The project, the first of its kind in the country, aims to reduce traffic congestion and curb pollution as the country continues to transition towards a green economy.

The launch of the eco-friendly project comes less than a month before the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which Egypt hosts in the Red sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh 6-18 November.

The first phase of the project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar, Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel-Aal, and a number of foreign ambassadors and development partners, according to a statement by the Egyptian Cabinet said.

The government had launched a pilot operation for this phase in July.

An easy ride

In the first phase of the project, users can rent from 250 bicycles at 25 different stations in various parts of Downtown Cairo and neighbouring areas.

The cost of renting a bike is EGP 1 per hour and membership packages are also available.

Stations are placed at strategic points such as popular hangouts and metro and bus stations.

Various payment methods are also available.

All bikes are fitted with a GPS tracker to ensure optimum management and security.

The project designates two-kilometre bicycle lanes to ensure the safety of users.

Cairo Bike will be run using a mobile application eventually. For now, users of Cairo Bike will register via the project’s website .

After registering, users will will receive a message within 48 hours to inform them of the location for obtaining a permanent membership card for Cairo Bike, according to a post on the project's Facebook page.

Membership card costs EGP 100 and will offer an EGP 20 credit that can be recovered in case of cancellation, the post said. 

Users can recharge the card through information offices or recharge centres which are located at the bicycle stations.

Members can swipe the card on the prepaid machine to rent the bike and return them at any drop-off station.

The Cairo Bike system is operated by both an Egyptian company and a Danish company, Donkey Republic, which operates a network of  over 16,000 bikes in 70 cities worldwide.

The number of bikes in the  second phase of the project, which will be launched in the coming months, will increase to 500 located at 45 stations in Downtown, Garden City, and Zamalek, the Cabinet said.

Cairo Bike, which is funded by Drosos Foundation, is managed by the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and UN-Habitat.

From Denmark to the Nile

The Cairo Bike system is operated by both an Egyptian company and a Danish company, Donkey Republic, which operates a network of  over 16,000 bikes in 70 cities worldwide.

The number of bikes in the  second phase of the project, which will be launched in the coming months, will increase to 500 located at 45 stations in Downtown, Garden City, and Zamalek, the Cabinet said.

Cairo Bike, which is funded by Drosos Foundation, is managed by the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and UN-Habitat.

The  Danish Ambassador to Cairo Svend Olling, who attended the launch, tried one of the bicycles and said he uses the same bike-sharing app back in Denmark.

Integrating eco-friendly transportation systems

Ahead of COP27, Egypt has been implementing a multitude of green projects including developing eco-friendly mass transportation systems including electric buses, the light rail transit (LRT), the monorail, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

“Cairo is seeking to keep up with the times and support integration of ecofriendly transportation means ahead of the climate change conference” Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel-Aal stated, according to the cabinet statement.

The capital is also keen on adopting healthy measures and creating a sustainable city to reduce growing dependence on vehicles and improve air quality and quality of life, Abdel-Aal added.