Cairo cycling: Just do it

By Sarah Marquer
First Published: Daily News Egypt. March 28, 2008

“We have to be the change that we want to make in this crowded city,” says Cairo-native and avid cyclist Ismail Marmoush.

The kind of individuals that like to make things happen by being proactive and motivated, Marmoush along with Ahmed Hamzawy and Chitra Kaylani are the co-founders of Cairo Cycler’s Club, a Cairo-based cycling group dedicated to the promotion of cycling, health and environmental awareness.

Fifty online members strong and counting, the Cairo Cycler’s Club is a community organization that began its mission in January 2008 to raise awareness about health and environmental issues among Cairenes.

Weekly cycling events began with the club’s first members, Marmoush and Hamzawy, every Friday morning. Their initial tours covered Nasr City and Heliopolis, and eventually expanded to other neighborhoods like Zamalek, Mohandiseen, and Agouza as new members joined.

Though Cairo may not immediately strike the observer as a bike-friendly city, the club is one of many cycling organizations hoping to prove this stereotype wrong. Kaylani points out the effort that was required just to get a group like this up and running.“I wanted to start a group like this two years ago, but I had no support, and even close friends thought it was crazy and impossible,” she said.

But, turns out it’s not impossible after all. “A lot of people within the group are inspired by the ‘just do it’ factor,” said Kaylani. Just bike, get healthy, and conquer Cairo by cycling.

The Cairo Cycler’s Club is about empowerment — whether it is about alleviating the frustration of being stuck in traffic and navigating through the recklessness of Cairo traffic, or about engaging in an activity that many women would not think to experience. It also promotes the obvious benefits of exercise and is a great way to get better acquainted with the city.

The bike rides require a bit of dedication and enthusiasm from the members: Rides start promptly at 8 am at the Mikhfara Mosque opposite Cairo Jazz Club, and finish around 10:30 am every Friday. The upside is enjoying the city at one of its finest moments, “early morning Cairo can be fresh and nice,” says Kaylani.

While it can be hard to rise and shine early on the weekends, there is definitely something to be said for seeing Cairo when its streets are nearly vacant, without the honking horns and general bustle when it’s in full gear during the week.

Cairo Cycler’s Club encourages cyclists of all levels to participate during its Friday bike rides, “It’s not a race, we just go round and round,” says Marmoush.

“It’s fun, not competitive” adds Kaylani.

The Facebook-based club is all about enjoying physical activity through cycling, so all of those who are new to the sport have no reason to feel intimated.

With that in mind, the founders are careful to make the club’s purpose and goals clear “We accept no-strings-attached donations from NGO’s and cultural centers” says Kaylani, “but we want to stay away from commercial interests.”

For new members in the search of durable bikes, local bike shops are all around the city; and the club’s members are always on the search for new stores and rental sites.

It’s easy to find a bike ranging from LE 200-500, with rentals usually costing about LE 2 an hour. Questions about quality, cost and store locations can be found on their Facebook group with the same name.

Though still in its early stages, the club hopes to steadily increase the popularity of cycling around the city as they take in the sights and sounds of Cairo from their bike seats.