Driving in Cairo

[vicki2]

I thought Cairo was pretty wild but not quite as bad as Rome used to be! That said, I'm used to driving in Manhattan so I'm crazy to begin with.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by Iman

I decided that even being a passenger in a taxi would probably scare me half to death and I might just have to keep my eyes closed.

When I read this, I thought that yes, you might as well keep your eyes closed in a taxi because it sounds as if that's what the drivers are doing anyhow.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by vicki2

I thought Cairo was pretty wild but not quite as bad as Rome used to be! That said, I'm used to driving in Manhattan so I'm crazy to begin with.

I think I'd walk Manhattan! It's probably pretty much like D.C. though... bumping into another car is the norm and if you're in a space where a bus or cab wants to go, no biggie, don't worry, they'll just bump you out of the way.

[vicki2]

A little different from DC because the traffic seems to move faster than I remember DC doing. Also, the side streets are much more narrow so you have to be brave and just go lol.

[dwalliz]

Well I think that you dont need a car in Cairo is the same as dont need one in New York City.

[vicki2]

Personal opinion, dwalliz! LOL. There are valid reasons for perhaps needing a car in either place. Depends on what you use it for too.

[mushtaq]

The taxi drivers are crazy, they don't think twice about driving up the wrong way on a dual carriage lane for a shortcut.

The driver who took me to the airport was driving as if he had a 4 wheel drive truck, he drove 'across' couple of roads then onto on coming traffic to take shortcut, boy was I glad to get on that plane.

[vicki2]

The taxi drivers in Cairo or the ones in New York??? The NY ones are sometimes a little nuts but they don't go the wrong way on one way streets ...well not unless there's a massive traffic jam and they know a short cut! LOL.

[Taggart]

Wow, this whole thread reminds me of seatbelts!

I hear that it's the law in Egypt to wear seatbelts when they're provided in vehicles, and to use child car seats for infants.

Does everybody there use their seatbelts? It sounds like a good idea.

[mamab]

So, if the taxi drivers will drive that way, are the pedestrians REALLY safe on the sidewalks? It seems like you'd be taking your life into your own hands, anytime you travel in either place!