An NGO advocates bicycles as the ultimate solution for Cairo's congested streets, reports Reem Leila With its population of 72 million strong, the capital's congested traffic and polluted air continue to posit a chronic, yet acutely pressing problem. Despite the multitude of schemes devised, and which have aimed at eliminating traffic jams in many parts of Cairo, the capital's streets remain chaotic. In an attempt to resolve the ongoing and notorious traffic problem, the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) has initiated a project that promotes the use of bicycles, instead of motor vehicles. The NGO's two-track project will be implemented in four Cairo districts, namely Misr Al-Qadima, Dar Al-Salam, Manshiyet Nasser and El-Sayyeda Zeinab. The first batch of bicycles was delivered this month, the next is scheduled in May, to be followed by another in July, and the last batch, in October. According to the project's director, Nashwa Salah Ayoub, the first track entails ADEW providing 650 bicycles to residents in these districts, in the hope that this will alleviate air pollution and traffic congestion. Nearly 200 bicycles were handed out last Sunday; some 15 per cent of recipients already own motorcycles and three per cent own small cars. Participants interested in receiving a bicycle will pay LE20 installments per month for nine months. "The project aims at changing people's perception and social behaviour regarding bicycles," explained ADEW Chairman Eman Baibars. Reaction has reportedly been positive in the four districts, with residents welcoming the initiative. The project will continue to expand in the coming years since there is a waiting list of some 1,500 applicants for new bicycles. The second track of the project aims at increasing people's awareness about the merits of using bicycles, instead of public or private motor means of transportation. This will go hand-in- hand with advocating the implementation of traffic laws, according to Ayoub. Aging cars must be replaced by new ones, in addition to allocating a bicycle lane on the road to create "a relatively clean atmosphere and less crowdedness," she added. Naturally, for the largest city on the African continent which is home to some 18 million inhabitants, traffic is bound to be a frustrating issue. Even worse, the World Bank estimates an urbanisation level of 70 per cent by the year 2020. While not all families own cars, bumper- to-bumper traffic is the norm, and traffic rules are left to personal interpretation. Baibars believes that the overriding rule is to make use of every available gap between moving cars. Experts estimate that road accidents amount to more than 7,000 fatalities and 35,000 injured every year. Traffic congestion, high reliance on road transport and traffic safety are key issues facing urban transport. Cairo experiences average traffic speeds of less than 10 kilometres per hour, which continues to fall with the increase in the number of cars on the road. According to one World Bank report, dependence on public transportation is less than 65 per cent. "If the ADEW initiative is applied in all Cairo districts, traffic jams will soon be a thing of the past," Baibars asserted optimistically.
