Al-Ahram Weekly Online   12 - 18 July 2012 Issue No. 1106
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875  The key to
the streets  Cairo's traffic problems mirror those of the wider
society, argues Dena Rashed  Click to view caption photo: Sherif
Sonbol  Once upon a time, people would agree to meet at a
certain time and then they would do so. They might also decide
to go out as a spontaneous decision, rather than wait to see how
the traffic was first. In those days, traffic lights were more
than just scarecrows and white lanes were there for drivers to
abide by, rather than being there for cars to dance around, with
pedestrians also knowing where to look when crossing the road.
Such stories of the good old days either come from very old
people or are the stuff of urban legends. However, there are
still some at least who have seen the traffic laws being
implemented in the streets of Cairo.  The traffic in Egypt, and
in Cairo in particular, is the reflection of all the malaises of
society. Traffic is the pr