Maggie Mamdouh, a scooter training instructor based in Cairo, says one of the primary reasons women are now hitting the roads with motorcycles and scooters is to manage the city’s chaotic traffic.

“Motorbikes and scooters are a fast and affordable way to reach your destination because Egypt is a bit crowded,” she told CNN.

According to a report by the World Bank, traffic volumes are in the range of 3,000 to 7,000 vehicles per hour on major corridors in cities like Cairo, Giza, and Qalyub.

The report adds that as a result of poor traffic management and poor road networks, road trips in the country can take more than double the expected time.

Mamdouh told CNN that women like her are leaning toward scooters and bicycles as they can easily maneuver small spaces in traffic, reaching their destination faster compared to cars.

“With my scooter, I can reach my destination half an hour before cars if the road is crowded and if it is rush hour,” she explained.

The 26-year-old is an instructor with Dosy, a bicycle and scooter training platform. She learned to ride scooters in 2017 from a friend and is now teaching other women to do the same.

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