Emshi Fe 7artak (#emshi_fe_7artak)
Traffic is definitely one of the biggest issues in Egypt, and its getting worse everyday (don’t ask us how).
The newly elected president, Morsi has put down solving traffic issues as one of his 5 main pillars of change that will occur in the first 100 days of rule in the country, and nothing has been done 31 days in (Dont even get us started on that topic). So what is there to do?
Well Tamer El Mahrouky has decided he will not wait for no one to take action and took it upon himself to start a social media initiative with a hashtag on twitter #emshi_fe_7artak asking people to drive in their lanes on the 6th of October Bridge in Cairo as a way of respecting other drivers in order to try and push forward the some solution to the traffic problems we face here in Egypt.
He tells the story of how he cam about this issue: –
I’m a guy who’s sick and tired of the traffic and the way people drive (especially on the 6th of October Bridge) so I decided to do something about it.
Just a quick FYI: 80% of the 6th of October Bridge is only two lanes, NOT three. And just in case that’s not entirely clear, that dotted white line on the road is supposed to be on either side of your car, NOT in the middle! Why am I saying this? Because I want everyone to stick to their lane! If they do, the traffic won’t be as terrible as it normally is if a car breaks down, the ambulances won’t get stuck…this actually saves lives!
So what did I do about it?
First: I started driving really close to the lane separators so that other cars can’t squeeze their way past me
Second: I started talking to the people who would drive in the middle and about 20% of those I talked to were convinced
Third: On Tuesday the 24th of July, 2012, after work, at around 4:30 pm I made my way to the 6th of October bridge with a large sign that said “Please, stick to your lane!” and an orange traffic cone. I stood in the middle of the bridge, holding up the sign with the orange cone in front of me on the white line separator for about 10 minutes and low and behold, for the very first time in my life, I saw cars driving down only TWO lanes in the midst of the traffic. (Of course I got my fair share of harassment from the police and all my attempts to get the apology I deserved in the Police Station were lost in vain, but that’s another story..)
I really hope that everyone participates in this campaign. How?
By doing one of three things:
1.Getting in touch with me through the fan page and hitting the streets together as a group
2.Talking to people in the street
3.Spreading the word through twitter and facebook: #emshi_fe_7artak and http://www.facebook.com/emshife7artak
4.And, most importantly, by sticking to your lane!
And the campaign continues: #emshi_fe_7artak
COPIED FROM THE CAMPAIGN FACEBOOK PAGE
WE SAID THIS: EMSHE FE 7ARTAK – DRIVE IN YOUR LANE!
