Making a mockery of the law
Exclusive: Despite the increase in fines and the expansion of powers for municipal inspectors, according to data from "Or Yarok", most local authorities barely enforce violations involving electric two-wheeled vehicles. Tel Aviv leads with tens of thousands of tickets per year, Holon will completely ban the use of shared vehicles, and in Jerusalem, inspectors were authorized but did not carry out enforcement last year.
For years, sidewalks in Israel have become a daily battlefield - pedestrians are forced to maneuver between speeding scooters, electric bicycles, and riders zigzagging at high speed between the elderly and baby carriages. According to the letter of the law, riding electric bicycles and scooters is permitted only on designated bicycle paths, and in the absence of such a path - only on the road - with a total ban on riding on the sidewalk. However, in many cities in Israel, this is an almost theoretical requirement due to huge gaps in infrastructure and the lack of a continuous network of safe bike paths. This widespread phenomenon endangers pedestrians and the riders of the two-wheeled vehicles themselves, with 122 pedestrians and 126 two-wheeled riders killed in 2025 alone.
To deal with the phenomenon and restore security to the public space, the state has led a comprehensive reform in recent years, and starting in 2024, a regulatory requirement came into effect to install visible license plates on electric vehicles and to limit riding without training and for those under 16. Alongside this, the enforcement powers of municipal inspectors were gradually expanded. While for years enforcement was exclusively in the hands of the police, today inspectors are authorized to issue tickets for a long list of offenses: from riding on the sidewalk, not wearing a helmet, and using a mobile phone - to riding without a proper identification plate.
However, the municipal enforcement data published here for the first time reveal huge gaps. A check conducted by the "Or Yarok" association from data it received from municipalities summarizing municipal enforcement data for 2025 shows that most local authorities in Israel refrain from using the tools given to them. The list of enforcing cities is led by a huge margin by Tel Aviv-Yafo, which carries out persistent and daily enforcement on riding on paths and roads, wearing helmets, and installing license plates.
The Holon Municipality, which increased enforcement in 2026, recently announced a dramatic and unprecedented step: starting September 17, 2026, the operation of shared scooters in the city will be completely stopped, and they will be fully removed. Max Murogovsky, chairman of the "Transport in Our Way" association, said:
"The shared scooter system in Gush Dan is an important tool that complements public transport in the 'last mile' segment. Unlike private scooters, the shared system is subject to supervision by the operators themselves and is limited in terms of speed. The sudden decision of the Holon Municipality to completely remove shared scooters from the city instead of tightening supervision and enforcement could create a double negative effect."
On the other side of the enforcement map stands Jerusalem, where the picture is particularly outrageous. Although about 50 inspectors and managers in the capital were authorized to enforce traffic laws for electric vehicles, in an official response provided by the municipality to a request from the "Or Yarok" association, the municipality admitted that currently, no actual enforcement is being carried out on this issue. Jerusalem is not alone: a long list of cities including Modi'in Illit, Kiryat Ata, Umm al-Fahm, Rahat, Ness Ziona, Afula, Beit Shemesh, Nazareth, and Kiryat Gat recorded zero tickets in 2025. In other cities, enforcement exists mainly on paper: in Rosh HaAyin, only 16 tickets were recorded all year, in Rehovot 21 tickets, in Hod HaSharon 34 tickets, and in Givatayim 47 tickets. The foot-dragging of the authorities is particularly puzzling against the background of the many legal tools and means placed at their disposal.
The process of transferring powers began as early as 2016, when inspectors were allowed to demand identification documents, detain riders, and even let air out of tires. In 2022, the order was significantly expanded and gave inspectors the ability to enforce a long list of serious offenses: riding under the age of 16, not wearing a helmet, riding without training, prohibited tandem riding, using a mobile phone or headphones while riding, and disobeying traffic signs. At the same time, the enforcement area was increased and expanded from sidewalks only to bicycle paths and crosswalks.
Fines will continue to rise: alongside the expansion of powers, the state has also gradually increased the amount of fines. Today, the fine for riding under the permitted age, riding without a helmet, or riding a vehicle that does not meet legal requirements is 1,000 shekels, while a fine for riding without qualification is 750 shekels. Last year, the requirement to install identification plates on electric vehicles also came into effect, and the Knesset Economic Committee authorized municipal inspectors to enforce these offenses. The fine for riding without an identification plate was set in a tiered manner, and today it stands at 500 shekels, and starting this coming September, it is expected to rise to 750 shekels.
The "Or Yarok" association warns that the avoidance of vigorous enforcement by mayors costs human lives and harms the basic sense of security of the residents. Adv. Yaniv Yaakov, CEO of the association, stated:
"The number of casualties in accidents with electric bicycles and scooters is rising every year, chaos is increasing, and the sense of personal security is decreasing. The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and the police are indifferent to the harsh data, and this requires the mayors to get involved. The powers are in the hands of the authorities, and most of them choose not to use them. This is an abandonment of the residents."
The Center for Local Government stated: "The safety of pedestrians and road users is at the top of the priorities of local authorities, and they have been working in recent years to strengthen enforcement and supervision in the public space. At the same time, the scope of enforcement and the way it is carried out are influenced by the unique characteristics of each authority, and therefore it is not possible to compare authorities based on the number of fines alone."
Shai Keinan, Mayor of Holon, said in response: "Holon, the city of children, is acting decisively to prevent the danger of scooters, both towards pedestrians and to maintain the safety of teenagers who too often risk their lives by using a scooter in an unsafe manner. As far as solutions are found in the future to reduce the risk of using the vehicle, I will consider my position accordingly. I will emphasize that we will offer our residents a shared electric bicycle service, which will allow a safer alternative for residents who need this means of transport for quick accessibility to transport, employment, and entertainment centers in Holon."
The Jerusalem Municipality stated in response: "The Jerusalem Municipality attaches great importance to maintaining the safety of all road users and is working to reduce risks in the public space. Starting last April, the municipality began targeted enforcement against riders of two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles, including electric scooters and bicycles. Enforcement is carried out by authorized inspectors and with the help of advanced technological means, and includes the imposition of fines in accordance with the law, with an emphasis on dangerous traffic violations, including prohibited and dangerous riding in the light rail track area. At the same time, the municipality held an information campaign and a dedicated road safety campaign, intended to clarify to the public and riders the rules of riding and the enforcement policy. The move is part of a comprehensive urban policy to increase safety, reduce dangerous riding, and encourage riding in accordance with the law."
