More than 150 activists pedalled across the Lebanese capital on Saturday, cutting off traffic along a scenic seaside road to demand bicycle paths and eco-friendly means of transportation.

"Using bicycles is a first step that we encourage, just like using public transport and car-pooling." One of their demands is for the city to lay out bicycle paths.
Security forces blocked traffic on the main seaside road of the capital to make way for men, women and children cyclists as well as the Danish and Dutch ambassadors, who were also on bicycles.
"Darreja," a play on the words "bicycle" and "trend" in Arabic, aims to encourage the state to create bicycle lanes across metropolitan Beirut, which is plagued by year-round traffic that peaks during the summer tourist season.
Road safety and public transportation are also minimal in Lebanon, where car ownership rates are among the highest in the Middle East.
The Lebanese government says overall pollution and climate change cost the state close to 550 million dollars (365 million euros) in 2009.
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Rainfall is also expected to drop 50 percent by 2099 if measures to fight climate change are not put into effect, he said.
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