.Despite a relatively recent increase in activity of nascent cycling advocacy groups in Egypt, there seems to be a set of factors affecting a more evident shift in Egyptian perception on urban cycling. Elaboration on each and every factor to be considered is surly beyond the purpose of this article, which is to shed some light on what can be deemed to be the most important of these factors:
- Energetic but inconsistent advocacy efforts: Online
social networking tools (most notably Facebook) made it amazingly easy
for cycling advocacy groups (among many others) to build a loyal
following, organize events and maintain communication. However, the
active core of these groups is extremely small, and thus the
sustainability of the activities and advocacy efforts of such groups
largely depends on the involvement of those persistent few. Spin-offs
must be encouraged, and advocacy efforts must begin to mature into more
active engagement of related groups (such as those of environmental
interests) and consistent activity.ent of those persistent few. Spin-offs must be encouraged, and
advocacy efforts must begin to mature into more active engagement of
related groups (such as those of environmental interests) and consistent
activity.
- Lack of formal, legal recognition for cycling: The New Egyptian Traffic Law does not include any provisions related to cyclists. The present Transportation Law, and Law 4/1994 for the Protection of the Environment make no mention of any planned incorporation of cycling as a mode of transport into the urban planning and environmental agenda. Promoting cycling as a healthy and low-carbon mode of transport is therefore in its very early stages in Egypt if not missing altogether.
- Lack of cycling equipment providers/vendors: At the time of this writing, the number of known
cycling
equipment shops in Cairo (a city of 18 million residents) is about 5.
This does not include shops that provide repair/welding/construction of
cargo and utility bikes (which are used rather extensively in many areas
in Cairo). The (lack of) quality and availability of cycling equipment
is a main obstacle facing the latent interest in adoption of mass
utilitarian urban cycling in Cairo specifically and Egypt generally.
- Pervasive social stigmas: Although female cyclists have evidently displayed active involvement in Egyptian cycling advocacy groups, the main impediment against a more enthusiastic adoption of urban cycling by female is conservative social stigmas, in addition to fear of harassment, which unfortunately plagues many densely populated areas in Cairo now.
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