[sustran] Re: Auto-rickshaws in Mumbai

[Regina Anderson]

Just a few thoughts as a planner and former resident of Bombay.  The 
rickshaws serve trip lengths that buses don't cater well too, and because 
they are cheaper they are a preferred choice for many trips.  The same 
congestion problem would happen with cycle rickshaws, so that issue is one 
of traffic management, similar to temples and shop stalls being regularly 
set up on the right of way also being a management issue(temples in 
particular, are very hard to have removed, therefore are very effective in 
staking out land).  

Just for scale note that "the city" or "downtown" in Bombay stretches all 
the way to Mahim Creek where Bandra begins, so the area where autos are not 
allowed is really quite large - like being kept out of Manhattan and 
relegated to the outer burroughs in New York City.  

The image issue of bicycles being backward is the real hurdle.  I don't see 
how this will be overcome in the near future in Bombay, so can't consider it 
a realistic possibility to convert autos back to pedal rickshaws.  Yes, ITDP 
has done work in India with rickshaws, including a project in Agra that I 
believe was to convert autos to cycle rickshaws - the hook there was that 
the Taj Mahal's buildings were being damaged by the air pollution so there 
was willingness, and as a small tourist town it was not a big transportation 
issue.  Don't know that any such hook could be found at this time in 
Bombay.  

best,
Gina

--
Regina Manzo Anderson, AICP
Whole Choice - Movement for Health, Pedestrian Planning, Sustainability
Bras Basah P.O. Box 315
Singapore 180231
Phone  +65 9733-1006
Fax  +65 6476-7604

---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Carlos F. Pardo SUTP" <carlos.pardo at sutp.org>
To: "'Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport'" <sustran-
discuss at list.jca.apc.org>, <alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk>
Sent: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 17:02:57 -0500
Subject: [sustran] Re: Auto-rickshaws in Mumbai

> Lloyd Wright's suggestion to replace auto-rickshaws for cycle-
> rickshaws is a great idea, but implies hard work convincing owners 
> and drivers of the vehicles that they will earn the same amount of 
> money with cycle rickshaws, and that they have a much lower cost of 
> maintenance. I'm in a similar process (motorcycle taxis to cycle-
> rickshaws) here, but the major obstacle is the one I just mentioned 
> (also, drivers don't like a human-powered vehicle vs a motorized one,
>  since it is they who are pedalling).
> 
> The other obviously difficult factor is to persuade people (and/or
> policymakers) into the idea that NMT is not a sign of backwardness or
> poorness (this also includes changing regulations for rickshaws). If 
> these two things are well managed, you'll have an easier way to 
> replacement. ITDP has a lot of experience in the actual improvement 
> of rickshaws in India and Indonesia with Shreya Gadepalli, 
> generating much more efficient cycle rickshaws at a similar cost.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Carlos F. Pardo
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sustran-discuss-bounces+carlos.pardo=sutp.org at list.jca.apc.org
> [mailto:sustran-discuss-
> bounces+carlos.pardo=sutp.org at list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Lloyd Wright
> Sent: Lunes, 13 de Marzo de 2006 04:32 p.m.
> To: alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk; Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport
> Subject: [sustran] Re: Auto-rickshaws in Mumbai
> 
> Well, if the auto-rickshaws become cycle rickshaws the jobs are 
> saved and air quality will benefit.
> 
> ------ Original Message ------
> Received: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 04:09:17 PM EST
> From: Alan P Howes <alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk>
> To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.orgCc: alok.bhardwaj at tcs.com,
> arun.mokashi at tcs.com
> Subject: [sustran] Auto-rickshaws in Mumbai
> 
> BUT, they provide a livelihood for 1,00,000 families - even if the
> number of buses had to be increased to cater for the extra passengers
> (which is doubtful), they would not soak up a fraction of the jobs -
> and BEST already employs more staff per bus than most urban buscos in
> India.
> 
> So has anyone got any bright suggestions for squaring this circle?
> 
> (NB - Mumbai, with a population of 16m, apparently only has 5,00,000
> formal jobs - difficult to soak up 1,00,000 guys there.  And also NB 
> - those commas in numbers are in the right place - for India.)
> 
> Regards, Alan
> 
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
> 
> (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main 
> focus is on urban transport policy in Asia.
> 
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
>  equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing 
> countries (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list,
>  the main focus is on urban transport policy in Asia.
------- End of Original Message -------