Residents of the Gaza Strip have successfully adapted bicycles to become a means of resilience in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation authorities’ ban on the entry of fuel needed to operate cars.
Bicycles have become a means of transportation and a source of income for delivering orders to homes and tents, despite the difficulty of repairing them and the lack of spare parts.
Local sources reported that bicycles have become the most common means of transportation between neighborhoods and different areas, especially given the lack of alternative vehicles. Citizens confirmed that their use is no longer limited to a specific group, but now encompasses all age groups, who have found them to be the only way to move around and meet their basic needs.
Meanwhile, bicycle mechanics are facing a severe crisis due to the collapse of supply chains and the unavailability of essential spare parts in local markets. Sources working in this sector explained that the market, which was active and stable before the war, is now completely paralyzed due to the shortage of chains, pedals, and other vital repair parts.
Technicians in repair shops have been forced to resort to primitive methods, described as “patchwork,” to keep bicycles running, using old rubber tubes to repair tires. These makeshift solutions come after spare parts prices skyrocketed, with some parts increasing from 10 shekels to approximately 350 shekels, making maintenance a heavy financial burden.
The role of bicycles has expanded beyond personal transportation, evolving into the cornerstone of the delivery sector, which has become the sole source of income for hundreds of young people. With the decline in car ownership, citizens have come to rely entirely on these young men to deliver orders and supplies to homes, despite the significant risks involved.
