Egypt to Get Rid of Tuk-Tuks

December 9, 2019
8 Advanced Middle East & Africa

Exercise 1

Vocabulary
alley /ˈæliː/ a narrow street between or behind buildings
Noun
I don't think it's safe to walk down this alley.
We need to get out of this alley to catch a taxi.

slum /slʌm/
Noun part of a city that is very poor and in bad condition

He grew up in the slums of Mexico City, but now

lives in a nice apartment in Manhattan.

minivan /ˈmɪnivæn/ a large car that can seat up to eight people

Noun
We'll rent a minivan so we can all travel to the
stadium together.
prosecution /ˌprɑːsɪˈkjuːʃn/
Noun the act of charging a person or business with a crime

The company could face prosecution for violating

its users' privacy.
logic /ˈlɑːdʒɪk/ reasoning based on evidence and observation
Noun
Every decision he made was based on reason and
logic.
We don't understand the logic of your new theory.
The left side of the brain focuses on logic, the right
on emotions.

infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/
Noun basic structures such as roads, communication networks,
power grids, etc. that a country needs
 This town doesn't have the necessary
infrastructure to run a sports event like that.
Building infrastructure may be effective for
economic recovery.
The government has been endeavoring to attract
foreign investment in the infrastructure sector.

Exercise 2

Article
Egypt to Get Rid of Tuk-Tuks

Small, three-wheeled taxis known as tuk-tuks commonly drive the

narrow alleys of Cairo's slums, carrying millions of Egyptians home
every day. But the government now plans to replace the polluting tuk-
tuks with cleaner minivans.

"This is for the health and safety of all Egyptians," said Khaled el-
Qassim of the Ministry of Local Development. "We’re creating a more
beautiful image of our country."

Drivers will be asked to sell their tuk-tuks and take loans to buy new
minivans – or risk fines and even prosecution. This has raised fears
that the poorest Egyptians will be hit hardest by the change.

"I'd rather work as a thief than pay for this minivan," said Ehab Sobhy,
a 47-year-old who earns about $8 a day driving his tuk-tuk in the city.

"If they take this away … how is my family going to eat?" asked Sobhy.
Even with a government loan, he said he wouldn’t be able to afford
the $5,500 he estimates he'd need for the new minivan.

Former President Hosni Mubarak's government tried to reduce the

number of tuk-tuks, banning them in most of Cairo's wealthy
neighborhoods. But it also allowed tuk-tuk parts to come from South
Asia to Egypt, where they were put together and sold without
licenses.

In 2018, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s government required that all

new buyers get licenses for their tuk-tuks, and sales dropped
significantly.

In September, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced a plan to

ban tuk-tuks in 20 areas, replacing them with seven-seat minivans.
Tuk-tuks would be banned from cities and main roads, but allowed in
narrow alleys and rural villages if they have licenses.

But some question the logic of changing a tuk-tuk for a small bus that
is expected to be four times the size and price. Critics have suggested
that the government is more interested in its image than in providing
the infrastructure the country truly needs.

Exercise 3

Discussion
1. What are your thoughts on Egypt's plans to get rid of tuk-tuks?

2. Have you ever taken a ride in a tuk-tuk? If so, please share your
experience. If not, would you like to?

3. Do you think you'd enjoy working as a taxi driver? Why? Why not?

4. Are taxis expensive where you live? Please explain your answer.

5. Have you ever been to Egypt? If so, where did you visit? If not, would
you like to?
 Exercise 4

Further Discussion
1. What's the fastest way to get around your town or city?

2. How often do you use public transport? Please explain your answer.

3. Do you ever use ride or bike-sharing apps? If so, which ones and how
often? If not, why not?

4. Do you drive? If so, what would you say is the worst thing about
driving in your town or city?

5. Which of the cities you've been to would you say has the worst public
transport?

Source
This lesson is based on an article by the Associated Press.

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