In a square in central Cairo, more than 20 orange bikes lined up at a stop for public sharing, the first of which was inaugurated in the Egyptian capital on Thursday.

The first phase of the Cairo cycling project includes 250 GPS-tracked bikes at 26 solar-powered charging stations. The entire two-phase project will eventually include a fleet of 500 bicycles across 45 stations in Cairo.

Residents are excited to experience cycling in the crowded capital, as each of them can enjoy their first ride for free in the first phase.

Resident Ahmed Mahmoud described the experience as "amazing".

"Many people have cars, but they take the subway to go to the city. Now there are bicycle stops near the subway station. You can take the subway to the city, then ride your bicycle around and return the car nearby," Mahmoud said.

Engineering student Rania Sameh, a member of the Cairo cycling team, was among a group of people who rode their bikes together during the inauguration.

"This bike-sharing system helps people reduce their dependence on cars. Together with public transport, these bikes can be an eco-friendly alternative to cars," she said.

Residents can rent bikes via a mobile app or prepaid card for 1 Egyptian pound (about $0.05) an hour or £8 a day, with discounts for students.

Bicycle stops are installed near subway and bus stations, main squares, and public places, allowing citizens to find the nearest stops before and after cycling.

The main station will hold 28 bikes, while the smaller stations will hold 8-10 bikes. New bike lanes have also been opened on several main streets in central Cairo to ensure the safety of cyclists.

Ahmed Arafa, director of the Cairo Bike project, explained that anyone who wants to rent a bike should first install the Cairo Bike app, register and add their Visa card, or get a prepaid card from Cairo Bike headquarters in the city center.

"It's a good project, mainly targeting young people, but we've found that many Egyptians of all ages are interested in our bike share," Arafah said.

The Cairo cycling project was launched just weeks before Egypt hosts the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in November in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"The Cairo Governorate is working hard to keep pace with modern developments and to provide everything that supports the integration of environmentally friendly transport and the promotion of healthy practices," a statement issued by the Governorate of Cairo quoted Abdul-Al as saying.

The project was initiated by Cairo Governorate in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), funded by the Swiss Drosos Foundation, and technically supported and supervised by the New York Institute for Transport and Development Policy.