As a fellow Egyptian woman, I know how terrifying it is to use public transportation. However, I can’t begin to fathom how hard it can be for someone who never used it before to try it for the first time. I’ve had my share of being lost in the subway lines or chasing the only bus I know to get where I want. So, to spare you (maybe) a little bit of the inevitable adversity, I’ll divide every kind of transportation to three sub-genres; convenience, price and safety. Let’s start with one that is not so public but crucial.
Uber/Careem
Via Peerbits
This is by far the comfiest way to arrive where you want. You get in a private car. The driver knows the way so you don’t have to talk to him. You can listen to the music you like or ask to not listen to anything. And, if you’re lucky enough, you can get a free treat from the kind driver. What more do you need? Now, let’s talk stat:
Convenience: You can order a car, as long as you have network connection on your phone. The cars are clean and the drivers are nice. The wait period is between 2 minutes to 15. Sometimes a driver would accept a ride while already on his way to drop someone else. It’s okay though, because they always find the fastest road to get to you.
Price: It varies from 10 EGP to 100 EGP or more. The pricing depends on the distance and the rise in prices in high-traffic times. But, they always have our backs with promo codes that will save you a few pounds. You can pay with cash or visa.
Safety: By far the safest; they’re both continuously growing companies so sometimes you can come across a driver who’s not very professional. Report them to the customer service and they will do what needs to be done depending on the gravity of the issue.
Swvl
Via Ventureburn
A private transportation with a random bunch of people. Swvl is something between a private car and a public bus. They never accept more people than there are seats on the bus. Their mini buses are usually air-conditioned and clean. You have to book your ride beforehand so the bus you need to get on doesn’t fill up and you end up looking for a later or earlier bus.
Convenience: They have a wide range of lines you can choose from. You can’t really book a last-minute bus and if you missed the one you already booked it’ll be hard to get on another one. It’s a game of time-management and punctuality. The seats are comfortable and the drivers are understanding and keen on reviewing your ticket before you get on so you don’t get on a wrong bus by mistake.
Price: It usually varies from 20 EGP to 35 EGP. And the 35 one I took was from Heliopolis to Maadi so their prices are very reasonable. They also have many promo codes.
Safety: The people on the bus are usually college students or young adults going to work. The people on the bus usually mind their own business and the drop-off points are not dark.
Mowaslat Misr
Via Ahram Online
The newest addition to the public transportation and it’s all you can ask for! You can check their lines and times on their own application, another application called Flare and even on google maps!
Convenience: They don’t go everywhere but their lines go farther than the regular public transportation goes. The seats are super comfy and there’re two USB port in every row. The big buses have a stop button you can click on so the driver knows you are going to get off here. They also have special needs part in the bus with safety belts to secure the wheel chair. Although the bus does take more passengers than there is chairs but it’s not that big of a deal when you can get where you want for a cheaper price.
Price: The average ticket price is 15 pounds. Long rides require you to pay for two cheaper tickets.
Safety: The bus drivers are professional and the ambient is nice. It doesn’t get too crowded and getting on and off the bus is easy.
CTA and Mini Buses
Via Egyptian Streets
Now you’re coming down to the lower ranks of public transportation. If you’ve made it this far, then the inside of your wallet look exactly like mine. The public buses are everywhere and goes anywhere. There’s a line for everything. The trick is to learn which number goes where. There isn’t really a way to find out all the numbers but the nice people of Facebook and all the cooking forums can provide you with the information you need.
Convenience: The nicest thing about them is that there’s always a bus coming. Maybe not the right one, but one that will get you close enough to where you want to get. I’ll give you a round of applause every time you find an empty chair and can survive the urge of people staring at you for doing the shameful act of sitting down. Trust me, that won’t happen a lot.
Price: They range from 2.5 EGP to 5 EGP (or at least the ones I got on)
Safety: Not the highest rank of safety. You should avoid the crowded ones as much as you can. It’s not only pickpockets who ride these kind of buses. Let me add a little tip for girls if you manage to read this far down; don’t accept an old man’s offer to give you his seat and then stand over you like the creep he is. Just. Don’t. Avoid at all costs.
Subway
Via Egypt Today
One of the most common public transportation. Everybody needs to take it at some point in their lives. It’s not the easiest transportation to use for the first time but it’s definitely improving. Now there are signs everywhere to point where to go. There’s also a map in every station telling you how to go from line to another. If you still can’t understand it, you can ask the policemen who are there.
Convenience: If you miss one you can always catch the next. Not more than 15 minutes between the first and the second one. It’s sometimes a little too crowded – well, most of the times. But it can get you anywhere and everywhere.
Price: 3 EGP for 8 stations or less, 5 EGP for 16 or less, 7 EGP for more. (don’t forget to count the station you will get on from) Pro tip: Tell the man and the ticket window which station you will drop off at and he’ll give you the right ticket.
Safety: The crowd may overwhelm you and make you forget your stuff but as long as you make sure everything you have is on you then you’ll be safe.
Taxi
Via Ahram Weekly
Yes. I’m ranking the taxi after the public transportation. Why? Because taxi drivers are annoying. They get into your business, they like to know everything about you and they nag about the roads they take, even though you have no power over the traffic.
Convenience: If you did as much as think about getting a taxi, you’ll always find one around. They won’t probably agree on where you’re going but, they’re around. If you enjoy the driver creeping at you from the rear-view mirror, then that’s definitely the kind of transportation you’d want to use.
Price: The fare starts at 6 EGP but it’s really just whatever the driver wants it to be.
Safety: I’m going to leave that to your imagination
Microbus
Via Ahram Online
I would choose this one if I’m really running out of options. If you love GTA then this is probably what you want to go with. I would love to take this opportunity to suggest a group therapy session to all microbus drivers with suicidal thoughts. I mean, mental diseases are real. You don’t have to kill all the passengers, seek help.
Convenience: You don’t find them, they find you. If you think there’s no way they can take more people than their seats, you thought wrong.
Price: From 1 EGP to about 8 EGP and higher, depending on where you’re going and the mood of the driver.
Safety: Just keep your things on your lap and your hands ready for a slap.
