During my time there ( Luxor), I never saw one Egyptian using the footpath! Adults and children alike would saunter along, sometimes three abreast, oblivious of the traffic! There MUST be a reason for this.
2006-11-03 21:34:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Egypt
I noticed that too. Though I will tell you that in Luxor, the traffic is not so heavy as compared to the other cities like Cairo and Alexandria. There are many dangerous drivers as well just like anywhere else and I can say that there are a great flaws with their traffic system. It was very strange for me to see that during a hectic traffic overcrowding, some car on the left lane shifts to the right- very surprising and dangerous.
Amidst all those dangerous drivers, you are exactly right in what you had described. It is not surprising to see some people walking in the road feeling like they are walking under the moonlight. Surely, there is reason for this but I cannot figure out exactly. I suggest lack of discipline as the foremost reason. Adaptation to such act could be another thing - they seem got used to it and the drivers became clever as well in avoiding accidents hitting the pedestrians. Anyway, whatever will happen the driver is most of the time at fault that is why people walking got laxed and the drivers got expert on preventing undesirable accidents.
Anyway, whatever is happening on their traffic activities, Egypt is worthwhile visiting. There are many nice places awaiting.♥
2006-11-03 22:09:50 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably becuase the footpaths and sidewalks are narrow, when they exist, and more often are non-existant...
So the people have become used to walking wherever they please.
You must admit Egypt is a rather chaotic country when it comes to traffic ...Especially in Cairo where the horns are an eternal serenade!
2006-11-04 05:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by abuela Nany 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah!!
I am an Egyptian and I went to America and I saw the strangest thing.
People don't walk in the middle of the street and they don't pass when ever they want to , they wait until the traffic light is in their favour.
And cars stop if they see u passing the street.They don't just drive by you.
And all the pedestrain walk on the side walk.
Man !! it was crazy in there
I wonder why they do it , there must be a reason .
Thanks God I am back in Egypt.
Now if you will excuse me , I am going to have to take my laptop and go .There is a crazy driver who has been honking his horn at me for 15 minutes,
A man can't sit in the middle of the street and use his lap top any more these days !!!
2006-11-04 10:25:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
sometimes i do it myself so ok, here's the reason:
footpaths in egypt r not that well built, meaning that every store or house makes its own in front of it, and thus, they differ! so u always have to go one step up or one step down in order to walk on it
then, u always find something in ur way!!! a tree, someone sitting on the floor selling stuff.. stuff like that, so u always have to walk around these "obstacles.. its just EASIER to walk in the road!
and thus, some ppl just got used to walking in the road!! and even if the footpath is well built, they just automatically walk in the road!
i know its not safe to walk in the road itself, and i dont do it unless the footpath is like i described above
hope that explains it a bit :)
2006-11-04 07:37:53 · answer #4 · answered by Stratomanssy 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The way they drive in Egypt, it's probably safer than being on the footpath.
2006-11-04 05:39:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because 3/4 of the population are too poor, to go by car or public transport .
They wander across busy roads, believing that,
if it is God's will .they will survive
to most of the drivers life is cheap!
Rules of the road!!!!------( In sha'ala)
They only have one pedal, ( the accelerator!)
So away they go , at whatever speed and in what -ever direction , they want to .
, God will protect the innocent .-----------
Road kill abounds ( nobody asks God why!)
I would not want to drive in Egypt ,and i certainly would not wish to be a pedestrian .!
>^,,^<
2006-11-04 06:14:53 · answer #6 · answered by sweet-cookie 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's not just Egypt, I've noticed this also happens in Morocco.
2006-11-04 10:02:05 · answer #7 · answered by Tia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the people there are fond of chaos theory.
2006-11-04 10:24:30 · answer #8 · answered by Kalooka 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋