Queen obviously hadn’t been to Cairo before writing their song “I want to ride my bicycle”: Cairo’s roads may not be the ideal environment to navigate on a bicycle, but it is nevertheless becoming an increasingly popular mode of transportation here, and has earned government backing. One cycling enthusiast, Karim El Attar, even wrote his thesis on how to improve Egyptian road infrastructure to better accommodate bicycles.

Cycling is a financially and medically better alternative to regular transport: In the Netherlands, where the Dutch make 27% of their trips on bikes, scholars have quantified and monetized the benefits of alternative transportation to allow policymakers to make more economically sound decisions for the country’s transport system. This study found that the health benefits of cycling are more or less equal to 3% of the country’s GDP, and confirmed that investment in bicycle infrastructure yields high long-term returns. Another research find cited by Australian policymakers also showed that each 10 km of distance traveled via cycling instead of a car saves 1,500 kg of greenhouse emissions each year.

Cycling culture creates communities (excuse the alliteration): If you’re bored at home on a weekend, grab your bicycle and check out a list by Cairo West to see which of these cycling groups is nearest to you, and make some new friends while exercising. And don’t worry about your bike getting stolen: An initiative called Sekketak Khadra installed bicycle racks around the city last year in an attempt to increase “cycling culture.”

Women have it tougher, but it’s not all doom and gloom: Having women on two wheelers isn’t all that accepted by Egyptian society, women complain. Many consider it dangerous, and female cyclists in particular are targeted by passersby, but there are sources of support out there, too. Cairo Cycling Geckos (CCG) decided not only to support women riding bicycles, but to do it with the aim of helping underprivileged people and refugees in Cairo. They take bags of sandwiches on their bikes to sell to people on the street, giving the proceeds to those in need.

Convinced but not sure where to start? Here’s a guide on how to shop for a suitable bicycle, courtesy of Cairo360.