Once a year, on Yom Kippur, the Jerusalem bicycles enjoy excellent infrastructure and endless spaces. The thousands of cyclists who celebrate a ‘bicycle holiday’ prove – it is possible and even necessary to expand the bicycle infrastructure in Jerusalem | Opinion column
Published on: 4.10.22 10:48
The year 2007 has just begun, and in the Jewish world the next Yom Kippur is looking forward to a good day for us. In the Mishna it is written about Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel (Rashiba 3) who declared that “there were no better days for Israel than the fifteenth day of Av and the day of Kippur, when the daughters of Jerusalem go forth in vessels of white Shaolin, Not to shame those who don’t have it.”
When I think about the special and magical atmosphere in Jerusalem during Yom Kippur, I really identify with Rashbag’s statement – much thanks to what is happening on the streets of the city.
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A few days ago we celebrated “Car Free Day” in the world. I suppose that in some places there was success on this day, but nowhere on the globe is there a day that reaches the level of what we experience every year on Yom Kippur. Personally, I like to spend many hours in the synagogue during Yom Kippur, but many others consider this day the “bicycle holiday”. This is of course not surprising – the roads are empty and you can ride happily. The situation on Yom Kippur is so wonderful for pedestrians and cyclists that even fasting does not prevent people from walking or cycling a lot on this day.
Our argument, that Jerusalem is a city that is very suitable for cycling, receives a triumphant proof on Yom Kippur. Everyone who rides on this day enjoys a safe and comfortable ride, on VIP routes, and easily reaches large parts of the city. The story is simple: it’s all about infrastructure. On Yom Kippur there is excellent infrastructure for riding, wide lanes free of cars, and this is exactly what we work to promote all year round.
And the truth is that it’s not just about bicycles at all. Think for a moment about the general atmosphere on Yom Kippur – there are a lot of people outside, meeting friends from the neighborhood, and there is not even a single siren that disturbs. pleasure. It’s not every day you can expect such quiet, but the general idea of a pleasant space can definitely be taken a few steps further.
May we have a vibrant city this year, a city with fewer cars and traffic jams, without sirens and unnecessary fights on the road. A city that is pleasant to walk, ride and live in.
Finished a good signing for everyone.