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Israel: Helmet & License Is Now Required For Electric Bike Riders


Beginning on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, inspectors are expected to take up their new position, with a mission to prevent violations of the many laws that will come into effect regarding electric bicycles. Anyone who breaks the rules is expected to receive heavy fines, confiscation of the bike and even a delay in obtaining a driver’s license for a vehicle.

Under the new regulations, children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to ride electric bicycles or electric scooters. Those over the age of 16 who wish to ride one of the vehicles will be required to have a driver’s license or a specific driver’s license, which they have received after a special course taught in schools and various centers in Israel for the bicycle.

On Wednesday, the Knesset Economics Committee is expected to finally approve the regulation proposed by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, which were passed by the government last November, according to which every cyclist will be obliged to wear a helmet during any trip in addition to a reflective vest during dark hours.

In the coming weeks additional regulations approved by the government are expected to come into force but require final approval. Among them is the proposal to postpone the possibility of one obtaining a driver’s license by a year for a person who is caught riding an electric bicycle under the age of 16, or a bicycle with a speed higher than the speed limit, up to 25 kilometers per hour (15.5 MPH).

Additional laws to be passed in the coming month include the possibility of confiscating or destroying an electric bicycle that is found to be unfit for the road, driving while intoxicated, the rider is under 16, riding with an additional person against the law, and failing to obey a red light.

Along with these actions, heavy fines will be approved for traffic violations with electric bicycles and any violation of the laws will result in fines ranging from NIS 250 for minor offenses to NIS 1,000 for serious offenses such as not wearing a helmet.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)



7 Responses

  1. Great move, it should be copied in New York. Bicycle riders always complain about drivers, yet themselves can be a far greater danger to themselves and pedestrians. Last week i was walking down Broadway from Penn Station and wanted to count how many violations i saw. It didn’t take long to hit 25 ( riding aga

  2. Continuation. ( riding against traffic, running red lights and stop signs, illegal turns on red, riding on sidewalks).

  3. are they allowed to ride bikes on sidewalks?
    the bratz zoom down the sidewalks and bump into ppl
    they dont even apologize
    maybe the law can teach them something

  4. Nothing to do with the Knesset. The law was passed already, it was turned over to the ministry to deal with it.

    https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5439027,00.html
    It’s still illegal, but they won’t really enforce it fully yet. The regulations are going to come into effect gradually over the next 6 months. Smart, but in Israel, most people push EVERYTHING to the last minute, and then scream about it.

  5. Why wait for more accidents to happen choliloh – take action now. Not just in Israel.
    Helmet and reflective vests should be worn by all cyclists, electric or none!

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