Hamada Elrasam
Photographer
Visual Storyteller

Toktoks are waiting for passengers at the subway station of Sayeda Zaynab in old Cairo. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

A Toktok owner, and driver Mohamed Gafaar says, "it is not the best option for work, it is not a craft to master, but I need money to get married." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Ahmed Ibrahim, a 78-year-old handmade leather designer for wallets, says "I do not think this profession will last for long; the young generations are hoping to earn easier money by driving Toktoks." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Akram, says, "Driving Toktok is much better than wasting time with friends on coffee shops or sharing a rolled cigarette. On my Toktok, I can make money." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The passengers' demand for Toktoks is very high, especially in tight grocery markets like Hadayek El-Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Toktoks -as they are waiting for passengers to drive them into the corridors of suburbs- usually cause a traffic jam in front of Hadayek El-Maadi metro station, in Cairo, Egypt. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Mohamed Boleka, 24, says, "Those Toktok drivers who cause traffic jams, do it because they are not aware of any driving rules." For young drivers, lack of traffic rules, and maneuvering with Toktoks are fun, and adrenalin booster. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Tarek ElSoury, a 22-year-old, says "The Toktok costs too much money for taking care and fixing. Moreover, when the police arrest any of us on the highway, the penalty fees would range from 80LE up to 10,000LE." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Karem Elsawy, says "I used to trade in cereals for animals, plus fixing motorbikes, but, since many people started to invest in Toktoks, I have decided to focus all my work on just fixing Toktoks." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Toktoks park in a local garage in old Cairo. Unlicensed Toktoks that does not hold identification plates, turns to an easy subject for stealing. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Yousef, says "All Toktoks look the same -whenever a crime like stealing or raping is committed using a Toktok as one of its main tools- the police arrest all." Only 111,000 Toktoks were officially licensed since Egypt imported them in 2005. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Yasmin Salem, a band manager, says "Usually I go back home very late, either from work or from a hangout with friends, but I prefer not to ride a Toktok. From my own experience, most of the drivers are sexual harassers, rude, or drive recklessly." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Mohamed Mahmoud, says, "Since all Toktoks look the same, I have decided to make mine stand out with this poster, so that, passengers can recognize it." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Abdullah, 24 years old -who used to work as a plumber, but now, he dreams of getting his Toktok- he says "my dream was to be a football player like Mo Salah, but the reality is that I want to buy my Toktok, decorate it, and make a stable income." (H. Elrasam/VOA)