pennpaul

In Israel on Yom Kippur, the country shuts down to observe this holiest of days on the Jewish calendar. The airports close. The borders close. And it's taboo to drive your car on the roads. However, people like me who are just visiting or not observant take to the roads and highways with our bikes.

Today two friends and I rode from Jerusalem on Highway 1 for 15 miles before turning around. 30 miles and 3700ft of total climbing (and descending).



You definitely get a different perspective on the bike. Below is a section of bike path that I normally frequent.




Riding through one of the tunnels.




One more hill to go after this tunnel and we start our 6 mile descent.




I reached 45mph at the bottom of the hill.




Finally back in Jerusalem. This intersection by the String Bridge is normally a frenzy of buses, taxis, cars, and pedestrians.


Paul

ultrarider7

Thanks for posting! We were in Israel for a wedding in 2017 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57670643376561) and I wondered about bicycling there. I thought it would be a great way to see a little more of the countryside. It's a wonderful country with great food, plus warm and friendly people. Some photos -> https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57669928203663

pennpaul

Really nice pictures. As a very amateur photographer, I'm glad Flickr is showing your camera settings.

This morning we rode past the hotel where you stayed. I can see my apartment building in this picture (https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...7669928203663/)

I used to live in Maryland in the DC Metro area, and compared to there, Israel seems more bike friendly. That statement is even a little nuts to me since driving here can be very aggravating, but once you leave the city, the roads are in good shape and motorists are generally well behaved around cyclists which is opposite of my experience in MD.

ultrarider7

Thanks for the compliments! I took a lot of photos in Israel, but broke them into small albums. I really need to put all together in one Flickr album to share. My friends live in Ramat Beit, I believe it's just West of Jerusalem. We stayed by the Old City and enjoyed walking around much of Jerusalem. I felt very safe during my stay. It's no different than Minneapolis, you just don't look for trouble and stay out of those potential hot spots. Heck, I'd love to live in Israel! Stay in touch and next time we go, I'll contact you for a ride around!

pennpaul

The big descent:



Heading back:

Chinghis

Mountain Bike Action had an article a little while ago on riding (trails) in Israel. Looked pretty interesting.

aspalmat

Looks like a good day! Glad you could enjoy it.

Skipjacks

That's pretty neat to be on empty highways like that

Ogsarg

As someone that has been to Israel many times and driven the highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I can imagine how great that would be to be able to ride it without traffic. Just being able to ride around the city on empty streets would be a real treat.

GlennR

My son lived in Israel for a year between his under graduate and getting his masters. He bought a Riddley alloy bike with Campy Chorus. He lived in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and did extensive riding learning quickly heading west took him into the West Bank in just a few miles, so most of his riding was north / south.

As part of a fund raiser, he along with 2 others rode the entire length from Nahariyya to Eilat. With temps in the Negev well over 110*F, they rode early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

General Geoff

Is cycling on Yom Kippur frowned-upon for the faithful?

Goofball

I rode all around Israel way back in 1986, including a slog from the dead sea up to Jerusalem that about whooped me. A great time, miss those falafel stands, amazing how much crap you can stuff into a pita

pennpaul

On a weekly basis there is Shabbat, the day of rest, which begins at sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday. The number of cars in the city drops significantly and it would be safe to explore the city without getting run down. Many companies are also closed on Fridays (but open on Sunday) so a lot of the people who observe Shabbat, ride on Friday morning, but outside the city. The rest of us ride on Saturday and I manage to squeeze a couple rides in during the week by riding the cycle path out of the city.



All the crossings into the West Bank I can think of have checkpoints, but the soldiers don't really bat an eye if you're going in. Coming out is a different story.

That's great your son got to do that. With a friend I rode through the Negev to Eilat--100 miles--but we did it in February so it was actually a little chilly at the start. I haven't ridden in the north and I have a ride planned from Nahariyya to the Galilee (sea to sea, I would call it), but since we're leaving in a little over 2 months, that doesn't seem like it will happen.

FlMTNdude

Tom Kippur is a fast day, as well as spent in almost its entirety in synagogue. Jewish prayers on a normal sabbath morning go 2-3 hours, not counting afternoon and evening prayers. Any in between time on Yom Kippur is spent in Torah or studying.
To the OP - I don’t think I would, but have you ridden the Shomron?

ultrarider7

My Mt. Olivet LC trained butt will last 45 minutes max! I know from growing up, the reform services are closer in style and length to my Lutheran background. Conservative about 2-3 hours and the Orthodox Bar Mitzvah we attended went all morning...and I came in late! We loved Israel, our friends who made Aliya and the people. Frankly I found the food, the people and the scenery the best of anywhere we've traveled.

Digger Goreman

You mean occupied Palestine....

ultrarider7

No, I mean Israel, from sea to sea. Palestine is Jordan. Look at your history and see the mandate. Or maybe more appropriate, look at the Bible. As to politics, this is going to be my only post. I didn't come here to argue, but enjoy talking about bicycles and riding. Sorry, there are other boards where you can do that.

GlennR

Actually he lived only 6 miles from the West Bank and one day it was riding when a jeep came up from behind with two IDF. They asked him for id and where he was going. After explaining he was just on a ride they told him that this road enters the West Bank and they do not patrol that area. They also told him it's easy to know where you are, if you see signs in Hebrew, English and Arabic... you're in Israel. If they are only in Arabic then you are int he West Bank.

He thanked them and turned around.

This was 7 years ago.. .around the same time 2 boys were murdered while hiking.

indyfabz

BobbyG

Kol Hakavod! I have driven on that highway a few times and it is steep! Too steep for the 993cc Ford Fiesta I tried up it in 1983. Since my last visit over 10 years ago, there has been a big increase in bicycle infrastructure (especially in Tel-Aviv).

I have never ridden there, but would like to. There are some nice touring entries on crazyguyonabike.org, (with minimal political content).

"L'Shana haba b'(ike)-rushalayim."

bargo68 

Yeah, I was just waiting for someone......

tagaproject6

Do you want to have this thread closed? Because this is how you get this thread closed! Keep that political crap out of here

indyfabz

Looks like fun to be able to ride roads you normally couldn't/wouldn't because of traffic.

During a tour back in June I rode two stretches of I-90 in Montana that were closed to motor vehicles in preparation for construction work. Westbound traffic was routed in one of the two eastbound lanes. From what I could see, it would have been deadly for me to try to ride the open stretches due to shoulder width. While riding all Interstate Highways in Montana is 100% legal, it was cool to have the entire road to myself. There were not even construction crews on that Sunday and early Monday morning.

Digger Goreman

Nothing political. And I have been a professional historian. Had the opportunity to interview a delightful man, here in Atlanta, that would like to bicycle back to the home he left in Palestine (he still has the key), located nowhere near Jordan (totally different country) and now occupied by strangers.... Mythology aside, a very perplexing situation....

Thank you for the pictures, though, his country is every bit as beautiful as he said!

GlennR

Maybe you should read Exodus.

Not political... just adding some facts.

But everyone should live in peace and equality.