Any suggestions for the crowded streets of Cairo?

Question

Any one who saw Cairo streets may feel the problem can't be solved. I think we need new ideas and not traditional ideas.

I think about it but I don't know if what I think is right or not. I think about closing many streets to cars and make it only for people walking. I think Dizel shouldn't be allowed and many other things.

What's your new ideas ? Something that we can really apply or help to apply it.

Hope : Although I agree with your ideas of the scrap, the cameras and the laws, but I don't think this will solve the problem.
We have narrow streets to the huge number of cars in Cairo, many laws and many ways to break it.

Balsam : This idea is seriously discussed but I don't know why they didn't use it. I read once that many people may use 2 cars and I think there will be a price to buy Odd or Even numbers too. You know Egypt. It's a good and not traditional idea. We need ideas like that.

Moonrise : They tried tried this idea of the governmental services outside. In the days of Sadat, everything was ready but most of the people refused to go and I don't know what happened. The alternative city was {Sadat city} and some buildings are still there I think.

A question for Basma : Are you Mini_mo? I really don't know that's why ask you.

Answer 1

Traffic in Cairo is a multifaceted problem and unfortunately very little is done to solve it... In the following points I'll try to identify the different aspects of this problem and point out some solutions whenever possible.

1- Overcrowded streets: This is the most challenging part of it since we can not directly influence the number of cars on the streets or increase dramatically old street capacities. One solution will be to discourage people from using their private cars by upgrading the public transport system to be more efficient, clean and comfortable.

2- Parking problem: This is part of the first point above. Where cars parked two or even three rows obstruct traffic. In Madrid they came up with an ingenious solution for the parking problems building a one level underground parking below the entire lenght and width of congested streets.

3- Poor road conditions: many roads are not used to their full capacities because usually one or more lanes are unusable due to poor paving and badly installed sewage manholes.

4- Poor road design: Lanes are not a cosmetic thing that makes streets look pretty actually they have the crucial function of helping to use the roads to their fullest capacity by packing the cars properely and avoiding bottle necks. In our streets if you find painted lanes they usually are too narrow, too wide or drving you right into the sidewalk.

5- Bad drivers: Most drivers in Cairo neglect traffic rules causing more trafic jams, we need a full new concept of traffic education.

6- Pedestrian problems: there are no side walks, and whenever you have side walks they are not fit for the use of pedestrians either becasue they are too high, too narrow, obstructed by steps and other items or even caged in with steel fences resulting in Pedestrians sharing the street with the cars and causing even more traffic disruptions.

7- Poor condition of cars and vehicles: As stated by a few answerers above... a lot of cars are not road worthy casuing pollution and traffic problems... some vehicles are not even cars at all... we must be one of a very few capitals where you still see carts pulled by Animals (Donkeys and horses) moving at snail pace in all directions including wrong side of the road.

8- A weak legal system: Traffic is regulated by laws, laws must be enforced. We have a traffic police that is useless either ignorant traffic personel who know nothing about traffic or corrupt officers who are willing to turn a blind eye to most traffic violations for a small bribe or becasue of the power and influence of the violator. Traffic tickets are at best random and the entire system doesn't encourage any one to respect it.

So taking all of the above in consideration we can sum up what has been said in the following: Improving the conditions of the roads through good design and construction, improving the traffic system by the use of adecuate signs, encourage people to use an improved public transport system, provide adequate spaces for pedestrians to use, provide parking spaces in congested areas, restrict the usage of old vehicles or "animal" powered ones and educate drivers on how to "drive". Once this is done and adequate conditions are provided to the driver a strict legal system should be enforced to punish violators with a zero tolerance to corruption and to exemptions.

I'm sure I haven't said anything new here... this is what is done every where else in the world and it should be considered a good start, noting that it won't cost us a lot more than what we are actually spending on roads and damages cuased by the chaos. I wonder why do we keep complaining when we haven't even tried to find a solution. Applying the recognized international traffic system might not solve 100% of the traffic problems of a city like Cairo, but at least it will make driving a little bit more human.

Sorry for the long answer... Cheers

Answer 2

The Crowded Street

Answer 3

Hello Wise Heart, Ramadan Kareem to u and yr family,

I think one of the biggest problems and probably the worst is the old scrap cars still functioning in our streets. They are the major source of trafficjams especially when they breakdown in the middle of the street or on bridges like 6th of October.

The only reason people are still using their old worn out cars are the overrated prices of new cars. It is really against all logic to have taxes up to 200% on new imported cars. If those taxes were removed or at least dramatically reduced, everybody would be able to enjoy a good and peaceful ride in their new car and we will have a surplus of scrap metal to use in other industries from selling or disposing their old cars. By the way such laws exist in most countries that if a car is more than 25 yrs old and is not in vintage condition it has to be disposed (scrap).

Also, traffic as a whole could be described as a joke in Egypt, which s very unfortunate coz when u have overpopulated areas such as Cairo, any small incident makes a major problem later on. (The ripple effect). So we should have really strict traffic laws, and if we could spend more money on radars and cameras to be posted on some of the largest most congested streets, so when people are fined and actually pay those fines for speeding or reckless driving then we would have another source of income to renovate more streets.

I could go on and on but enough for now. Tell me what do u think?

Answer 4

if the traffic laws are applied seriously, the problem would be solved.
today people who were praying taraweeh in Heliopolis blocked an important part of a road. if the drivers knew they would come and find their cars cuffed , they would have done something else.
they could have taken a taxi, asked a neighbor to give them a lift, etc , ie, think of a different solution than blocking the road.
however, sometimes i find that a flying bridge is blocked bec a traffic policeman is stopping the cars in a meaningless way .
another solution would be to move governmental offices outside cairo. Mogama3 al Tahrir and similar places should be evacuated and the officials go to a new place . but they should be provided with proper transportation.they wont play outside their offices in that case.

Answer 5

Cairo is one of many world's good megacities. As lovely as it is crazy, and as abundant with historical finery because it is half dilapidated, Cairo tends to be a town that tourists love and hate in identical actions therefore discover by which band you will be with the aid of this place hotelbye . In Cairo you will see, beyond the modern hubbub, a history that spans centuries. High in vigour, Cairo is wherever you truly get a sense for Egyptian street life and no visit to Egypt is complete with out a stay in the city Arabs call Umm al-Dunya (The Mother of the World). The absolutely staggering assortment of antiquities exhibited in Cairo's Egyptian Museum helps it be one of the world's good museums and certainly a area for everyone's to visit.

Answer 6

I was told by some foreigners that in their crowded cities there is a law that allows even numbers of plates on only certain days of the week to run in the streets, and the odd numbers on the other days. The week end though is for all numbers. It was hard in the beginning but people learned to arrange car pools. For instance instead of so many cars near schools, parents rotate in driving their children, like on certain days I drive my children and my neighbors children too, but rest and give my car a rest the on other days. In offices too colleagues can do the same. Delivering goods should be done at dawn only. Also people learned to use the underground and taxis instead of running their cars. People will not like the idea at first but when the streets have half the number of cars they will like it.

Answer 7

I do not think we personally can do anything abt it to change it. It is traffic law that has the power and authority to make people follow traffic rules. If they issue a fine for every driver who breaks a rule, driving in Egypt will be a lot better. If there were rules set for staying in lane, stopping at red light, not blowing the horn.... imagine how it would be like even if it is still crowded.

Answer 8

hiiiiiiiiiii.
first of all trust me there's no solution for the crowded street in cairo,cars became more than people.second of all ur idea is totalu fashla ma3 e7teramy 3ashan once u 're going to close some streets and make it only for people,cars will turn to use the opened one wa sawf ta7doth al karetha

-there's e7sa2ya says that 7araket el moror fe masr sawf takon mosawya ll zero fe khelal 5 years isa,
we dah ma3nah en el cars will remain constant and ur dream will come true we el nas hatemshe 3ala regleha bas msh bemazagha.w lesaaaaaaaa

Answer 9

people should start going to work/college/schools on bicycles/skate boards..etc if they live close.

I do get a lot of stares but I hope I might start a trend or sth. Plus its a great excersize.

Answer 10

give people decent jobs or just give them jobs and you have 50% of the problem solved cause they'll be in there offices and companys working .. right now more than 50% of egyptians can't find A job not to mention one that's fit to humans