CAIRO - One of the ramifications of the recent revolution is the creation of the first association for tok-toks. In Shubra, northern Cairo alone, there are about 20,000 of these three-wheeler taxis. The association, whose slogan is 'Ride safely', aims to change stop the tok-tok drivers misbehaving and tackle thuggery and other abuses. Established three months ago, the association already has 2,000 members who must be at least 18 years old, have a clean record and pay a monthly subscription of LE25. The founder and chairman of the association, Ahmed Orabi, says that his first priority is to get tok-tok drivers to respect the traffic regulations, as the State hasn't done anything about this. “Although we punish drivers who violate the rules, we also defend the tok-tok drivers' rights. For example, we help them get back their tok-toks if they've been confiscated by the Utilities Police,” he explains. Mohamed Hossam, who gets a tok-tok to work every morning, says that he used to have problems with some of the drivers. But, now that many of them have joined the association, the complaints from the passengers have dried up. Hannan Mahmoud, a housewife, told Al-Akhbar semi-official newspaper that the association has made the streets safer, as tok-tok drivers are now respecting the traffic regulations. Another woman, Souad Hassan, inadvertently left her mobile in a tok-tok. She went to the association, which was able to trace the driver, a member. He then returned her freecell to her. Tok-toks use little fuel and can drive down narrow streets that are inaccessible to buses or microbuses. Their fares are also low. The public have welcomed the establishment of this association, because tok-toks are, in many cases, the ideal way for them to get around.
