Urban Transport in the OIC Megacities
117
Figure 52: Effectiveness of TDMmethods
Source: Slide 62 Prof Khaled El Araby International Symposium February 2013
Increasing revenues and reducing inefficiencies
Substantially more revenue is needed than has been supplied in the past for addressing the
transportation problems facing the GCR. With an objective to provide cost-effective and quality urban
transport services and infrastructure in a sustainable manner, funding of urban transport should be
secured on a regular basis with minimum fiscal burden on Government resources. So far as possible,
these additional revenues should come from transport users. This particularly applies to private cars
who contribute disproportionably to traffic problems in metropolitan Cairo. Options include:
 Higher Fuel Prices.
 Wider Application of On-Street Parking Charges.
 Introducing Road User Charges.
 Public transport fares - passengers are willing to pay more than prevailing low fare levels for
better quantity and quality of service.
Private sector and competition in provision of Public Transport Services.
The emergence of the private sector in providing public transport services in recent years has
indicated a feasible alternative strategy to having all public transport provided by the public sector.
The greater the role that can be given to the private sector in operation and investment in vehicles,
the better the use that can be made on public resources in investment in infrastructure.
Enforcement
Given the lack of road space relative to the number of vehicles and the difficulties of adding more,
improved enforcement of traffic laws and regulations should figure prominently in an urban
transportation strategy for Cairo. There are very apparent and important gaps in enforcement
including widespread disregard for parking restrictions, excessive mid-block pedestrian crossings,
and disregard for traffic signals except (or even when) police are present. If traffic management and
demand management strategies are accepted as priority measures to implement in metropolitan
Cairo, it follows that the active supporting role of the traffic police will be essential to ensure that these
schemes are adequately enforced. Enforcement includes:
 Traffic Safety. The paramount traffic enforcement activity should be aimed at reducing traffic
accidents, especially those that cause serious injury or death. Particularly important will be
greater emphasis in reducing pedestrian accidents which constitute a high percentage of all
injury accidents, and in reducing speeding which is a primary cause of fatal accidents. To