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Gone to Cairo, learned to jaywalk
The best thing that I brought back from Egypt wasn't a chintzy souvenir pyramid, photo in front of the Sphinx or bottle of scented oil. It was experience -- or more specifically, experience in properly crossing the street.
This is mostly the result of the traffic situation in Cairo, Egypt's largest and capital city. Cars swarm through the streets like termites into a mound, filling every square pavement with hard rubber and steel. Traffic lights have no meaning, and even if there was a crosswalk to follow it would always be blocked by vehicles.
In turn, the pedestrians adapt. With a never-ending stream of traffic ready to run any passer-by over, people quickly learn how to dive between cars, ducking between lanes and standing on curbs as death passes a mere inch or two away. It's Frogger in real life -- and to be honest, it's almost fun. CNN's Ben Wedeman sums up the experience pretty well below:
This is mostly the result of the traffic situation in Cairo, Egypt's largest and capital city. Cars swarm through the streets like termites into a mound, filling every square pavement with hard rubber and steel. Traffic lights have no meaning, and even if there was a crosswalk to follow it would always be blocked by vehicles.
In turn, the pedestrians adapt. With a never-ending stream of traffic ready to run any passer-by over, people quickly learn how to dive between cars, ducking between lanes and standing on curbs as death passes a mere inch or two away. It's Frogger in real life -- and to be honest, it's almost fun. CNN's Ben Wedeman sums up the experience pretty well below:
Filed under: Africa, Egypt, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill Apr 11th 2010 7:44PM
And the constant cacophony of the automobile horns; night and day.
Kit Apr 12th 2010 12:09AM
This is EXACTLY what it's like to try to cross the road in Egypt! Even right in downtown Cairo, trying to get to the waterfront and back is truly taking your life in your hands. Of course, taking a taxi can be a thousand times more terrifying.
City Discovery Apr 12th 2010 6:20AM
"a thousand times more terrifying?" how so?
Kit Apr 12th 2010 1:38PM
@City Discovery - I vividly remember closing my eyes and praying during a couple cab rides in Cairo. If you take a cab during the few hours the streets are empty (like very early morning or during Friday prayers) those drivers FLY. It's like being inside Grand Theft Auto.
But during normal hours I was more afraid for the pedestrians than myself. :)
Tony Apr 12th 2010 12:06PM
Traffic lights having no meaning?! you could have just gone to Mexico for that!