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Brian McMorrow | all galleries >> Asia >> Bangladesh বাংলাদেশ >> Dhaka > Rickshaw art, Dhaka
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10-DEC-2003

Rickshaw art, Dhaka

Minolta DiMAGE S414
1/45s f/3.6 at 9.4mm iso80 hide exif
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Date/Time10-Dec-2003 22:06:02
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ModelDiMAGE S414
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Focal Length9.4 mm
Exposure Time1/45 sec
Aperturef/3.6
ISO Equivalent80
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syed saiful alam 16-Jan-2011 13:23
www.dhaka-rickshaw.blogspot.com
Shovan 07-Oct-2008 14:46
Private cars in Dhaka
Syed Saiful Alam, Volunteer of Save Environment Movement



Let us return to the private car. Whatever convenience and comfort it provides comes at various costs. Cars are the main source of pollutants worldwide. There is no such thing as a clean car; cars just vary in the amount they pollute. Despite increasingly stringent emissions control standards over the decades in the US, cars pollute more than they used tobecause people are driving more.

It is difficult for us to appreciate just how much cars pollute. The air in Dhaka city, after all, improved dramatically after the banning of two-stroke baby taxis, and again with the introduction of unleaded fuel. However, this is by no means an indication that the air in Dhaka is clean. Any trip to the countryside is a reminder of the pleasure of breathing clean air. Even in Dhaka, if we wake up early and take a walk, we can experience a bit of the pleasure of fresh air as each car passes, we can also understand just how much each car pollutes the air. As the streets fill with cars, the pollution rises. On hartal days, despite large numbers of people moving about the city, the air is fresh and the city (violence aside) is quiet. Carsand the wide paved roads needed to accommodate themalso emit a great deal of heat, making Dhaka even more insufferable in the many hot months.

Cars also are the main cause of noise pollution. A full 97% of students in Dhaka in a survey on noise pollution said that their studying is disrupted by car horns; 96% of the general public interviewed mentioned car horns as the main cause of noise pollution in Dhaka.[1] When rickshaws were on strike in October 2004, there were no rickshaws on the streets, yet the streets were as noisy as ever.

We would argue that since cars only transport roughly 10-20% of travellers, they should only have access to 10-20% of road space, for moving and parkingand should respect the rest of users, as well as the right to some peace and quiet of all the people working and living next to roads.

Presumably, one component of civilization is respecting the rights of others. The attitude of driverswho represent the wealthiest portion of societythat they alone should have full access to roadsis anti-democratic, anti-civilization, and disturbingly elitist. A society in which people fail to respect the rights of others, and in which the rich believe they should have special privileges on the roads as well as in every other aspect of life, is a society destined to fall into crime, selfishness, viciousness, and lack of the neighbourly friendliness that allows people to live comfortably together.



Brian McMorrow12-Aug-2008 21:25
Great post, thanks!
Syed Saiful Alam shovan 12-Aug-2008 13:16
Syed Saiful Alam shovan
Suggestions for Improving Transport in Dhaka

1. Maintain the use of rickshaws by
a) Canceling all planned bans on rickshaws from different roads;
b) Creating rickshaw-only lanes on major streets (including those that currently ban rickshaws), and
c) Considering a gradual shift to improved rickshaws that are easier to maneuver and more comfortable for passengers. If the rickshaw licensing system is to be maintained, set a higher level for the number of rickshaws, and base it on research into which all citizens can have input.

2. Cancel all plans for future flyovers, and use transportation budgets to improve public transit and conditions for NMT.

3. Make cars less affordable and available through reducing import of cars, raising registration fees and taxes, and restricting licenses.

4. Ban cars from small streets and lanes and from congested areas, and greatly reduce parking. Enforce a ban on parking on footpaths and on major streets.

5. Make cycling more safe and attractive by providing separate bicycle lanes on all major roads (creating a continuous cycle lane throughout the city) and by giving bicycles priority at traffic signals so they aren’t in danger by motorized vehicles.

6. Make cycling more affordable by greatly reducing the tariff on imported bicycles.

7. Create more places to park bicycles.

8. Increase bus use by creating special lanes for buses on major streets, banning all motorized vehicles except buses and emergency vehicles in congested areas, and considering other benefits to buses.

9. Ensure conducive environment for walking by a) creating pedestrian-only zones in the central shopping and business districts, b) reducing motorized transport (Pedestrians will naturally walk farther when the streets are quieter), c) cleaning up footpaths from construction debris and car parking (vendors actually attract Pedestrians, and should be allowed to stay, though not to block entire footpaths), and d) making footpaths more comfortable by planting more trees along them.

10. Carry out public education campaigns through the mass media and other means (e.g. through leaflets given to school children) to encourage parents to walk or cycle rather than drive their children to school, and to consider more environmentally-friendly and social means of transport, e.g. public transit and walking/cycling rather than cars/auto-rickshaws.

11. Support community programs to convert underutilized streets into children’s playgrounds for a couple hours each day, thereby making better use of roads in quieter neighborhoods, and allowing children play space, as is currently happening in various areas as a citizen initiative.

Source: Improving Dhaka’s Traffic Situation: Lessons from Mirpur Road
Syed Saiful Alam 16-Mar-2008 14:30
Most trips in Dhaka are short in distance, usually one to five kilometres. These trips are perfect for rickshaws. Rickshaws are a cheap and popular mode of transport over short distances. Rickshaws are safe, environmentally friendly and do not rely on fossil fuels. Rickshaws support a significant portion of the population, not only the pullers, but also their families in the villages, the mechanics who fix the rickshaws, as well as street hawkers who sell foods. From the raw materials to the finished product the rickshaw employs people in some 38 different professions. Action needs to be taken to support the rickshaw instead of further banning it in Dhaka. The combined profits of all rickshaws exceed that of all other passenger transport modes.

We think a new ban on rickshaws will be put into force on some roads in Dhaka very soon. During the last Eid many roads were declared rickshaw free without public support or approval. Banning of rickshaws on major roads increases the transportation costs for commuters. Not only due to longer trips to avoid roads with bans in effect, but also due to actually having to take more expensive forms of transport such as CNG scooters or taxi. The environmental impact of banning rickshaws is obvious because it exchanges a non-motorized form of transport for a motorized form of transport, thus increasing the pollution and harming the environment. Ban on rickshaw harms the most vulnerable in society, mainly the sick, poor, women, children and the elderly; generally those who cannot afford or do not feel comfortable on other forms of public transport. Banning rickshaws also hurts small businesses that rely on them as a cheap and reliable form of transporting their goods. Rickshaws are ideal for urban settings because they can transport a relatively large number of passengers while taking up a small portion of the road. In 1998 the data showed that rickshaws took up 38% of road space while transporting 54% of passengers in Dhaka. The private cars, on the other hand, took up 34% of road space while only transporting 9% of the population (1998 DUTP). This data does not include the parking space on roads that cars take up in Dhaka. If included this would further raise the amount of space taken up by private cars. Every year the rickshaws save Tk 100 billion by not causing environmental damage.

The governments made many efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka but with no success. Blaming rickshaws for traffic congestion and subsequently banning them from major roads has not had the desired effect. Traffic is still as bad now as it was before the rickshaws were banned on major roads. Rickshaws thus cannot be seen as the major cause of traffic congestion. Instead, one should look towards private cars and private car parking on roads as the major cause of traffic congestion. The space gained by banning rickshaws is often used for private car parking. The current trend in transport planning reduces the mobility of the majority for the convenience of the minority. Please take into consideration who is being hurt and who is being helped.

For a better transport system in Dhaka we need to create a city-wide network of rickshaw lanes. If this is done Dhaka can reduce its fuel usage dramatically as well as its pollution.


syed siful alam 07-Jan-2007 05:57
There’s a new rickshaw in town; more comfortable ride, same Dhaka price!



Dear
You may have seen some familiar, yet different vehicles moving along our busy streets. With their bright orange color, these re-designed rickshaws are for public use, created with your comfort in mind. There is no difference in price, yet there are some additional features new body design creates more space for you, the passenger, and is easier for the driver each driver carries an ID card, and any service concerns or complaints can be reported to our office our rickshaws can be requested for repeat/monthly service in advance, just give us a call!If you have any questions or comments about our vehicles or services, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are happy to receive your feedback, and we look forward to serving you in the near future!

Thank you
Syed Siful Alam



SANAHI PEDICAB SERVICE
HOUSE # 69/C, ROAD # 6/A
DHANMONDI, DHAKA
PHONE; +88029131965,+880152442814
Email- pedicab@dhaka.net