Tel Aviv on bikes

24.04.2011                      20.Nisan, 5771                      Chel Hamo'ed 5; Tag 5 des Omer

Fahrräder:

Tel Aviv on bikes

Gideon Levy takes a trial run on one of the bikes that will soon be available for rent in Tel Aviv, a project that promises to become a major tourist attraction; annual membership costs NIS 240; there are 150 stations across the city.

I was always embarrassed by three things during my (otherwise happy ) childhood: that I didn't know how to dive, that I couldn't whistle with my fingers and that I couldn't ride a bicycle. One of these three defects has since been corrected, however: Some years ago, on my 50th birthday, a good friend arranged a surprise bicycle lesson. And ever since, I've been cycling all over the place.
I was therefore glad when my editors proposed that I write about the Tel-Ofan – a new bike-sharing project sponsored by the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality. Indeed, within the next few weeks, Tel Aviv will join cities such as Paris on the list of places where you can rent a terrific, German-made bicycle for a modest payment….