Shaimaa Ali gets around Alexandria using a somewhat unconventional means of transportation for a woman.

“One day I was trapped in a traffic jam and I saw someone on a motor scooter easily pass through the cars. So I decided to buy one,” she said.

That was two years ago and when Ali joined the Alexandria Scooter Rider Club, which is made up of two other woman members apart her.

Shaimaa Ali gets around Alexandria using a somewhat unconventional means of transportation for a woman.

“One day I was trapped in a traffic jam and I saw someone on a motor scooter easily pass through the cars. So I decided to buy one,” she said.

That was two years ago and when Ali joined the Alexandria Scooter Rider Club, which is made up of two other woman members apart her.

She has also established the first scooter driving school for women, called  LETS SCOOT. Ali stressed that the number of enrollees so far is good and eight high school and university students have learned how to drive the scooter.

A source of mockery

Riham Qutb said her family strongly objected the idea of her driving a scooter, but she was stubborn enough to eventually buy one. She wears a helmet to escape harassment.

“Sometimes people recognize that I am a female and they laugh and point at me,” she said.

Schock effect

But scooters are not only a practical means of transportation for women in Egypt, they’re also an innovative was of gaining visibility.

Fathi Fareed Coordinator of the ‘Shuft Taharosh’ (I spotted a harassment) campaign believes shock campaigns are the best way for women to stand up for their rights in Egypt.

“Society is always against any untraditional or unconventional campaign, but eventually it will produce the best in it. The real battle for young women is to prove their strong will to pursue their rights despite the social pressures.

Mixed reactions

“Women seem excited when they see me on my scooter while old men usually stop me to ask where they can buy such a scooter for their grandchildren,” she said. “Microbus and taxi drivers always clear a path for me to pass.”

Ahmad Sayed, however, thinks women on scooters is a bad idea. “Women are terrible drivers and they should first learn how to drive cars without causing accidents before thinking about driving scooters. The country does not need more accidents and the morgue does not need more dead bodies.”

Sundos Mohamed, a woman, is not entirely supportive of women on scooters either. “Unlike Western countries, the Egyptian streets are not suitable for driving scooters since they lack the lanes designated for scooters or even bicycles,” she explained.

“There should be road traffic patrols to protect female scooter drivers from harassment as they get harassed everyday while on foot, so imagine what would happen to them while riding scooters.”

Assistance needed

Secretary-general of the National Council for Human Rights and Ambassador Muna Zaki believes that women ought not be ashamed of riding scooters:

“The real shame in Egypt is getting into an overcrowded bus. Riding a bus is an inhumane experience where women are objectified and deprived of their humanity. How can people regard riding a scooter as shameful?” she asked.

Zaki believes that while the idea of women on scooters might seem strange now, it would only be a matter of time before people got used to it.

“I am hopeful that President al-Sisi will instruct the competent authorities to add two lanes for scooters and bicycles following the example of Western and Far Eastern countries. This will indeed be an important step forward in helping the general public accept and eventually embrace this idea,” she stressed.

Desire to fly

Salma Jundi another member of the Alexandria Scooter Rider Club who started riding a scooter in Alexandria six months ago, said her desire to fly was stronger than any objection and she eventually prevailed after a long debate with her family.

“I hope to see all females exercise their rights and be able to fly on two wheels.”