yehuda, Rishon LeZion, Yehud, Holon and Bat Yam.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
The Ministry of Transportation is expected to begin entertaining tenders in the coming weeks for the construction of three paths—the Yarkon trail from Petah Tikva to the Ramat Gan Diamond Exchange District, a field trail from Ramat HaTayasim in Ramat Gan to Highway 4 and Ramat Ilan and the Ariel trail from South Tel Aviv to the Holon area.
There are currently 170km of urban bike paths in Israel's central district. Excluding Tel Aviv, where there are 130km of bike paths, additional paths exist in Bat Yam, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Ono, Rishon LeZion, Holon, Kfar Saba, Ramat Gan, Ra'anana, Petah Tikva, Herzliya and Ramat HaSharon.
Currently, Tel Aviv has a five-year plan for the construction of bicycle paths that is to double the number of existing trails.
In 2017 alone, the city allocated NIS 32 million for the paving of 25 kilometers of bicycle paths beyond projects led by the Ministry of Transportation.
(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)