Drivers say they are persecuted by the people and the government. Ahmed Morsy finds out how true the claim is A three-day strike by hundreds of microbus drivers left many Cairo streets and squares in chaos last week, including Sayeda Aisha and Dar Al-Salam squares in the south, Ahmed Helmi Square near downtown and Alf Maskan Square in the north of the city as well as Helwan. The drivers were protesting against what they described as their deteriorating situation, denouncing the hike in annual traffic fines imposed by the Interior Ministry, and complaining about another increase in their taxes and tolling systems. Clashes erupted with security forces in front of Cairo's traffic headquarters in Darrasa after the drivers blocked Salah Salem St using dozens of microbuses to pressure those concerned to meet their demands. Though under an agreement reached on 3 October they will pay 20 per cent of the value of traffic fines imposed on them, for the drivers this was not enough. "Microbus drivers would pay 20 per cent the value of fines imposed on them in return for six-month temporary permits," a security official told the state-run news agency MENA. The source added that microbus owners can file a complaint for the remaining amount, in accordance with procedures stipulated by law. The drivers were unanimously against the hike of traffic fines this year which, according to them, exceeded LE70,000 in some cases. "When the owner of a microbus wanted to renew its licence, he found a LE76,000 fine and as a result he didn't pay," Essam Abdu, a 48-year-old microbus driver, told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Most of the demonstrators were microbus owners but I participated in the strike in sympathy with the owners. Traffic policemen fabricate tickets to collect fines," Abdu, who is one of Sayeda Aisha's microbus drivers, said. He also pointed out that in the wake of last year's revolution there were no traffic officers or soldiers on the streets and wondered how the fines were given. Ayman Talaat, 44, an owner of a microbus in Alf Maskan station, believes that their demands are not unusual. "Policemen fined us for no reason after the revolution. Earlier, we used to pay a daily bribe to them to maintain our livelihood but following the revolution we stopped it. Thus, they fine us without cause. We are oppressed," Talaat said. Helwan strike coordinator Khaled Al-Gamasi told the Weekly that Helwan drivers were forced to take action after the toll imposed on microbus drivers rose from LE320 to LE1,000 annually following the 25 January Revolution. "After the increase in the taxes imposed on us, the drivers held a two-day strike in September. We pay this toll for better services for the microbus drivers in return but instead we are ignored and have no pick-up spots and disorganised stations," Al-Gamasi said. "We also demand a sufficient quota of diesel fuel to solve the fuel shortage which sometimes forces us to wait four hours on line at gas stations. Regarding the owners, they say drivers are reckless and always take drugs on their shifts. "The drivers are most of the time acting like daredevils while driving," Mohamed Abul-Fotouh, a microbus owner from Dar Al-Salam, told the Weekly. "We know that they are not following traffic laws as the microbuses are not their own. And drugs are commonly taken in this community. Hence, they do whatever they like as long as the owner pays the traffic fines. "We, as microbus owners, demand that traffic fines be paid on the spot to limit the drivers' gall." The security source added that upon reaching the agreement it was also decided that fines for violations would be imposed on whoever is driving the microbus at the time rather than the owners of the vehicles. Drivers also have accusations regarding the owners. Hemdan Ahmed is a microbus driver in Ahmed Helmi station who accuses the owners of being greedy. "We are the best drivers. I admit we are being rash while driving but it's not our fault. Some microbus owners require a LE200 toll from the drivers in a six-hour shift otherwise he will hire another. So, we have to drive quickly to collect the desired amount from which the driver takes a quarter," Ahmed explained. Regarding drugs, Ahmed confessed that it is a must. "It's rare to find a driver who doesn't take 'power' (a drug called Tramadol). We sometimes drive for 12 hours and it keeps us awake all day long," Ahmed added. "The old regime wanted us like that. The Interior Ministry can set up checkpoints to see if there are drugs in the blood. The new regime after the revolution should compel us to remain committed to the law." Looking at Cairo's streets, it is apparent that the worst violators of traffic regulations are microbus drivers who often do not have headlights, plates or any respect for the law. According to the traffic authority, microbus drivers receive the highest number of fines in Egypt and are one of the main catalysts for traffic congestion. Ali Al-Gohari, a 64-year-old microbus driver who did not take part in the strike agreed with the accusations levelled at drivers that they are impetuous. "I didn't play a part in the strike as I don't believe in such action. The drivers are not innocent and they indeed commit violations," Al-Gohari, a driver for 12 years on the same microbus in Alf Maskan station, said. Immediate fines will solve the problem, he added. Al-Gohari explained that drivers are also demanding the installation of pick-up points specifically set aside for microbus drivers in order to avoid fines given by the police for "causing traffic jams". "Our reputation is because of the new drivers who took microbus driving as their career. They did not complete their education and take drugs as well as drive recklessly." On the other hand, Islam Ayman, a 21-year-old mass communications graduate, is a microbus driver in Sayeda Aisha who complains of ill-treatment from private car owners. "We are not all the same. I didn't find a suitable job so I drove my father's microbus. I can't deny that many of the drivers are law offenders, but not all of us," Ayman, with no driving licence, added. "Sometimes, owners of privately owned cars hate us for just being a microbus driver. We need to be treated well not only by the public but also by policemen. We are always wronged and appear guilty." Despite promises made by President Mohamed Morsi to solve Cairo's traffic problems in his first 100 days in office, the problem is not just about easing the flow of traffic but instilling a sense of respect for other people on the road and for law and order. Within the microbus republic, where ignorance, drugs and violations prevail, it seems that much more time is needed to improve conditions in that sector. photos: Ahmed Morsy Sign language EGYPTIANS, especially in a crowded and loud city like Cairo, every so often need more than vocal language to communicate with a microbus driver, especially from a distance. People and drivers have their own sign language like those used by scuba divers and footballers. It wasn't mutually agreed upon in advance but the drivers improvised the signs according to the situation and passengers consequently grasped them. Each hand signal has a meaning for a particular destination mutually determined through a visual relationship to what they refer to. The hand signals make it easier for drivers and those waiting for buses to communicate from a distance in noisy streets. The image illustrates some hand signals and their meanings. The first, from left, means straight or down the same street. Put the index and middle fingers in an upwards "V", which is the Arabic numeral 7, for the 7th district in Nasr City, and place those fingers upside down in a downwards "V", which is the Arabic number 8, for the 8th district, in addition to putting out a hand and slowly opening and closing the fingers for the 10th district. The third is of the Dokki district in Giza. The last sign in the left column refers to a neighbourhood called Al-Tawabek in Giza. In English Al-Tawabek mean levels, and the stopping place is originally known as The Three Levels station. The first sign, from right, stands for Haram St which stands for the "Pyramids Street" in English. That's why the sign portrays the pyramid shape. Moving down, the second hand signal describes the destination's place which is by the end of the bridge. The fourth represents the Ring Road, and the one at the bottom describes the route from Faisal Street in Giza to Boulak. source: http://caricatooz.blogspot.com
