This Saturday, at 8:30 A.M., Tel Aviv's Rabin Square will be packed with bicycles waiting for riders who wish to spend part of their day on an urban bicycle trek.

A total of 600 street bicycles and 100 bikesfor children above age 6, will be offered free of charge to those who want to get to know Tel Aviv on two wheels and use this opportunity to learn about bike-riding as an alternate means of transportation. Three urban paths, as well as three paths in Hayarkon Park, will be designated for bicycles and route maps will be distributed to cyclists. Instructors from the Yisrael Bishvil Ofanayim (Israel for Bicycles) non-profit organization will instruct participants in riding, safety and navigation on the paths.

The Tel Aviv Municipality has already paved 74 of the 100 kilometers set aside for bicycle paths, to be completed by 2009, the year of the city's centennial celebrations. Dr. Moshe Tiomkin, head of the Tel Aviv Authority for Traffic, Transportation and Parking, explains that the municipality plans to create a web of paths connecting the entire city, so residents may ride bicycles from one point to another, "to work and class, and to run errands on bicycles."

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A survey conducted by the municipality, which included 1,015 residents, revealed that 5 percent of them already use bikes to ride to work. "That's very little compared to Northern Europe, where, in some places, 20, even 30 percent of the residents ride their bikes to work. But it's still a major achievement because it means that 6,000 people climb onto bikes rather than get into cars in the morning."

The city has an objective in this arena as well. "We hope that by Tel Aviv's centennial, 8 to 10 percent of the residents will ride bikes rather than drive cars," Tiomkin says.

The event will take place from 8:30 A.M. to 6 P.M. For details and registration, call 057-7358358. Participation is free, but one must register for courses and hours in advance.

Port to Port Route: This course transects the city from the Port of Tel Aviv to the Port of Jaffa, along the promenade. Historical anecdotes and stories about the city will accompany the ride. Starting point: The Port of Tel Aviv and back, or the Port of Jaffa and back. Hours: Tours will leave at 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Each ride takes two hours.

White City Route: Ride through the historical White City area along Rothschild Boulevard up to the Kolbo Shalom building and back. Information will be provided about buildings on the boulevard and the Nachum Guttman mosaic. Starting point: Rothschild Boulevard near Habima Theater. Hours: 8:30 A.M., 1:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. The ride takes about one hour.

Ben-Gurion Route: Ride along Ben-Gurion Boulevard, stop at Beit Hanna and Beit Ben-Gurion (Ben-Gurion's House), finish at Atarim Square and ride back. Guides from the Ben-Gurion House will accompany the ride. Starting point: Rabin Square. Hours: 9 A.M., 10 A.M. and 11 A.M. The ride takes about 40 minutes.

The Green Course: From the Sportek complex, along the Yarkon River to Ganei Yehoshua, past the rock garden and return to Sportek along Rokach Boulevard. This ride suits families. Hours: 10 A.M., noon, 2 P.M. and 4 P.M. The ride lasts about an hour and half.

The Challenging Course: Leave the Sportek complex to the "10 Stations" site and return along the Yarkon River to Atidim Square and back through the Ramat Hahayal neighborhood. This course is for fit, experienced riders. Hours: 10 A.M., noon, 2 P.M. and 4 P.M. The ride lasts about two hours.

The Freestyle Course: Independent riding along park paths. Hours: Throughout the day.