To ban or not ban rickshaws

To ban or not to ban rickshaws
The sudden decision of the authorities concerned to ban rickshaws in some city roads invited the unruly protest of the rickshawpullers. Many vehicles went under their attack and they ransacked cars and buses and even some passengers also became victim of their wrath. It is more interesting that they did not meet any strong protest from the law enforcers. Dhaka city is characterized by the city of severe traffic congestion, environmental pollution, mosquito biting and crime and mosque. People have to spend many hours on the roads everyday losing thousands of fruitful working hours every day. But who bothers? The authorities sometimes seem to be sincere enough to remove our sufferings. This is why they suddenly take some decisions and steps which actually increase our suffering manifold.
Does banning rickshwas from the city roads ensure easy and smooth movement of vehicles and save the city dwellers from nightmare experiences of traffic congestion they have to experience from morning to midnight and from Saturday to Friday? But our experiences show us that the roads which are already rickshaw also see severe traffic gridlock. The road in front of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat can be cited as the best example. So, we can reach the conclusion that banning only rickshaws don’t cause traffic jam. The city of Dhaka sees extremely poor number of vehicles comparing to the population. During office time, it is seen that one cannot manage a rickshaw even after waiting for long and after good amount of bargaining. Many people don’t reach their destination on time due to the unavailability of transport. City dwellers particularly the middle class, lower middle class and poor people suffer acutely from the lack of traffic. The existing number of rickshaws actually cannot carry the people easily. When rickshaws will be banned from several roads, what will happen to those who go to their destinations using rickshaws? Will they go there walking? What will happen to the students and children? What will happen to the old passengers or passengers with wife and children who cannot find it easy to get into the jam-packed buses plying on the city roads? Have we ever given any considerations to these issues?
It is known to us that we don’t have easy and undisrupted city bus system in all the roads. Though in some roads some private company buses run, they always remain overcrowded and their halting stations are not enough. Their stations are frequently changing in as the traffic police and sergeants don’t allow them to take passengers and sell tickets in many places. They remain in tension police harassment and giving tolls to local mastans. As they remain busy with satisfying police and local mastan, they hardly get time to think of passenger facilities. In this situation, how can we take the decision to ban rickshaws? In this city more than one crore peole live but we have only five thousand CNG run three wheelers. Private taxies have already disappeared.
If we consider from another point of view we will find rickshawas are environment friendly. Rickshawas don’t contribute to environmental pollution like engine vehicles. Rickshawas are used by middle class, lower middle class and lower class people. Again, What will happen to one lakh rickshaw pullers? Without rehabilitating them properly how we think to manage the whole affair? The already crime-prone city would turn into a heaven of crime causing unimaginable deterioration of law and order situation. Did we ever think it? Yes, rickshaws are creating some problems undoubtedly but banning the rickshaws at this time will incur more problems without making alternatives arrangements for passengers and rickshawpullers. When good number of luxurious and economy buses will be introduced with the assurance of passengers’ lifting and getting down from their desired places, the rickshaws will automatically disappear as passengers will be able to save their time and money. Without ensuring good number of luxurious and economy buses in the city, we cannot afford to band rickshaws.
When university students call on strike do they show very rational attitude on the roads? When political parties call hartals how do they behave on the roads? When they are in the opposition do they show any judicious behavriour with the transports? Then how did the authorities take that rickshaw pullers who have been denied of fortune and having no education and less rationality will behave like gentlemen? They didn’t give any judicious consideration regarding this issue.
Are the private cars not contributing to traffic jams? Why so many people are buying private cars? Private cars are actually the symbols of security, comfort and aristocracy. Now it is a necessity for those who can afford. Middle class people buy cars at the cost of much sacrifice. Many buy cars taking loans even. Why? To get the children to school and taking them back from school safely. To take the family members to hospital and from hospital to home as managing a transport at the critical time is very difficult. These causes contribute a great deal to increase the number of vehicles causing traffic jam in the city. When all the road will see luxurious and comfortable buses plying on the roads round the clock, people will not definitely buy cars to increase the extra burden on their families and on the roads of the city.
Finally, when our lawmakers are going to have duty free cars on the roads, the roads must be made free of rickshaws. The representatives of poor people will drive duty free cars on the streets removing the slow moving vehicles like rickshaws. Doesn’t it look paradoxical?

Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com