Enforcement Lags as Electric Bike Dangers Rise in Israel

Despite the increasing presence of electric bikes and delivery riders in Israeli cities, police enforcement has significantly declined, according to data released by the Or Yarok Association. In 2025, police issued 22,922 tickets to electric bike riders nationwide, an average of 63 per day. While this represents a slight 5% increase from 2024, it is a sharp 29% decrease compared to 2021, indicating a substantial drop in enforcement during a period of rapid growth in electric bike usage.

This decline in enforcement occurs even as cities like Tel Aviv, which has a high density of delivery riders, lead in tickets issued with 5,601 in 2025. However, Tel Aviv also reported the highest number of casualties, with 257 injured in electric bike accidents. Nationally, 1,314 people were injured in electric bike-related accidents in 2025, with 148 seriously injured, and 10 fatalities. The data also revealed that 110 of the injured were children under 16, who are legally prohibited from riding electric bikes.

Analysis of accident types shows that nearly 27% are front-to-side collisions common at intersections, and 19% are side-to-side collisions indicative of reckless riding between lanes. Critically, 10% of accidents involved direct collisions with pedestrians, highlighting the danger faced by those on sidewalks and at crossings. The most common offense for which tickets were issued was the failure to install a license plate, accounting for about a third of all tickets, while only 1,256 tickets were issued for riding on sidewalks, a major concern for pedestrians.

Yeniv Yaakov, CEO of the Or Yarok Association, criticized the lack of enforcement, stating, "The chaos on the roads is a result of a lack of enforcement and police presence. This mess costs lives." He called for an urgent increase in police officers and patrols to enforce traffic violations that endanger lives, emphasizing the importance of helmet use and adherence to traffic laws. Yaakov expressed doubt that riders will change their behavior without a strong deterrent effect from enforcement.