Tourists have many forms of transport available to navigate the
cities of Egypt, though most will not use many of them. In fact,
many western tourists visiting Egypt for the first time may never
stray away from the buses or other vehicles provided by their tour
operator, other than perhaps to take a short ride in a
horse drawn carriage (a hantoor). If they do venture off on
their own, they are most likely to use one of the air-conditioned
private cars offered at most upscale hotels, which are expensive by
Egyptian standards but not really compared to western taxis.
However, more savvy travelers, and particularly those on more of
a budget, will also utilize the more common cabs available in most
major Egyptian cities. In
Cairo, these are the thousands of
cars running about that are
painted black and white, though this color scheme is different in
different cities. They are not air-conditioned, and their state of
repair can vary considerably from car to car. They also contain no
meter and, while one might negotiate with the cab driver prior to
taking such a cab, most people who are adequately familiar with them
simply know how much is expected given the distance one is wishing
to travel and the prevailing traffic conditions.
That
can be a bit daunting for some tourists who lack experience with
these cabs. However, the benefit of these cabs is that they are
extremely inexpensive. One can travel clear across Cairo for little
more than it would cost simply to step into a cab in New York.
Very savvy tourists in Cairo can also use the Metro, which is even more affordable than the black and white taxis. The metro is clean, and can get one from one end of Cairo to another for next to nothing.
Other forms of transportation include mini-buses and normal sized
buses, though tourists would rarely use these. They are mostly used
by locals to get around town very cheaply, though ex-pats
and some
very knowledgeable tourists might occasionally use these as well. In
some other cities, there are also a few tram systems.
However, things are changing. In March, 2006, Cairo introduced the modern Yellow Cab, beginning with a fleet of 150 cars operating around Cairo, operated by three companies. The aim of introducing these new cabs is to cut down on pollution, and increase the level of comfort for passengers, particularly foreign tourists. The government estimates that as many as 1500 Yellow Cabs will be operational by the end of December, 2006. This new effort is referred to as the Capital Taxi Project.
Basically, this is an effort on the government's part to phase
out the old black and white taxis, which are often in poor condition
and in need of repair, and thus also a considerable source of
pollution. The new yellow cabs have been fitted with catalytic
converters so the exhaust fumes are filtered. Furthermore, they
operate on cleaner natural gas.
These cabs are equipped with air conditioning, seatbelts, and meters
and have a no smoking policy which applies to all of the drivers.
They are also expected to be equipped with credit card reading
devices, though this apparently has yet to be added, due to the
immense amount of funding required for that service. The three
companies are also waiting for the government to
approve and issue a
license to use the Global Positioning System. This will allow the
companies to know where there drivers are and make getting from
place to place more efficient.
Presently each of the new cab companies operate fifty cars. The
companies are City Cabs, Cairo Cabs and International Cairo
Taxi. City Cabs and the Cairo Cabs are usually found at designated
pick up points as their hotlines have not yet been launched due to
the high demand for this new service. However, once the number of
cabs has been increased, one will be able to call the hotline for a
cab. Currently, one can find many of these cabs around Tahrir Square
in Downtown
Cairo.
International Cairo Taxi does have its call center up and running,
but so far that has proven to be a dismal service. The lack of
organization combined with there not being enough vehicles to cope
with the amount of calls received has led to many complaints
questioning the reliability of the Capital Taxi Project. However, as
the other companies come on-line and more cars are added, the system
should improve.
The drivers have been given short courses in English and
orientation tests on the routes of
Cairo. Nevertheless,
one should not expect perfect English, and Cairo is a huge city. Cab
drivers have
never known every district. Traditionally they have had
to rely on stopping to ask questions as they enter unfamiliar
districts. However, this does represent an improvement over black
and white taxis, where drivers may or may not understand any
English, and have little or no training on city routes.
By comparison, the new yellow cabs are certainly more expensive
than the old black and white cabs, though they are also considerably
nicer and more comfortable, with their air conditioning. However,
their meters start off with a charge of three and a half Egyptian
pounds, which is more than many black and white taxis charge for
short hops. Currently, the meters then add one and a tenth pound per
kilometer which, depending on traffic conditions, might or might not
be too much more than what a black and white taxi might charge.
However, perhaps not having to worry about how much to pay, or
haggling with the driver over the fee might well be worth any
additional charge, as this is still not much for most foreign
travelers to pay in order to get around
Cairo. Keep in mind
that, at the current time, one Egyptian pound is equal to less than
20 cents USD.
Somehow, I doubt that the black and white taxis will ever go
completely away. They are too economical for common Egyptians, but
for tourists these new yellow cabs offer a very welcome addition to
the transportation mix in
Cairo.
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Last Updated: 11/21/2006