How to Cross the Street

Some of you have shared your harrowing tales of street-crossing in foreign lands, and I'm here to add my own observations. As I've said, Cairo is full of aggressive drivers so this is no easy thing. Below is a list of the ways I've used to cross:

Crossing the Street
1- Not me, but I've read on the internet how some folks will just not even bother, instead choosing to plan their route so as to not cross a busy street! Sheesh!

2- By far the safest way is to use the Metro, as each stop has an entrance on either side of the street. I think we've done this once when we were really tired.

3- The best way is to stand near or "downwind" of a local who is also crossing and going when s/he goes. This works very well and is my favorite way.

4- Another way is to cross where the local police are directing traffic. There is a brief window in-between his stopping the cars one way and allowing the others going the other way.

5- Or, walk down the street to the next busy intersection, waiting for the cars to slow down before they cross or turn.

6- Many times you just have to do it piecemeal. You see an opening, but it only gets you half-way so you end up standing in the middle of some very busy lanes, cars whizzing closely by you. Usually, after a minute, you're able to make it the rest of the way across.

7- If it's not that busy cars do speed up. In that case you walk slowly across, making sure there is enough room on either side of you for the cars to swerve around you.

Note: There is an understanding between drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrians trust that the cars won't hit them and the drivers trust that the pedestrians aren't so stupid as to get hit.