The Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt has organised a recent seminar at Cairo
University on cycling as an alternative mode of transportation in urban
environments.
The Netherlands is known worldwide as a pioneer in integrating cycling in urban
transport and developing the necessary infrastructure, reducing car traffic and
pollution in cities, and promoting the bicycle as a low-cost mode of transportation.
During the seminar, transportation experts and stakeholders from Egypt and the
Netherlands shared their scientific knowledge and experience on integrating the
use of bicycles in urban traffic policy, and presented their initiatives on cycling in
Egypt.
Gerard Steeghs, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Egypt, delivered an opening
speech in which he pointed out that the seminar is a continuation of the efforts that
started in 2012 when the Embassy held a forum about biking as a sustainable
alternative for motorised urban transport. Along with the seminar in 2012, the
Embassy organised its first Orange Bike Day. “The first bicycle tour was meant to
demonstrate first-hand the experience and fun of biking in Cairo. For the years that
followed, we let the fun of actual biking take the lead, but now, with the fourth
edition, we want to return to the discussion on related policy issues.”
Ambassador Steeghs stressed that in Egypt the people’s interest in cycling
increases by the year. “Cycling as a sport becomes more and more popular, even
your president has been seen many times on a bike, and there are widely spread
initiatives related to biking.” He expressed his confidence that Egypt is on track for
a broader role of the bicycle in urban traffic, despite the many challenges ahead.
“In the past years, and now with this second seminar, we have made an excellent
beginning! The interest is there. Now it’s time for change.”
The Dutch ambassador contended that the question of finding a more efficient way
of transportation is the same everywhere, adding that reaching a solution for traffic
problems is never easy. “Today we focus on the bicycle, which for the Netherlands
is one of the most used means of transportation. In the Netherlands driving a bike
is safe; cyclists are well protected and bicycle lanes are found everywhere. People
are actively discouraged to use cars and get on bikes; high fuel costs, blocking cars
from entering city centers along with wide availability of rental bikes.”
Mr. Steeghs stated that in the Netherlands cars were the preferred method of
commuting instead of bicycles, up until the seventies. By that time people came to
the conclusion that the car is not always the most optimal solution. New policies
were developed to encourage the use of bicycles, which have contributed to the
Netherlands becoming the cycling nation it currently is. “In the Netherlands we
have a total amount of 18 million bicycles. In fact, 84% of the citizens who are
above 4 years old own a bike. At the latest counting we had an estimated number
of 35.000 kilometers of cycling paths. In total the Dutch cover a distance of 15
billion kilometers a year.”
Ambassador Steeghs said the usage of bicycles comes with questions and some
struggles. However, he added, since the Netherlands is one of the forerunners in
the use of bicycles and the adaptation of the necessary infrastructure, it has a lot of
experience that is shared in other parts of the world as well. “From this point of
view we hope to be of some kind of inspiration to Egypt. By organizing this
seminar we aspire to trigger the debate on what is possible in Egypt,” he
concluded.
On Friday 20 November, the Netherlands Embassy organised the fourth Orange
Bike Day with the support of Egypt’s Global Biking Initiative. The cycling tour,
which set off in Zamalek at 8.30am, saw thousands of Egyptians from all ages take
part.
Watani International
24 November 2015