Motorcyclists Face Deadly Hazard on New Ayalon Highway Lane

A new fast lane on Israel's Ayalon Highway, intended for buses and shuttles, has created a new danger for motorcyclists. The 60-kilometer lane, stretching from Rishon LeZion to Hofit in both directions, is separated from regular traffic by yellow plastic bollards. While these bollards are designed to prevent unauthorized vehicles, including motorcycles, from entering the lane and to protect road users, they pose a significant risk to motorcyclists who may be forced to swerve towards them.

Transportation engineers describe the bollards as being "like a wall," leaving motorcyclists with very little room for error. If a car deviates into a motorcyclist's path, the rider could collide with these barriers. Aviad Avrahami, editor of the motorcycle magazine "Full Gas," stated that the primary danger is not riding within the lane itself, but riding alongside it. He explained that if a motorcyclist is in the leftmost lane and is forced to swerve to avoid an accident, the bollards leave them with no escape, which he described as a "death sentence."

Officials from the National Road Safety Authority maintain that the bollards have been approved by the Ministry of Transportation and are intended to save lives by keeping unauthorized vehicles out. Gili Cohen, CEO of the authority, emphasized that motorcycles are prohibited from this lane, which is exclusively for buses. He noted that motorcyclists are permitted to ride in other lanes but must adhere to the law.

Despite the official stance, several accidents have occurred since the lane opened. A motorcyclist was recently killed on the lane, apparently while trying to evade a vehicle that swerved into his path. Omri Matar, a transportation engineer and road safety expert, urged motorcyclists to treat the bollards as solid walls. Motorcycle riders are calling for the bollards to be removed and for enforcement mechanisms to be implemented to ensure safety while a solution is sought to improve traffic flow and protect all road users.