Egypt signed a protocol with the UN Human Settlements Program, the UN-Habitat. Medium-term goal: to introduce Egypt’s first bike-sharing system.
Cairo uses a state-based system for bike-sharing. For this purpose, the bicycle stations are to be placed at strategic points such as the main square, along the Cornice and at the university. “We focus on places where young people are usually present, such as universities, because they are our main target group,” says Abdel Hamid.
Cycling: Egypt’s new national sport
In the first phase, Cairo wants to build several bicycle paths and use 300 bicycles. The project is expected to cost 1.5 million dollars and is funded entirely by the Zurich Drosos Foundation. The “Bicicletta” initiative is designed to make young people more mobile: “Bicicletta introduces a bike-sharing model that removes the obstacles faced by young people with regard to their access to employment, education and other opportunities.”
The initiative is linked to an already existing bicycle culture in the country: in recent years, cycling in Egypt has become something like a national sport and trend, especially among young people. It is so popular that the country now has a visible bike community. For example, it is no longer a rarity to see women alone on wheels.
With the increasing popularity of cycling, many national bicycle organizations have also emerged. This is precisely the purpose of the implementation of the bike-sharing system in Cairo. The project duration is set by Drosos to three years.
