Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal took part in the bike tour organized by the Cairo Governorate in cooperation with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and Sanofi Egypt in the downtown area Friday morning to experience the challenges faced by cyclists daily and to identify opportunities for planning and improving the cycling infrastructure in Cairo as an essential part of ongoing road development projects.
Abdel Aal was accompanied by deputy governors, several executives of Cairo governorate, international development partners, representatives of ITDP, and Sanofi Egypt.
Abdel Aal welcomed the participants in the tour, expressing his happiness that Cairo is taking part in this important event that aims to make our city environmentally friendly. He also emphasized the goal of promoting the culture of using bicycles in Cairo and integrating them with transportation means to enhance low-carbon transport in the city. It will also improve air quality for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Moreover, Abdel Aal Cairo praised the collaboration with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and Sanofi Egypt to enhance sustainable transportation policies and urban planning in the capital.
Abdel Aal also pointed out that the governorate is making great effort to ensure future investment in Cairo for cyclists as Cairo has recently launched the "Cairo Bike" bike-sharing project, with plans to increase bike lanes throughout the city, creating a safe and well-maintained network separate from car lanes to ensure the safety of cyclists.
That is part of the efforts to make Cairo an environmentally friendly, sustainable, healthy, and interconnected city.
Over 100 bikes participated in the tour, which started at the governorate's headquarters and ended at the Steinberger Hotel in Tahrir Square, testing recently implemented bike lanes over a 2-kilometer distance in downtown in addition to areas without bike lanes.
The cyclists also cycled through mixed traffic to experience daily challenges, giving feedback and suggestions to enhance their experience as part of Cairo's sustainable transportation and urban development initiatives.
Cairo suffers from rapid growth in private vehicle use like many other capitals, leading to congestion. Industrial development and population growth in Egypt have also contributed to deteriorating air quality, highlighting the need for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to encourage their use, helping to reduce emissions, fuel costs, and road accidents.
Also, encouraging citizens to walk, ride bicycles, and leave their cars at home will help reduce air pollution, improve air quality, decrease congestion, and mitigate the adverse health effects of pollution on public health.
Transitioning to sustainable walking and cycling patterns will promote healthier lives and contribute to reducing obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular diseases, and cancer, in addition to significant physical and mental health benefits. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) is a global non-profit organization working with cities worldwide to design and implement high-quality transportation systems and policy solutions to make cities more livable, equitable, and sustainable.
Source: Media Department, Cairo Governorate
