By Mary Shenouda
If you happen to be an early bird on a Friday, for work or leisure, and you happen to pass by Agouza corniche or by 6th October Bridge, you must bump into us between 8 and 10 am. When you meet us, please stick you hands out of the window to wave hello, and we promise to wave back :):)
That’s the Cairo Cyclers Club members, the crazy bunch who prefer an early-morning biking exercise to sleeping-in on the first day of the long-waited weekend. I must say, that’s when Cairo becomes the most admirable city in the world!
I’m not going to mention how the fantastic group started – it’s all available in the Media Coverage they’re generously and freely getting by all the intrigued – or shocked or whatever – on-lookers who wonder why a bunch of 8 or 10 young men and women would be together on bikes, on the bridge, in the middle of cars, on a Friday morning! I guess that’s how I felt when I first heard about it from Chitra – a serious activist and a big dreamer of how this group will change the face of Cairo , Of course I was more than happy to help, especially that getting pretty little Na3sa out of her long year deep slumber was a tempting idea (actually more to avoid looking like a coward than anything else, but oh well, I had to give myself another good reason :):):))
Na3sa is my sister’s beloved red bike in case anyone’s wondering.
Starting the trip in Mohandeseen, a set of 7 bikes was ready to launch. All colorful and ready to go, a goupr of guys and girls were biking in a long row, one after the other, leading was an expert on roads, and trailing behind was my poor self – still warming up after the years of rusting bikeless.
Going up the bridge from Corniche was not a big problem at all, that’s what I eventually discovered; that car slopes in Cairo are generally good for bikes :). Once on top of the bridge, the rule of the “cluster” works quite fascinatingly. Cars observing one biker feel disinterested and can be even ruthless in blowing horns and lights. But seeing a group of bikers – females included mind you – was completely different. The staring drivers and wondering onlookers didn’t deter any of us, but we rather gave it a big laugh as we all arrived safely within less than 20 minutes in Ramses Square, and celebrated by taking pictures (soon to be posted on the group).
I must say that Cairo looked completely different that morning! The most amazing aspects of the big city came strikingly charming on that Friday morning. We all drive (or get driven) around Cairo, but the speed of the bike sets the scene at a totally different angle. The slow movement allows the eye to capture a totally new view. The nice morning sun reflections on the windows of the calmly settling Feluccas in the Nile; the few flying birds roaming effortlessly on the water, maybe waiting for a good fish catch; few fishermen collecting their last batch for the day; and even cars and motorcycles taking it easy and slow in this view.
On our way back, I learnt that some streets are NOT to be crossed ON bike. To cross Ramses street, we actually stopped the traffic for one minute, and many kind cars were happy to stop for the smiling enthusiastic bunch carrying bikes in the middle of the street.
Arriving safely two hours later in Mohandessen – forgot to mention we stopped for some 3asser 2asab in Zamalek, shockingly received by the owner who was wondering how so much business can exist at this hour in the morning – we were all totally excited and the day was only starting.
I must admit my bones were making strange sounds, but what the heck – it was greatest fun. I contemplated on the way back all the great change happening in the city if everyone learnt to get on their bikes instead of their cars, maybe one day a week, maybe two days a year, and how wonderful Cairo would once again become! I reminisced on the beautiful old black-and-white photographs of Cairo in the collection of Lihnert and Landrock; with the wide streets enjoying the company of very few cars, and many tress healthily adorning the sides of all of them. Imagine this fantastic heritage returning??
Contemplate for only one moment the massive transformation the city can undergo if instead of 10 million cars we had 10 million bikes?? Imagine the parking situation?? Imagine the health of people growing old and exercising every day on a bike?? Imagine the trees looking GREEN, actually bright normal GREEN instead of the brownish-pale green surviving the pollution of the big city?? Imagine observing Cairo from the Tower or from the Mokattam hill and being able to look all the way into the clear horizon, free from pollution or dust hanging in the air?? Just for a second contemplate the situation of the economy reducing the subsidies of petroleum and using the money to subsidize bikes and spare parts of bikes?? Imagine the reduction in road accidents when 99% of the population is on bikes??
The simple picture makes my heart warmer and makes me much more able and energetic to go on the ride … again and again and again.
Thank you all from the Cairo Cyclers Club for the wonderful gift of dreaming which you’re giving us all :)
For more details, please join the group and get ready for a Friday morning excursion in a newly-found Cairo of our dreams (you don't need to own a bike - Just call Chitra, and she will manage a bike rental - in very good condition - from a nice kind old man near the meeting point)
Waiting to see at least 20 people on the new route for next week. Get ready for the wheeeeels!
