Cairobserver

Resident Perspective: Heliopolis

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Heliopolis, a beautiful district with a lot of hidden gems, but one which is also in the process of being destroyed via the introduction of ugly tall architecture.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
You get a full city, with everything you need. - You get a lot of beautiful “colonial” architecture in some of the main areas. - It’s becoming increasingly crowded, though. - I’m not sure if the new Metro stations that are being built are going to help reduce this crowdedness or worsen it. - New semi- high rise buildings are being introduced that are destroying the scene.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
It depends on where I’m going. If I’m going somewhere far away, such as Maadi, I take the Metro. If I’m going somewhere local, in Heliopolis, I either walk or take a taxi. I occasionally take buses, but that really depends on how much of a hassle I’m prepared to brace myself for (although it’s usually never as bad as I envisage it to be!). - I’d like to see an extensive Metro system and a lot more buses. - I don’t know if I want to see Microbuses anymore. Good buses can replace these; perhaps the owners can be offered jobs within an improved bus system?

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
With Metro, it’s not very accessible. I try to avoid going far away because I hate the traffic, or can’t always be bothered to go through the hassle of taking the Metro. This sometimes affects my social life, as I’m often reluctant to go to Zamalek and Downtown, which is where my friends hang out. Perhaps the new Metro line will solve this. I don’t know if I see a relationship with the city as a whole, because Cairo is just humongous and I’d rather we started by focusing on districts.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Pollution: MOT tests, scrap old cars (or old engines), set a limitation for cars (e.g. congestion charges). Traffic, same as above. But also, people’s attitudes towards consumption need to change. A car is often seen as a measurement of wealth and social status. Similarly, I know women who own cars because they don’t like going through the hassle they encounter in the streets (e.g. sexual harassment) and men who believe it’s expected from them to own a car. - Sexual harassment - A mass educational campaign to end social acceptability of it and change views on women needs to be urgently implemented. I always give these three complaints during conversations in which I’m asked why I would consider leaving the city/Egypt.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

The diversity, people from all walks of life, all in one place. The hidden gems, there’s always something fascinating around the corner. Artisan work, for example, Khayameya, etc. I really don’t believe in favorites, because my likes evolve over time. At this very moment in time, though, I’m in awe of the area around Korba/Midan el-Gamei’ in Heliopolis, Zamalek with its growing art scene, and Fatimid Cairo with its historical monuments and artisan work.

Do you relate to the historic heritage of your district or of Cairo in general? Do you think you have a good sense of history of the city? Would you say you are have “civic pride” or are proud to live in Cairo?

I don’t know about pride, as I’m firmly opposed to taking pride in something I haven’t put any effort in making/doing. The city is the way it is, my impact on it hasn’t fully shaped its history. Relating to the historic heritage is a good question, though. I’ve never thought about this, but I think there’s a lot to learn and I’m realizing now that I’ve got too many gaps. Generally I have a sense of what this city may have looked over the years, but as I say, there are missing gaps/links. Thanks for asking this, it’s definitely made me think!

Do you understand how the city is governed/managed? Do you think your community/district would be better or worst if residents from the community/district were involved in local government (محليات)?

I don’t understand actually, no. I definitely believe in working on things using a decentralized model that feeds into a central one, so starting with the community is the way forward. I’m surprised at how, to date, this hasn’t been implemented.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: a few that I’ve been to, but I see a lot of wasted potential. Merryland in Heliopolis is an example. These places aren’t promoted well enough either and are definitely not appreciated by all.

Gated communities: Rehab and the like; pleasant, but unfaithful to the architectural potential this city could have had, definitely an imitation of some developments for rich people in the Gulf and the like, and generally artificial.

Museums: many, but not looked after. And many that I didn’t even know about until recently.

Informal areas: I’m guessing this is like areas along bridges where people mingle? I guess I’ve always found them fascinating, but never tried being part of the scene.

Downtown: An area I really want to start exploring. I think I can count the number of times I’ve been there, and it was usually to serve a purpose.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Zamalek.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Heliopolis

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
I am a proud Egyptian living in Heliopolis. Heliopolis is an historic neighborhood, with much beauty which is sadly neglected and being destroyed.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive aspects: It’s somewhat greener than other residential areas, the beautiful (but badly maintained) early 20th century architecture styles, el Korba. Negative aspects: destruction/neglect of beautiful architecture, recent ugly high rises, lack of parking and space, cleanliness issues in parts.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I usually use taxis to move around the Heliopolis Madinet Nasr area. I use the metro to get to areas like central Cairo, Zamalek and Maadi. To get to areas like the 5th settlement etc, I have to rely on friends’ cars as I don’t drive and I’m frankly too afraid to drive in our disorderly streets. Personally, I’d love to have a better public transport infrastructure to be able to move around and go anywhere with ease without having to rely on a car all the time. I’d also like to see more attention paid and services provided to pedestrians and cyclists. I love to walk and cycle, but both are an absolute nightmare with all the holes/ravines/level changes on the sidewalks and the insane driving on the streets.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Heliopolis is better connected to central Cairo than most, and facilities are not hard to access. Still I would like there to be a better public transport infrastructure so I could get to any area I want easily. I think it’s anyone’s right as a citizen to be able to go wherever they please in their city.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1. NEGLECT: The city suffers from a major case of neglect. Just about everything is run down, cheaply made, and lacks beauty. Moreover, all that is beautiful and good about Cairo (Islamic & Khedival architecture, opportunities for green spaces) are badly neglected or demolished. My proposition would be an initiative to beautify the city, preserve and maintain historic sites/architecture and promote green spaces. 2. TRAFFIC: No way to describe the insane lawless frustrating traffic in mortal terms. This is due to (a) the streets being crowded due to parked cars, and (b) lack of street etiquette of any kind. The parked cars are due to (a) high rises being built without even considering the number of cars each flat would accommodate, and (b) any garage space becoming a business opportunity and thus becoming a pharmacy or a kabab shop. My solution would be to have a garage block on each street, or to actually build buildings with adequate garage space to accommodate residents’ cars. 3. DIRT: Garbage everywhere. Flies everywhere. Filthy streets. A cleaning program/initiative is needed. And a little respect/consideration to Egypt is needed from every Egyptian who tosses their pepsi cans on the street.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

1.IT IS A GREAT CITY. Historic. Majestic. Grandiose. Full of culture. Full of human warmth. Despite all it’s flaws, it’s a treasure trove that deserves much better from its’ citizens. 2. IT’S HOME. I’ve been to lots of places. There’s no place like home. My favorite places in the city basically depend on how easily I can be immersed in culture. I love wist el balad, the Nile corniche, the Korba, the Hossein and parts of Zamalek because they’re so overwhelming culturally, visibly, and aesthetically, yet they are so badly maintained.

It’s clear from my previous responses that I’m a proud Cairene and Heliopolitan. I read much on the modern history of Cairo (particularly art & architecture) so yes I do consider it a duty to appreciate the culture you are part of. Some countries don’t even have this, and it should be treasured. I am a proud citizen, but I’m also sad and heartbroken for the current state of things.

I think residents should be involved in decisions. I sadly don’t know how the city is governed or managed, and to be honest, I even doubt if it is being managed at all.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: They are far too little. Azhar park is the only one kept at a decent standard. The green space I live near is the Merryland, which is dilapidated, filthy, full of roaming stray dogs.

Gated communities: Far away from town, isolated aesthetically more pleasing, but built with absolutely no planning or transport links to the city. It will end up as congested as downtown Cairo in a couple of decades due to parking problems.

Museums: Stagnant, and are as ancient in their presentation as the artifacts they display. No imagination whatsoever in attracting public interest, and sadly Egyptian interest. Most visitors to for instance the Cairo Museum are awe-struck foreigners.

Informal areas: Sad. For the people living there and for the opportunities, especially agricultural that the earth can provide. An initiative is seriously needed to a) move these people to more humane housing, b) reduce the eyesore and c) maybe find a better land use.

Downtown: A beautiful gem covered by much dirt. This part of town should reclaim it’s title as the Centre of Town, the Khedival architecture should be restored, the area should be preferably pedestrianized.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I wouldn’t move, unless circumstances dictated otherwise. If I had to, I would move somewhere with the same air/ambiance as Heliopolis.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Maadi Degla

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
I live in Maadi Degla and will be moving to Dokki soon. This area is a tasteless cut-and-paste of the West.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
The positive aspects: lots of trees and quietness (although not in the street where I live, 216 road). Negative aspects: 1) I miss a real neighborhood life and cultural activities. Lots of fast food, American style coffee shops and restaurants, but no cultural or social activities that will create a sense of neighborhood. 2) Transportation is a real problem (I do not drive), given that I go often to wast-el-balad to enjoy the cultural life.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I move around in metro and taxi. There is a need: 1) to connect peripheral areas, which have very limited transport opportunities (microbuses and buses). The subway service needs to be expanded to distant areas such as the Fifth Settlement (where I go quite often), but I do not see how such public work could be funded. How is it possible to create settlements so far away without proper modes of transport? 2) to renew the buses and better organize the services with well planned connections.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Maadi is an accessible area, but it is not so well connected to the city center (for European standards). They wrongly believe that if you live in an area, you make all your life there (work, leisure…) so you do not need to move around.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Extreme social inequalities, with extremely wealthy and poor/working class neighborhoods side by side, with unequal services - Lack of quality public services and infrastructure (transport, health, garbage collection….) - Traffic, traffic, traffic - Lack of availability of apartments for rent at reasonable prices (although rents are going down in some areas) 1) The real problem: Cairo’s governance. If I have understood well, there are no elected local councils (at the level of both the whole city and districts), so there is no commitment to solve the city problems. Lack of transparency, commitment, responsiveness…One of the solutions: local elections, elected local councils, together with neighborhood committees with an advisory role or some kind of participatory democracy. Cairo inhabitants – excepted wealthy areas – are neglected, ignored; their voices are not heard in the city planning, management, administration…. Still, they know well what the problems are and should be involved in the solutions. 2) There is a need to have a better wealth distribution, through local taxes for companies and individuals (depending on their income) to create better infrastructure and a safety net for the most disadvantaged.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Cairo people is what I like the most. My favorite places in the city: - the old Islamic Cairo (which needs to be better valued, with more renovation projects that involve local inhabitants) and their popular neighborhoods - downtown architecture when Cairo wanted to be Paris, but unfortunately these beautiful buildings have been neglected for decades - the rive Nile

I relate to the historic heritage of Cairo. I fell in love with Cairo many years ago. After Mubarak’s fall, I chose to move to Cairo. I am very much interested in the history of the city, the architecture of the Mameluk period, and later on, the colonial period… I am collecting old postcards of Cairo (1900-1918). When I look at Cairo, I do not see it only as it is now, I imagine also how it was. I would not say that I am proud of living in Cairo, but I am happy to have moved here (with all the good things and inconveniences) in the ongoing transition period.

The solution of Cairo’s problems lies in local governance. I was expecting after the parliamentary and presidential elections, local elections too… Again, it is not enough to have elected local councils: inhabitants need to be involved at the level of districts.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Public Space: disrespect towards local inhabitants (these have no sense of “city/district/public space ownership”. There is no respect for local inhabitants… so these do not respect the public space.

Green Space/Parks: so few… so important to be proud of your city, to feel at ease, to build a sense of “community”. Al-Azhar park is a paradise. Wouldn’t it be possible to create small parks, as community projects, with the participation of local inhabitants?

Gated communities: urban apartheid

Museums: there is no policy to use museums for pedagogical purposes (for youth and adults), for adult education. The cultural patrimony in a broad sense should not be for tourists only.

Informal areas: I do not know

Downtown: a neglected gem

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I am moving to Dokki very soon, where I used to live before. It is close to downtown without the disadvantages of the city center. I can walk to the Nile and downtown, which gives me a sense of freedom. I enjoyed walking there: many trees (it is relaxing), the area is well kept, many architecture treasures from colonial times (beautiful villas). The most important: there is in Dokki a neighborhood life.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Mukattam

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Mokattam. It’s a great area though neglected by the government.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive: Clean air (much less pollution than the rest of Cairo). Semi quite (though I live on the main street and it’s noisy but like Mosadaq street for example). Got all services (Water, electricity and natural gas). Shops are not expensive as Zamalek (though it’s a little more expensive than the rest of Cairo).

Negative: Not enough transport. The main mode of method is microbus which means you’re under the mercy of the microbus drivers mafia. For example, during the demonstrations at the MB head quarters, the drivers increased the fare from 1.5 pounds to 2 pounds and didn’t enter Nafora sq (which is a major bus stop). Not enough buses. There is greenery but not enough. Too much sandy spaces without gardens. Poor pedestrian pavements. Low quality asphalt and bumpy roads.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
-Underground metro - Tram (if available and pops up at the station on time). - Public Buses (CTA normal and air-conditioned) - Mini Buses if available. - Microbuses - Taxis I would like to see more bus lanes (and the one at Salah Salem and Autostrade revived) and to have the tram network revived by upgrading the tracks and trains (example of good trams, Berlin and Bonn Trams). I would also love to see cycling lanes and proper pavements for pedestrians. In addition we should have more safe passage and pedestrians crossing areas (such as pedestrians traffic lights on major roads, tunnels and bridges that have escalators/elevators to accommodate for all people’s varying needs).

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
It’s central, though kind of isolated but connect through microbuses and mini bus lanes. Mokattam is well connected by road though, having exits on Salah Salem, autostrade, Ring road, Carrefour and ElShaheed corridor.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Pollution (Air and Noise (car honks and sellers yelling to sell their products)) solution: plant more trees, gardens and reallocate unnecessary buildings out of Cairo (storage warehouse, factories, huge companies that have a lot of vehicles and no parking space). Traffic: Solution (Short term: Educated and re train all Egyptian drivers, cause most of the traffic is actually due to driver attitude. Paint lanes on the streets correctly with correct traffic signs. Make sure current buses are functioning at full performance. revive bus lanes. make shuttle buses between neighborhoods and the nearest metro stations. LONG TERM: expand and revive tram network. remove all factories from Greater Cairo and send them near to sea ports or to Upper Egypt. Re allocate Government buildings and it’s employee to new areas and provide incentives for professionals to leave Cairo (build more schools/hospitals. provide better salaries/lifestyle for out of Cairo jobs and residents). Have a PROPER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RAIL NETWORK!. Waste Management: Solution: Encourage separation of waste at the source (split glass, plastic, metal, food etc). re allocate zabalen factories to the vast desert on Ring road facing New Cairo (behind elWafa we elamel landfill area). Provide zabaleen proper homes in new Cairo and proper tools/cars for garbage collection

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Cairo Metro, the cultural scene, Zamalek and Downtown.

Favorite places: Townhouse Gallery, Tak3eiba (cafe), Bikya Cafe in Nasr City.

I would love to but don’t have enough info or access to it. Thankfully Cairobservers is trying to do that (right?)

Yes, I studied political science and local political systems at college.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Love and Nature

Gated communities: Isolation

Museums: Love and art

Informal areas: Poor areas that need to be fixed/reallocated

Downtown: Love <3 an area that needs to regenerated :)

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Zamalek or downtown. Yes, I would love to add that Cairo is not sustainable any more!

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Dokki

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Dokki, like the rest of the country, covers a spectrum of contradictions, whether in regards to its architecture, its residences, or the governmental services or sidewalks.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive: Quite central, but far away from problem zones. Close to Metro and main Microbus lines. Negative: Where I live is quite a walk away from any cafes or restaurants, so hopping out for a nice dinner or meeting someone for a quick bite is not always easy. There are no green spaces.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Metro and on foot. I have not used microbuses in a few years, since harassment started really getting to me, (not just sexual, but the “hello welcome to Cairo” type as well). When traffic is not *too* bad, I sometimes take a Taxi. I only drive when leaving the City. I would love to see a Metro station in more central areas of Mohandesin, Zamalek and Heliopolis; it would make getting around much easier. A less hostile atmosphere in microbuses would also be very welcome.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
It is well connected and accessible from most areas of the City. El Gam’a bridge is a practical alternative artery to use when Tahrir or 6th October are closed.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Complaints: 1) Traffic, ensuing pollution & stress. 2) Limited walking possibilities (decaying sidewalks, trash, men). 3) The centralization of everything, causing mass influx of non-Cairenes into the already choking city. Solutions? Decentralisation of as many institutions as possible, and providing the necessary facilities in other governorates and cities to keep people away from being lured to move into the Capital. Fighting against the culture that believes living in Cairo is all that prestigious. Is there really a solution to traffic? Better public transport, perhaps? But then you will have to provide safe transport for women (although I hate segregation), and fight the imaginary prestige that comes with owning a car. Is Cairo’s infrastructure able to accommodate transportation that will in turn accommodate all the commuters? Further, I find someone living in Heliopolis and commuting daily to 6th of October for work just absurd.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

It is difficult to vocalize what I love about Cairo. It is home, it is who I am. My favourite places: 1) The walk on Qasr El Nil bridge is heaven for me. 2) I love the whimsical architectural gems here and there, so the walk on 15th of May bridge through Zamalek and then into Boulak fills me with happiness. And then I get angry about the state of things. 3) The side alleys. Any side alley. The balconies & the people sitting there, the kids on their bikes, the shop keepers having discussions with the people on the balconies, the breeze of cool wind in summer.

How does anyone relate to historic heritage? Yes, I have a good sense of the city and it is my pride.

Certainly, community involvement in local government would be great. However, it will filter down to one driven person doing all the work, and all the other neighbors not caring unless there is an issue affecting them directly.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: dawsha, 3eyal bitigry, zibala. (noisy, kids running around, trash).

Gated communities: Waste of space and money. We need more affordable housing, less manzara 3ala omina.

Museums: There are tons of museums with amazing collections (not just antiquities). They need to be revived and have a presence in their direct communities, and be accessible to visitors from all over.

Informal areas: People have to live, and they will do whatever needs to be done for them to have a roof over their heads.

Downtown: Remains of an era long gone, an era we should be not feel nostalgic about, because we never lived it, and our parents and grandparents only recall the good things about it.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Nowhere

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Madinet Nasr

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
I live in Nasr-City since 1990. A district of perpendicular grid of streets that has transformed in the past 20 years from a deserted district to a high dense district.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
The most positive aspect of living here is the availability of most services including medical, education, retail.

The most negative aspects are: traffic during day & night, lack of parking spaces, lack of sidewalks, the lack of a subway station, presence of parks that are not efficiently used by inhabitants probably due to the fact that they are fenced and requires entry fees.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I move around using a car or a taxi. I would like to have the tram back (the tram lines are still in place in Mustafa el-Nahas st.), and also would like to have a subway station.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
It is accessible and well connected through various axes such as the autostrad, the Ring Road, the NA road, Cairo-Suez road, 6th of October bridge.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1- Lack of humanly public transport .. Solving this issue requires governmental policies & budgeting providing more and more buses.

2- Terrible traffic all day long .. i suggest introducing back the Intersections instead of u-turns with traffic automated 60 seconds Signs instead of traffic officers, providing more parking areas & the most important in my opinion: introducing the one-way concept to all side narrow streets as in Heliopolis.

3- The lack of convenient sidewalks which makes walking in the street an uncomfortable experience.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

1- The diversity of Cairo; within few kilos you can find almost all different types of lifestyle. 2- The potentials of Cairo; river front, historical heritage, fertile and a desert all in one city. Favorite Places: Azhar park - Nile front & Nile cruise restaurants & lately “Qursaya” island.

I do relate to the historic heritage of Cairo.. I wouldn’t say i am proud to live in Cairo.. I just love to live here..

Not until the previous parliament elections. Some inhabitants of Nasr-City have started events and initiatives that might be primitive but still a good start .. Also these initiatives have introduced the Child’s Park in Makram Ebeid as a public space for inhabitants .. The involvement of residents in the decision making process would be better for they know well their own complaints and demands ..

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Azhar Park, Qursaya Island.

Gated communities: Ruthless who would pay millions to get isolated from lower classes.

Museums: School trips.

Informal areas: Beautiful, full of potentials.

Downtown: Tourists, affordable hotels.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Probably to Zamalek or Maadi. A Nile front apartment would be lovely.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: El Obour

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Madinet El Obour: Undeveloped, marginalized desert community, mostly non-gated areas. Has potential, but as every other Egyptian undertaking, is not thought out or planned to thrive.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Negative: Basically in the middle of nowhere which causes transportation and safety repercussions, increased crime rate, unpaved/undeveloped, architecturally disturbing, to say the least..also a number of plumbing issues that have at some point flooded entire districts which just further bolsters the idea that most desert cities (and most cities/establishments in Egypt, really) are cheaply constructed/finished. Positive: Variation in housing classes; something I rather admire since all these desert cities were originally meant to house workers as a priority and most other desert cities have, along the miserable way preferred to house upper middle class and upper class citizens, greedily ignoring the painfully obvious housing crisis at hand. There’s also a certain degree of public gardens with benches strewn about which spread throughout all districts with their class variations. (even though gardens are not exactly the wisest undertaking at this point specifically in a place like El Obour..it would have been much more appropriate/economic to have tried to create a public space more fit to the surrounding climate..but let’s not get picky)

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Private cars mainly..being a female doesn’t exactly encourage walking/cycling. I now think VERY well before stepping out of the house and risking the traffic; some errands are just not worth it. Of course I’d like to very idealistically say, bikes would be great alternatives but let’s face it we don’t have enough streets to start thinking about bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. The one improvement I’d truly like to see would be a certain inner transportation within desert cities (which of course entails having somewhere to go to in a desert city and currently the services around could only be described as pathetic so let’s work on that first)

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Isolated would be the appropriate term. Our beloved dictator-infested past with its genius centralization tactics have already doomed our present/future situation of ever expanding while maintaining a connection between all districts..so, unless each new city or district is provided with its own services and legal offices then I don’t think this is going anywhere. I would like to see El Obour more connected to, I don’t know, lands of living creatures but I’m not exactly holding my breath.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Transportation (and inadvertently traffic) Architectural identity The imbalance between supply and demand of public spaces. Transportation and traffic: more streets (that are actually executed correctly with estimated drainage levels for once in our lives not a rip off), a variation in street widths to maintain fluidity of traffic, different methods of transportation so it’s not all private car dependence (10 cars 10 people, 1 bus 10 people phenomenon), clearly borderline pavements for walking and preferably some dignified traffic lights or bridges for people to cross streets and, I don’t know, not die on their way to their miserable underpaid future-less jobs. Architectural identity: Buildings that somehow reflect our modern day needs and culture (not Pharaonic pylons and lotus columns; I think we all agree the pharaohs are dead) more along the line of vernacular climate appropriate architecture..defined/studied spaces for particular uses, housing units that are repetitive yet functional and not over adorned with unneeded architectural eclecticism; Roman orders and other irrelevant additions.) Supply and demand of public spaces: Aside from the fact that all “free” public spaces in Egypt are either non existent or ironically fenced; we have no where to go..the government has tried to prevent congregation so adeptly that all the places left are expensive/ mono-functional..restaurants, hotels, and like what? 6 malls? not to mention the randomly located private clubs.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

I like the informality that makes Cairo; the places and spaces that people create; whether temporary occasion-based tables on the streets or kiosks or very personal statement bumper stickers on buses. I also like how it can never fall prey to the urban anonymity that other cities might be subjected to; you can always orient yourself.. Favorite places would be Islamic Cairo..the old city itself..more along the line of Bab Zwaylah (Darb al Ahmar) and the mosques there rather than the very manicured Al Moezz Street.. Diwan bookstore, ironically. My house (regardless of the surround).

Yes and yes (I am very much enthralled by the historic progress of the city from a single nucleus to what it is now..it is part of my studies after all) Civic pride..tough one..I am proud of the original sentiment of Cairo but that romantic pride does not hold much with the obvious deterioration and the constant reminder of how the city has failed on so many levels..I like Cairo but I do not like what it has become or how I’m participating to this current state of decay.

No, actually not in the least. Of course participatory management would be way more efficient specifically since inhabitants of an area know best..nevertheless, it’s a long and difficult process which I do not see happening in the near future.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Non-existent. Would help in mental orientation if correctly placed/used and planned.

Gated communities: Flawed..non-durable.

Museums: Not integrated well in any given urban fabric..neglected.

Informal areas: very promising, should be learnt from and improved/maintained. Ironically, the only culture/climate/area-relevant architecture and urban planning examples in Cairo.

Downtown: Congested, legal center, interesting point in historical architectural and urban planning.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
At this point, I am entirely certain that, most, if not all, districts in Cairo are in some way flawed and it’s a governmental/ political regime dilemma so I doubt moving anywhere in Cairo would differ in anything. I’d like to add that, we could be a corrupt country all we want but that doesn’t mean we can’t have adequate streets, housing and spaces..Urban planning affects productivity, crime rate and so much more..we could have it so much better with just the same costs.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Mohandeseen

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
By Gameat el-dowal Square in the heart of Mohandeseen.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive: It is within central Cairo with easy access to Zamalek and Downtown. Gameat el-dowal street also has a number of high rises, which simply adds a cool element to living here. Negatives: Traffic is terribly bad throughout the day even in trying to reach close areas. Mohandeseen is bordered by dense poorer areas such ard el Lowa and Sudan street. This is not a bad thing by itself, but it highlights the extreme disparates of wealth within Cairo. Gameat el-dowal by Sudan street is a different area, community and space than Gameat el-dowal by the Mustafa Mahmoud square some 500m away.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I use a personal car whenever I can’t use the metro or the bicycle. The bicycle is now my primary mode of transport within Mohandeseen, and to Dokki, Zamalek and Downtown. The ability to use it at any time of the day regardless of traffic levels is liberating; I would love to see this interdependence of the car and the congested road in the future. Unfortunately, going to Cairo’s Desert Satellites (6th of October or Fifth Settlement) or Heliopolis, Nasr city etc. remains limited to using a car or minibuses, both subject to unavoidable congestion.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Mohandeseen is central, well connected by roads and accessible. However, usable public transportation is lacking and rush hour traffic makes Mohandeseen an isolated traffic trap for most of the day.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1. Pollution: You really notice when using a bicycle for longer trips at rush hour in your throat. 2. Poverty of the people: Every time you have to pay a monadi to park in the street is a testament to his need to do so to earn a living; and to the extreme disparities of wealth we live in. 3. Lack of public spaces: Perhaps the only public space within Mohandeseen is the green strip In the middle of the Gameat el-Dowal road. Worse, most of the beach fronts on the Nile all over Cairo are private property inaccessible to the public.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Cairo has too many beautiful gems hidden waiting to be found and appreciated. The downtown area is full of a history that is ours and that is worth learning about. Even modern day monstrosities such as the Mugamma3 building or the 6th of October bridge exhibit a sense of distopian cool. Too bad they are hell to deal with.

Yes, almost yes and yes. Problems are, you learn about Cairo’s history more by accident than by anything else, and you have no say in its running. I might be proud of living in the city, but I am sadly no civic participant in its public life as there is no political avenue to really do so.

No, I only that it is an organizational mess of 4 governarates with no single mayor. The city of Cairo needs an elected major with the same pomp of a president to have something to look up to, and actual say in the more down to earth local government. Especially the poorer areas.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Mafeesh, substituted by the coffee houses and impromptu late night coffee saloons on the Nile bridges. Green space: Mafeesh, but for little decorative strips, some of them even gated behind fences.

Gated communities: Disaster.

Museums: Shows just how much we actually love to disrespect our own history. No wonder we disrespect our own city as well and feel no sense pf ownership.

Informal areas: Euphemism for failure of the state and continued admittance of failure to face the future.

Downtown: Mozza.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I’d probably move to Zamalek or Heliopolis. More importantly, I would like to be within biking distance to work and not dependent on cars in daily life.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Cairo-Alex desert road

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
In a small gated community at the beginning of Cairo-Alexandria desert road.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive: it’s a quiet area, unlike most of Cairo’s neighborhoods - the area is booming so we have a lot of new places and activities to do there, so I don’t always have to leave the area.

Negative: I love cycling and taking long walks, which is not very easy to do there, so I have to go Downtown to do that - we don’t have any grocery stores in a walking distance, so I always have to take my car when I need to buy something - The ring road is crowded most of the time, so I always get stuck when I am trying to go anywhere outside the area.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I use my car most of the time, but I recently started using a bike every now and then. - I would love to see more people using bikes. When you are on a bike, you start seeing the city in a different way. You started noticing things and places that you might not notice when you are locked inside your car. But, as a female, I would just have to live with the sexual harassment and ignore it when I am on my bike, if I really want to enjoy cycling.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
It seems more like ‘an accessible’ neighborhood, but I see it rather a connected one: - it’s relatively close to three ring roads (mehwar, the other rind road from Lebanon Sq. and Maadi/Giza ring road) - close to Faisal and Haram and Giza pyramids -13kms to downtown Cairo - 10 minutes away from the Cairo/Alexandria toll station -almost 60kms away from Fayoum.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Absence of proper sidewalks, sexual harassment, the absence of the cycling culture (a lot of people think riding a bike gives an image that you don’t have money or if you are a female, then it’s like you are looking to get sexually harassed).

Solutions: - the government should have proper sidewalks to allow people to use them instead of walking in the middle of cars. And, have proper traffic lights as well. - as for sexual harassment, I don’t see a solution to it in the near future.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Architecture in some areas, the weather (apart from the pollution), the feeling of the ancient city.

Favorite places: Downtown Cairo (especially Cafe Riche), Azhar, Ghouri, Al Moez Street area, Maadi.

Yes, I relate to the historic heritage in Cairo in general and I think I have a good sense of the city’s history.

My community is not really representative of the city because it’s a small community of less than 50 houses, but I think it would be better if we had better residents involved in the local government.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: I don’t feel it exists in Cairo, we need to have a lot more green space/parks.

Gated communities: Booming (most of the newly weds I know move to gated communities).

Museums: They are there, but many Egyptians are not aware they exist or just never interested to visit them.

Downtown: People in my circle either started going there after the protests or most of them haven’t been there since they were kids. For them, it’s just an area they pass by on their way to another place. I know few people like me who enjoy going there.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Downtown, maybe somewhere around Talaat Harb square.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: 6th of October

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
I live 10mins away from Mall of Arabia in 6th of October City.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positives: It’s a relatively new area so there’s a lot of potential to make it into one of the nicer districts in Cairo and it’s much cleaner than other ares in the city too. Negatives: It’s very isolated so you feel slightly disconnected from what’s going on in the rest of Cairo.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
I don’t drive myself but I usually car-share. Other than that, I mostly use taxis or buses. I would like to see the tram system in Egypt being revived and more funding should be put into the Metro system. I also hope to see designated bus stops which I think would solve a lot of problems because many traffic jams happen as a result of buses stopping randomly and suddenly in the streets.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
My district is quite isolated from the rest of Cairo but personally, I like it that way because it’s much quieter and more peaceful than the rest of Cairo. Perhaps a Metro line extension to the area would be useful but I don’t use the Metro much anyway.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1) Rubbish/Pollution: recycling campaigns, investment into alternative modes of transport to reduce the amount of cars on the street 2) Sexual Harassment: harsher laws need to be implemented and public awareness campaigns need to be introduced to tackle this issue 3) Street children: this really depresses me, these children need to have access to education in order for them not to be exploited.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

The weather is lovely compared to other cities I’ve lived in around the world. The history of the city is also fascinating. I love hanging out in Downtown Cairo and more historical areas such as Khan el Khalili and El Husayn.

I wouldn’t say I have the best sense of history of the city but I certainly do try and learn more about it. 6th of October doesn’t really have much history, it’s a new district after all but Cairo’s history in general is just amazing! I wouldn’t say I am “proud” to live in Cairo to be honest, because I always get treated like I am a foreigner although I am Egyptian and I do speak the language. I moved here a few years ago yet I don’t feel like I am ever going to fit in. Also, the amount of traffic/rubbish/ugliness of some parts of Cairo don’t really make you “proud” to live there unfortunately.

I have no idea how my district/city is governed. There are many suggestions/complaints that I want to get across to my local government but I don’t know how to voice them so I think it would be a great idea for residents from the community to get more involved in local government. I used to live in London and such initiatives were already well-established and it was much easier to organize the area and deal with problems within it as a result. It also promoted a sense of cohesiveness and community spirit and made residents more proud of their area and keen to improve it. The involvement of residents is imperative to the future of Cairo if we have any hope of it improving. It would also take the strain off central government which has enough to deal with already.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: They’re really hard to get to and not very accessible but more of them is definitely needed. The ones that do exist like Azhar Park are also not very well maintained! Green Space/Parks: Green spaces? What Green Spaces? These have sadly become pretty much extinct in Cairo. The local authorities in 6th of October have been planting a lot of trees recently but their future is not really secured if that makes sense i.e. they’re very likely to end up getting cut-down as is the case with trees in Heliopolis. No one really cares about the environment to be honest, it’s not a top priority but the more trees we have, the less pollution and the nicer the city will look so this issue needs to be more highlighted.

Gated communities: Sad really, if you want to live in a nice, well-maintained and organized area then this is pretty much the only option. Everyone in Cairo should be given the privilege of living a nice peaceful life, not just those who can afford it!

Museums: Derelict and abandoned. Seriously depressing! There’s so many museums that have been “under-construction” for years now and many hidden gems that the people of Cairo don’t know about. The city has so much history yet no one cares for it.

“Informal Areas”: Another heartbreaking aspect of Cairo that people like to ignore. Living in 6th of October, you feel really sheltered from these areas and the horrific circumstances that people there live in. Neglected and in dire need of attention.

Downtown: Beautiful architecture/planning but no maintenance. Also, chaos and traffic but well-connected.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I love my area, it’s very peaceful and I am satisfied with the way that it is being run. A lot of people are moving to 6th of October now and there are worrying signs that I am starting to see of the the area becoming more like other areas of Cairo which are less-organized and chaotic . There’s a lot of rubbish on the streets compared to before and more traffic in the area around El-Hosary mosque. If things don’t change soon then 6th of October will just become another busy and polluted part of Cairo.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Zamalek

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Zamalek. A small island in the Nile with a mix of beautiful old buildings and ugly block apartment buildings that feels a bit more socially liberal than the rest of Cairo.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positives: A bit more socially tolerant than other parts of Cairo; easy to walk everywhere; lots of interesting cafes, restaurants and bars; some beautiful architecture; close to Downtown. Negatives: Dirty (like the rest of the city); increasingly expensive and limiting to all those except the elite; cars line the streets and A/C vents drip onto the sidewalks.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Metro, if I am going down to Maadi. Taxis everywhere else. Would love to see a more integrated public transportation network, with bus stops clearly marked, so that I could use two or more means of public transport to get somewhere if I need to.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Everyone says that Zamalek is a bubble, which is because everything here caters to people with money. But Zamalek is a few minutes from Downtown, from Giza, and from Mohandeseen. It also has a metro stop by the Opera House, so its pretty accessible, and there are many people who don’t live here that come into the island to work everyday. I would actually love to see Zamalek have its own local government, that could deal with issues like zoning laws and waste management.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1) Garbage/Dirt 2) Doesn’t seem to be much value for aesthetic beauty and architectural heritage 3) Foreigners almost never properly integrate into their communities, except maybe in Maadi, and are always viewed/treated as foreigners (walking money) I would decentralize government, so that residents of Maadi, Zamalek, Downtown etc. could make their own decisions on how their areas should be managed.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

1) The different ‘underground’ scenes (music, art) that have been around for a while and are starting to become more prominent 2) The weather 3) Architecture and heritage. My favorite places are Downtown and Zamalek.

I find it fascinating, and I make an attempt to learn more about the areas I enjoy the most. I have no ‘civic pride’ because I feel and am treated like a foreigner, despite living here for years and speaking the language. I’m happy to live in Cairo but I’m not proud of how dirty and mismanaged it is, and how ugly it is becoming.

I don’t have a great understanding of how Cairo is governed, except that it is clear the government has failed miserably. It could only be a good thing if residents from the community governed their own districts.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Zamalek has a few, but they are dirty and mismanaged, and many times not open to the public. Cairo in general needs far more.

Gated communities: Reminds me of living in Saudi Arabia. Sad development but completely understandable as a reaction to how difficult it has become to live in Cairo. If you want to live in a neighborhood that is managed well, clean and where you won’t be harassed for being a woman or a foreigner (things many people value), those communities are your only options really.

Museums: So many interesting ones, but so many that are in poor condition.

“Informal Areas”: An eyesore. In the absence of low-income housing for all the people who basically make this city run everyday, kind of unavoidable.

Downtown: So much potential to be even funner and more vibrant than it currently is. Reviving Downtown could save Cairo from becoming a Gulf-style city of gated communities.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I would love to live in Downtown, and if I moved it would be there, although its far more chaotic than it should be. It would be great to hear the perspectives of residents living outside of the areas of Zamalek, Maadi, Heliopolis and Downtown.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Abdeen

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Abdeen, downtown.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positives: Busy streets, lively, near friends, affordable. Negative: The harassment, the traffic, the pollution, far from work.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Cabs, I wish I felt safer in Microbuses and I wish there was a form of transportation that would take me more directly from my home to my work in Medinat Nasr, but besides a cab, any other transport is a compromise of 3 methods of transport.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
My district is well-connected, accessible except for during long periods of rush hour. I wouldn’t change anything here.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

1. pollution 2. traffic 3. harassment. I think EVERYONE should have a bicycle. I think cars should not be allowed in the downtown core, and I think cars with less than 3 people in them shouldn’t be allowed on the road.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Like most: 1. The romance 2. the Nile 3. The culture. Favorite places: 1. downtown Cairo in a cafe 2. all of the beautiful buildings.

I’m proud to live in Cairo, but not proud that things are so badly preserved.

I have no idea how the city is governed, but i think if people felt more accountable of their area, it would be a positive thing.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Public Space: Difficult for women to be in, without men, and without harassment.

Green Space/Parks: Not enough and not cheaply accessible in most areas of the city.

Gated communities: Unhealthy.

Museums: Need serious rethink in terms of curation and audience.

“Informal Areas”: Not adequately provided for.

Downtown: Too much traffic. needs more bicycles.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Maybe Maadi but it feels too far from downtown. Maybe Heliopolis again but I don’t have friends nearby.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Madinet Nasr

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Nasr City (Madinet Nasr). A densely-populated neighborhood with many mixed-use high-rises (residential/commercial)

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
The most positive things about it is walkability, 24 hour accessibility to virtually all amenities, a relative sense of security, and a potential for the use of the small parks that are scattered around the district. Negative aspects include extreme overcrowding, lack of parking spots, not being connected to decent transportation (subway), and ugly architecture.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
My mode of transport is almost always my car. Decent public transport is extremely necessary for Cairo, I can’t even imagine how people will be able to use their cars in 10 years if everything stays the same in Cairo. Extending the subway system to give more accessibility to all parts of the city, even if at higher prices, would encourage people to use them. Introducing a park-and-ride system would encourage Cairenes to use public transit. Increasing the cost of parking would also discourage people from buying more cars

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
The neighborhood is on the eastern end of the city. However, it is very well connected to the rest of the city and feels like an integrated part of it. Informal public transit and buses exist to connect them, but I would like to see a more structured and decent public transportation linking us to the rest of Cairo.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Overcrowding, Pollution, Noise and Dirtiness. Also, the fact that we, as residents, do not have a say in how the city is governed. Decent public transit as mentioned earlier would help solve some of those, but also measures need to be taken to reduce pollution and noise. Cleanliness of the city and its streets definitely needs to be taken more seriously. The most important thing is to completely change the way the city is governed, Allow for electing a mayor, and drastically increase community involvement in the city’s plans

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

I love its almost 24-hour liveliness, its diversity, and the heritage and history of many of its areas. My favorite places are Zamalek, Maadi, and Heliopolis

Nasr City doesn’t really have a long history. However, if we consider it an extension of Heliopolis, as many do, then I definitely relate a lot to the history of that district especially given that my family actually moved from there. I have a very good sense of the history of the city mainly through my readings. I would definitely say I am proud to live in Cairo since it has an extensive heritage that is probably unrivaled in any other city in the world.

Not at all, and I think the district would be so much better if the community is involved in the local government. Electing a mayor is extremely necessary.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Public Space: Tahrir Square

Green Space/Parks: Azhar Park, and the other small parks in Nasr City

Gated communities: The American-style suburbia which Americans are starting to shift away from due to its sustainability.

Museums: Need to be much more presentable

“Informal Areas”: Don’t know what that is

Downtown: Beautiful heritage that is run down, needs urgent revitalization

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
Maadi. This is a great initiative and I hope that it can reach higher levels of the city’s government since we really need to start involving our communities in shaping the city.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Dokki

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Near Midan Vini in Dokki.

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Very walkable neighbourhood. Vegetable/fruit market, supermarket, coffee shops, internet cafes, gym, pool, Metro access etc. within 5 minute walk. Area lacks restaurants and is very close to high-traffic roads (Oct bridge, Tahrir St and Midan Galaa2).

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Walking often, Metro when convenient (never during summer), taxi for everything else.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Neighbourhood is central and well-connected. However, clean and easy-to-use public transportation would make getting around central Cairo better. Traffic returning to Dokki can often be atrocious.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Lack of easy-to-use, ubiquitous public transportation. Poor roads and pedestrian areas. Lack of usable green space within walking distance (general poor state of public areas: squares).

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

The ‘neighbourhood feel’ or recognizing those that live around you, different socio-economic classes living in the same area, walk-ability of (this) neighborhood. Midan Vini, Zamalek (restaurants, walking outside), downtown.

Somewhat. I am not aware of the heritage or history of Dokki, however I think I have a basic understanding of Cairo’s history. I enjoy living in Cairo, but as a foreigner, I don’t think it’s my place to be ‘proud’ of the city.

I don’t know very much about how the city is governed, beyond the basics. I would love to see more responsibility/ability to affect change at the local level.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Green Space/Parks: Limited, some nice areas but not easily accessible (I don’t want to try to get to Azhar Park every time I want to eat a sandwich outside under a tree).

Gated communities: Terrible but almost inevitable.

Museums: Full of great stuff, to excess; not well-maintained; not well advertised and not informative when inside (exception I have seen Islamic Art Museum).

“Informal Areas”: Ignored and abused by central government, lacking basic services and facilities, overcrowded and dangerous.

Downtown: Too much traffic, not enough development, history and heritage slowly fading away.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I have lived in Zamalek before and would consider living in Maadi again (depending on where I was working, other circumstances), living downtown would be interesting in some areas, however the traffic and lack of access to supermarket would be frustrating; would never consider living in 6 Oct or New Cairo satellite cities.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Resident Perspective: Downtown

Resident Perspective is a series of standardized interviews with Cairo residents to get their views on the city and their neighborhoods.

Where in Cairo do you live?
Downtown

List the most positive and the most negative aspects of living there.
Positive: Politics on the street, the architecture, bars and qahwas are all nearby. Negative: Noise, hard to eat anything other than Kazaz or Greek Club, lack of trees/green.

How do you move around Cairo (modes of transport) and what would you like to see different regarding the future of transport in the city?
Mostly by foot or in taxis. I’d like to see the tram re-appear. I’d like a metro stop that goes to Zamalek. More buses. But before any of that the traffic system has to be changed. The u-turns in the middle of the street, the one-way systems and flyovers that don’t let you get off where you need are all easy places to start.

How does your district fit within Cairo? What would you like to see changed in that relationship between your neighborhood and the city?
Totally central. I’d like less people to drive in to Downtown. I’d like more people to feel like they live in Downtown and actually care about it. I’d like to see more families/children and less office workers.

What are your top complaints about Cairo and what would you suggest to solve those problems?

Traffic (see above), sexual harassment (though I am a man and do not experience it personally), dirty/broken streets. This, of course, doesn’t include gross injustice, corruption, the displacement of people etc.

What do you like the most about Cairo and what are your favorite places in the city.

Politics, social life, the Nile, the Embaba bridge, Takeybah (coffee shop), Sultan Hassan.

I don’t know about ‘relate to’. I have a decent sense of the history but am always trying to improve / read. ‘Proud’ is also a difficult word for me. I love Cairo and Egypt, but still get that already-tired feeling of having a lot of talking to do if a foreign guest wants to come. Know what I mean?

I don’t have a clear idea of the governance structure of the city. Absolutely.

In the context of Cairo, what comes to mind when you think of these keywords?

Public Space: Needed. Need to reclaim the land by the Nile from the Army and make it part of public life.

Green Space/Parks: Basically non-existent. And there are clear places that they could be implemented.

Gated communities: Shouldn’t have gates.

Museums: Need cleaning up, corruption needs weeding out. Don’t need new ones right now.

“Informal Areas”: Need protecting, need to work with the communities to improve the infrastructure, transport etc.

Downtown: Needs an end to the old rent.

If you could move to another district in Cairo where would you move to?
I’d love to live on the river up in Shubra. But, realistically, when I leave Downtown it will probably be to Zamalek.

*If you would like to tell us about where you live and share your views on Cairo, fill the survey by clicking here.

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Posts tagged resident perspective

Resident Perspective: Heliopolis

Resident Perspective: Heliopolis

Resident Perspective: Maadi Degla

Resident Perspective: Mukattam

Resident Perspective: Dokki

Resident Perspective: Madinet Nasr

Resident Perspective: El Obour

Resident Perspective: Mohandeseen

Resident Perspective: Cairo-Alex desert road

Resident Perspective: 6th of October

Resident Perspective: Zamalek

Resident Perspective: Abdeen

Resident Perspective: Madinet Nasr

Resident Perspective: Dokki

Resident Perspective: Downtown

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