Demonstration by the North Jerusalem Residents for Safety and Quality of Life Amuta

Yesterday morning (Wednesday the 21st of September 2011), the North Jerusalem Residents for Safety and Quality of Life organized a protest against the illegal construction of the Municipality's dangerous and substandard Bike Path Project that has posed a hazard and even harmed local residents of French Hill and the surrounding area. The objectionable construction work had just a few days prior reentered French Hill and the local population recognized the need to voice their opposition.

Local residents came out to protest the reentry of the illegal and dangerous bike path project into the French Hill Neighborhood.

The protest took place at the traffic circle between Lehi Street going into French Hill and Churchill Boulevard going up to the Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital. Around 40-50 individuals participated in the demonstration bearing picket signs and handing out pamphlets to passing drivers (who were avidly in support of the protest).

The protesters reflected a broad representation of the demographic of the area. Secular and religious Israelis attended, as did representatives of the Arab and Christian communities. Of particular relevance was the participation of members of the population groups most directly effected by the illegal project.

Firstly the project has severely harmed the accessibility of the neighborhood streets and posses an impediment for the elderly and handicapped who were present yesterday. For example, the large concrete dividers stand 50 cm wide and 20 cm tall posing a substantial stumbling block or barrier for members of these groups crossing the street or exiting their cars (not to mention that due to the narrowing of the streets due to the project, no buffer has been left between the parked cars and the passing traffic).

At the same time, the intended beneficiaries of the project, members of the bicyclist community were present to protest the poor planning and implementation that has transpired that ultimately endangers them and makes their cycling far more uncomfortable than before. For example, upon approaching an intersection, the bike paths thrust the bicyclist sharply into the traffic lane. This is particularly dangerous due to the fact that the cars separating the bike path from the street obscure the visibility between the bicyclists and motorists who are subsequently unprepared for each others sudden presence in the same space.

The protest was deemed so successful, that another one is planned this upcoming Sunday at 8:15 in the morning (the 25th of September). The demonstrators will meet on Lehi street in front of the Dan-Hotel and then proceed down to the traffic circle.

Local bicyclists came out to protest against the dangerous conditions forced on them by project that has made the streets more hazardous for them than they had been before.