Anyone traveling to and from Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in the morning will see many bikers along the route. These are not just sport enthusiasts but doctors, some senior physicians in the medical center as well as many medical students, all making their way to the complex.
Professor Chaim Cedar, a recipient of the Israel Prize for his research in biology explains he has been biking to Hadassah for four years. “It takes less time than in a car and it is much healthier. Unfortunately, it is also more dangerous. I was already involved in two accidents and to my good fortune; the damage was limited to 2-3 weeks on crutches.”
The doctors explains it is way past time for a bike lane “for the entire world is aware of the need to encourage bikers” but on this route, bikers are compelled to become entangled with vehicles winding down the steep road to the medical center’s complex.
Prof. Meir Barzis, director of the Center for Clinical and Quality Safety is in agreement. He has been biking for six years. “I hear from many of my colleagues and students alike, that if there was a proper infrastructure for bikers they too would bike to work and school” he explains. He continues to point out the dangers bikers face and the extremely narrow shoulders on the access road to the hospital. Barzis has been in touch with officials in City Hall over the past two years as he continues efforts have a bike lane built. He feels the planned expansion of the Jerusalem light rail to Hadassah in the perfect time to incorporate a safe bike lane into the plans.
He admits that to his dismay, he has recently learned that what he hoped would be a bike lane is more likely going to be an escape lane for motorists and it will not assist bikers who are still seeking a way back and forth in relative safety.
Representatives of medical students are also active, for they feel the bike is the vehicle of choice from a number of perspectives which include health and cost.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
You got my vote for a BIKER’S Path, what’s the question?
An example of Banana republic thinking local nusach to plant a major facility in a place with no reasonable road access.
Actually, even if he does not succeed, the train tracks will provide a great way to avoid cars and busses along that route. I will explain. Biking is faster than the train, and so it is easy to stay ahead of it on the tracks, and in addition, there are screens that display when the next train is due to arrive at each station, on both sides. I have found that riding the tracks is far safer than the streets along the train route..