Unit 6 Case Study: Cairo Transport

Question 1

Location of Cairo

Answer 1

On the banks of the River Nile, 200 km south of the Mediterranean. Extends along the banks of the Nile for 30 km. Largest city in Africa. Density has risen over the last 50 years with an average of 30000 per km squared

Question 2

Infrastructure

Answer 2

Most is designed for a population of 2 million so is under strain. Housing is overcrowded. City planners are finding it hard to get the funds for new infrastructure. Hard infrastructure is transportation, sewage, water and electric. Soft infrastructure is housing, health, education etc

Question 3

Transportation

Answer 3

An extensive road network within the city and links to other urban areas. Road transport is facilitated by personal vehicles, public buses, private buses, taxis and minibuses
A railway system
The Cairo metro
Nile ferries
Major international airport

Question 4

Congestion

Answer 4

Road transport has needed a lot of investment as the city expands. 7 bridges span the Nile. Downtown expressways and flyovers bypass congestion and new roads bring suburbs into urban areas. There is a 100 km ring road expressway finished in the 90’s that surrounds the city to reach outer districts
Total daily commutes are 90 minutes. Congestion is due to
-population growth
-high and rising levels of car ownership
-lack of off street parking
-insufficient capacity of public transport

Question 5

Private cars

Answer 5

20% are private car owners making up 80% of congestion. Concerns over greenhouse gases, air quality and noise. Half of all Egypt vehicles are in Cairo. Strong public transport demand

Question 6

Pedestrians

Answer 6

High accident rate with over 1000 deaths each year

Question 7

Buses

Answer 7

450 formal bus routes but also minibuses run by firms contracted by the government. Taxi and micro buses by individuals are also important

Question 8

Tram system

Answer 8

Has been since 1896 but has mostly been shut. Focus is on the Ramses Station which links with commuter stations and beyond to national network. Trains are run by Egyptian National Railways. Feluccas are popular with tourists which operate along the Nile to the pyramids of Giza

Question 9

Metro

Answer 9

Carries 2.2 million a day. Developed to cut vehicles on roads. Line 1 in 1987, line 2 in 1996, line 3 in 2012, extension to airport in 2019, line 4 started construction in 2016 and 2 more are planned. By 2014 there were 61 stations on a 78 km track. Ticket price in 2013 was $0.14

Question 10

Airport

Answer 10

The 2nd busiest in Africa after Johannesburg. Is 15 km from the CBD and voers 37 km squared. 3 main terminals and a seasonal terminal opened in 2011 to ease strain on existing ones. Handled 14.7 million people in 2012. Expansion is important to maintain global city status