I’ve heard it said that Israel is a dangerous place. People
from abroad have visions of a war-torn country, of simmering conflict, of
injustice. They imagine a barrage of gunfire, thunderous tanks and shattering
explosions.
from abroad have visions of a war-torn country, of simmering conflict, of
injustice. They imagine a barrage of gunfire, thunderous tanks and shattering
explosions.
Well, this is not exactly a precise description of Ra’anana.
At least, not in terms of large weapons. In Ra’anana, we have another danger to
contend with – and these new weapons are deadly. The assaulters are scary,
negligent, belligerent and out of control. Civilians are scared to go out and
the government will not protect us.
At least, not in terms of large weapons. In Ra’anana, we have another danger to
contend with – and these new weapons are deadly. The assaulters are scary,
negligent, belligerent and out of control. Civilians are scared to go out and
the government will not protect us.
This new weapon is the electric bike. They have been sold
here for the past few years and now every teen and pre-teen is driving one.
Recklessly. As these kids do not have a driver’s license, they have no idea
about traffic laws, yet they behave as a car and as a pedestrian, weaving
across intersections onto sidewalks then back into the roads.
here for the past few years and now every teen and pre-teen is driving one.
Recklessly. As these kids do not have a driver’s license, they have no idea
about traffic laws, yet they behave as a car and as a pedestrian, weaving
across intersections onto sidewalks then back into the roads.
The typical electric bike rider travels without a helmet (or
with their helmet dangling coolly on the handlebars), with a friend tucked in
the front or hanging off the back. They neglect every law, whipping down
one-way streets the wrong way, cutting through traffic circles, driving without
any lights at night and talking on cell phones and smoking. They can get up to
hefty speeds, enough to injure and kill pedestrians. In 2015, four people died and 480 were hurt in
biking accidents in Tel Aviv alone.
with their helmet dangling coolly on the handlebars), with a friend tucked in
the front or hanging off the back. They neglect every law, whipping down
one-way streets the wrong way, cutting through traffic circles, driving without
any lights at night and talking on cell phones and smoking. They can get up to
hefty speeds, enough to injure and kill pedestrians. In 2015, four people died and 480 were hurt in
biking accidents in Tel Aviv alone.
These bikes are in every city and town across the country
and have become such a menace, the Knesset passed a bill outlawing these bikes
to children under 16 years old. They also mandated that these cyclists must
wear helmets and have lights at night.
and have become such a menace, the Knesset passed a bill outlawing these bikes
to children under 16 years old. They also mandated that these cyclists must
wear helmets and have lights at night.
We all breathed a sigh of relief when this bill was passed,
hoping the scourge would be controlled. As of May 1, 2016, there would a 250
NIS fine given to those who broke the law. But when we saw young kids continuing
to ride through the streets of Ra’anana, brazenly breaking the law, we asked
the city what was going on.
hoping the scourge would be controlled. As of May 1, 2016, there would a 250
NIS fine given to those who broke the law. But when we saw young kids continuing
to ride through the streets of Ra’anana, brazenly breaking the law, we asked
the city what was going on.
The mayor’s office said they had no authority to stop them
and that it was the police department’s problem. The police department said no,
it was up to the city. So we became stuck in a dangerous, bureaucratic mess.
and that it was the police department’s problem. The police department said no,
it was up to the city. So we became stuck in a dangerous, bureaucratic mess.
However, even if the police were to take this on, the task
would be impossible: our city of 85,000 residents has been assigned by the
state a piddling 7 police officers. They are already over worked with crime and
traffic accidents.
would be impossible: our city of 85,000 residents has been assigned by the
state a piddling 7 police officers. They are already over worked with crime and
traffic accidents.
I get so worked up about this issue, I thought I would appease
my anger by attending a meeting of the Ra’anana Concerned Residents (RCR) to understand what is being done.
my anger by attending a meeting of the Ra’anana Concerned Residents (RCR) to understand what is being done.
I sat down in a room filled with animated people, mostly
Brits and South Africans with a smattering of Israelis and Americans. The
meeting started with the chairman first pointing out that they were happy to
have the deputy mayor present.
Brits and South Africans with a smattering of Israelis and Americans. The
meeting started with the chairman first pointing out that they were happy to
have the deputy mayor present.
“And where is the mayor?” some heckler called out.
The chairman threw up his hands then announced that although
they invited the police, no police representative was here tonight.
they invited the police, no police representative was here tonight.
“Boo,” the crowd
screamed. Bad police! (With seven police staff in a city of 85,000, I calculated
the police were too busy to show up.)
screamed. Bad police! (With seven police staff in a city of 85,000, I calculated
the police were too busy to show up.)
There was a small presentation updating us on what was not
being done and then they gave the microphone to the deputy mayor who proceeded
to talk about posters and education and parents.
being done and then they gave the microphone to the deputy mayor who proceeded
to talk about posters and education and parents.
This was not the right approach, according to this crowd.
“Boo.” Bad mayor’s office. The audience was getting worked
up and one elderly South African woman stood up and begged for a translation
into English. Someone grabbed the mike and began to explain, but then
someone else cried out, “That’s now what the deputy mayor said. That’s your
interpretation.”
up and one elderly South African woman stood up and begged for a translation
into English. Someone grabbed the mike and began to explain, but then
someone else cried out, “That’s now what the deputy mayor said. That’s your
interpretation.”
“We don’t want to hear you talk. We want to know what the
mayor’s office is saying.”
mayor’s office is saying.”
The evening deteriorated from here on. People grabbed the
microphone and used the floor to complain, tell their own horror stories about
encounters with bikes and propose their own solutions. These included
self-policing, chaining up the bikes, closing the bike stores and insisting on
driving tests and licenses for the bikes. (An amazing tax grab that any Israeli
politician should relish.)
microphone and used the floor to complain, tell their own horror stories about
encounters with bikes and propose their own solutions. These included
self-policing, chaining up the bikes, closing the bike stores and insisting on
driving tests and licenses for the bikes. (An amazing tax grab that any Israeli
politician should relish.)
One adorably proper British woman explained how in England,
the schools test children right in the schoolyard and only after they pass their bicycle
test are they allowed to ride to school.
the schools test children right in the schoolyard and only after they pass their bicycle
test are they allowed to ride to school.
 |
| No electric bikes in Rivendell. |
How sweet. And how impossible. This is not an English shire
nor is it Tolkein’s Rivendell. This is the Middle East where there is no logic
or law – should I let this Brit in on this?
nor is it Tolkein’s Rivendell. This is the Middle East where there is no logic
or law – should I let this Brit in on this?
The evening felt more like a therapy session than a
constructive meeting.
constructive meeting.
There was so much frustration among the citizens, it is a
shock the deputy mayor was not assaulted – and most of the people at this
meeting were caring, law-abiding South African senior citizens. If they had
good aim with their canes, they would have thrown them.
shock the deputy mayor was not assaulted – and most of the people at this
meeting were caring, law-abiding South African senior citizens. If they had
good aim with their canes, they would have thrown them.
The meeting disintegrated and I went back to my car
grumbling, more frustrated than ever.
grumbling, more frustrated than ever.
As I pulled out onto the road in the pitch dark, I spied an
electric bike coming my way. The rider had no helmet and no bike light. He was
going the wrong way on the road. I let him pass, trying to calm my road rage,
watching him cross a traffic circle the wrong way and cut sharply onto the
sidewalk.
electric bike coming my way. The rider had no helmet and no bike light. He was
going the wrong way on the road. I let him pass, trying to calm my road rage,
watching him cross a traffic circle the wrong way and cut sharply onto the
sidewalk.
I shook my head and gripped the steering wheel. It is a
miracle that more riders and pedestrians have not been killed or injured by
these bikes.
miracle that more riders and pedestrians have not been killed or injured by
these bikes.
On an administrative level, this issue is added proof that
the very existence of this country is a miracle. For a first-world country,
this place often feels like India on steroids.
the very existence of this country is a miracle. For a first-world country,
this place often feels like India on steroids.
Here is my solution to the scourge, thanks to Google and the gentle Dutch.
0
0
1
867
4942
Amnic
41
11
5798
14.0
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Discover more from Life in Israel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Life in Israel 