The Yuvalim-Ganim area in Jerusalem is rapidly developing thanks to urban renewal initiatives with the support of SUM. Among the innovations introduced there is the Jerufun bike rental service, which offers residents and visitors a smart, convenient, and green transportation solution.

With twenty docking stations in the area, including ten added in March 2024, Jerufun aims at becoming increasingly accessible. Five hundred people rent bikes on average per month in Yuvalim-Ganim, accounting for approximately fifteen percent of total rentals in the city. The service not only helps locals get from place to place, it reduces the need for private vehicles, supports our efforts to maintain environmental quality, and builds cycling culture in Jerusalem.

Renters often use Jerufun to travel between neighborhoods. About sixty percent of trips involving Yuvalim-Ganim did not both start and end there. This fact highlights how the service already contributes to connectivity within Jerusalem. Moreover, the city expects that once the city’s light rail system extends to the northern boundary of Yuvalim-Ganim in early 2025, residents living further south will use Jerufun to bridge the distance.

70% of trips last under fifteen minutes, suggesting renters primarily rely on the service for short commutes and errands. Twenty percent of trips last between fifteen and thirty minutes. 10% of trips are longer than thirty minutes. Jerusalem’s hilly topography makes walking and biking challenging. This have lead to the figure of approximately 85% of bike rentals are for electric bikes.