How easy are these cabs to recognise - do they have special markings - and hard would it be to try to use them exclusively?

No chance, it just doesn't work like that here.

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Originally posted by Saladin:
Actually they do have markings but its not mandatory. The government gave everyone, especially taxis and minibuses huge incentive to switch to natural gas. You can see cars with a little sticker with a picture of a green flame and a little inscrption in arabic saying it runs on natural gas. But not everyone puts it on and it gets peeled off easy

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Originally posted by akshar:
I had a hard time not laughing at your post and them I realised you have never been to Cairo.

No chance, it just doesn't work like that here.

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Jane, Did you see Saladin's answer? It is true. Next time you come to the big city, we'll point out the NGV gas stations and some of the taxis, and buses. Yes, buses too. USAID, as part of the CAIP (Cairo Air Improvement Project) gave Egypt many new buses that are NGV powered, among other facilities, that they may or may not use.

It definately requires pointing out though, as it isn't something you'd notice probably without help.

(I'll see if I can point it out to Moll before she comes back.)

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Originally posted by Debbie:
Jane, Did you see Saladin's answer? It is true. Next time you come to the big city, we'll point out the NGV gas stations and some of the taxis, and buses. Yes, buses too. USAID, as part of the CAIP (Cairo Air Improvement Project) gave Egypt many new buses that are NGV powered, among other facilities, that they may or may not use.

It definately requires pointing out though, as it isn't something you'd notice probably without help.

(I'll see if I can point it out to Moll before she comes back.)

[This message has been edited by Debbie (edited 11 July 2004).]

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Yes but can you imagine being selective when you were getting one. That was what was making me laugh. All those touts and you say I want a NGV taxi. On top of trying to get the right price, trying to make yourself understood, trying to suss in the driver is going to con you and in the middle of a Cairo street. Then you want a NGV feel mish mish lol

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Originally posted by cassia:
Why would any taxi driver NOT want to take advantage of this?
And given the air pollution in Cairo, why would I want to NOT want to reward taxi drivers who do?

Isn't this an aspect of responsible tourism?

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read ExptinCAI post, there is so much competition and they don't have the time to be responsible ecologically, to busy trying to feed the family

like my first post said you obviously haven't been here. Imagine NY taxi drivers, then put them in Bombay, multiply by 10, cut prices by a third and have them speaking martian. that is 1/100 of what is like in Cairo.

Its a bit of the carrot leading the donkey, or using honey rather than vinegar. But as a tourist, doing nothing is tantamount to letting the tail wag the dog, as it were.

I would *reward* those drivers who have taken advantage of the government programs with my money. Absolutely!

If driving a low pollution emission vehicle is attractive financially for the drivers, where's the harm? If all tourists began preferring them, what would the outcome be?

In the long run, the drivers' children might breathe a little freer, and might develop asthma a little later? A few less medical bills - one or two less premature deaths? The pharonic monuments might dissolve a little slower with a little less acidity - helping to ensure that the tourist sites continue generate income for future generations?

The driver doesn't have to understand any of this ... if it could be as simple as having the better vehicle assuring better income.

This is a failure on the part of the tourists. When I take my Arabic immersion classes in Cairo, you can bet these phrases will be amongst the first I cover!

What is this thing with tourism and taxis? If you look around at any given time in Cairo, you don't see many tourists in taxis. It's Cairenese who use taxis. Tourists get on the mini-buses provided by their packaged tour and only occassionally take a taxi. When they do, it's usually the ones close to the hotel who speak english --those are usually selected by the concierge of the hotel who gets a cut of the profits - in return the taxis are of a certain standard (ie no huge rust holes, bumper held together by wire, and interior with upholstery whose original color you cannot even begin to guess) and of course, they charge you anywhere btw 2-5x as much as a taxi you catch on the street by yourself.