VIDEO: Rollerblading Through Cairo Traffic
We all understand the trials and tribulations of Cairo traffic too well. Sick of the za7ma, one fearless Cairean decided to take matters into his own hands — or, feet, to be more precise.
Athlete and trainer Khaled Monib weaves his way on rollerblades through the cars, toktoks, potholes, minibuses, pedestrians, motorbikes, donkey carts and everything else that moves on Cairo streets.
“I always do it whenever it’s crowded! The video was from my home in Manial to Gezira Club in Zamalek,” he explained. “It took 17 minutes. But I did longer distances before, from Zamalek to Maadi in 47 minutes and October bridge from Zamalek to Madinat Nasr in 1 hour approximately and from Zamalek to Hyper One in 1 hour 20 minutes. I’ve done it on me7war, but it was crazy.”
Even with all of the different modes of transportation one can find in the Egyptian capital, a rollerblader is a rare sight.
“People on motorcycles are the nicest, they always tell me to come and hang ‘negorak’,” Monib told us. “But in general people yell and stare.”
Thankfully, Monib hasn’t had any serious accidents — although he still needs to buy a helmet.
“Only one time, one silly driver insulted me and ran fast with his car and then I caught up to him because of traffic and I knocked on his window, so he hit me and I fell in the middle of the street, but thank God I wasn’t hit by another car,” he told us.
“I was so angry at him that I sprinted to catch him and caught up to him because of traffic again. I hit his car and broke both side mirrors and ran! I fell on my hips and couldn’t sit for five days, but thank God nothing serious,” he continued.
Monib has been rollerblading throughout Cairo for about a year now, and he hasn’t looked back since.
“It’s an amazing experience. So fast when it’s crowded and so much fun, but the streets must be smooth,” he explained. “I love rollerblading on October bridge and Corniche.”
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