[sustran] Re: Fuel Consumption and Environmental Impact of Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka

[Jonathan Richmond]

I agree completely.

For those who want a great read on the subject, get a copy of "The 
Rickshaws of Bangladesh" from the University of Dhaka Press -- it is a 
really wonderful book.

The trend observed in Bangladesh is typical of many developing countries. 
Unfortunately, there is little or no explicit planning for the poor in 
society by planners who come from the elite. While in some cases this is 
deliberate, quite often this stems from unquestioned assumptions about the 
"good life" to be pursued. Big roads and cars are symbolic of a succesful 
society. There is almost a cargo cult element to it: If everyone has big 
cars in "America" and lives the good life there, then if we also have big 
cars we too can live the fantasy!

Rickshaws are symbolic of poverty and backwardness even if they are a 
highly valuable form of transport. So, the unchallenged latent thinking is 
that if we get rid of such manifestations of poverty and dirt, we will 
have a modern city and all be better off! Naive and stupid, yes, but 
because such thinking lurks in the hidden area of the mind, it remains 
unchallenged.

Added to this is personal selfishness. Fistly, bureaucracies have less say 
relative to politically-driven agendas compared to developed countries 
(although even there, as we know, politics is a driving force). There are 
less opportunities for developing complex socially-progressive programmes.

Secondly, planning jobs are poorly paid as well as frustrating 
and cultivate attitudes of laziness as well as boksheesh-dependency. If a 
planner thinks it perfectly ok to routinely collect bribes here and there 
to supplement income (and it should be understood that this is freqently 
understood as a perfectly legitimate and normal practice), it does not 
take much imagination to see planners extending the concept to use the 
job for their personal advantage. They are members of the middle class, 
and superior to the rickshaw pullers and assorted wallahs who drive
the industry. They have cars, and they need to propel them unmolested 
through the streets.

Add to this personal selfishness the concept that rickshaws are backward, 
dirty, and hold poverty in place, and there is easy legitimation of the 
idea of banning them.

The key to change is instilling reflective practice throughout the system. 
Planners and politicians need to be taught to think about their 
assumptions. There is also a need for professionalisation of civil 
services, with higher standards and also substantially higher pay scales 
which eliminate the need for regular doses of boksheesh for personal 
survival!

I have been using reflective thinking seminars in Mauritius to enhance as 
well as change thinking and with much success. I have brought large 
numbers of people together to let them know they have powerful 
contributions to make, to help them question their own assumptions, take 
responsibility, and plan for new approaches. It can work.

                                                          --Jonathan!




On Fri, 21 Mar 2008, Saiful Alam wrote:

>        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.
>
> One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability. PHOTO: STAR       -->
>
> Syed Siful Alam Shovan
> shovan1209 at yahoo.com
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Looking for last minute shopping deals?  Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
> --------------------------------------------------------
> IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS.
>
> Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement.
>
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South').
>

-----
Jonathan Richmond
Transport Adviser to the Government of Mauritius
Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping
Level 4
New Government Centre
Port Louis
Mauritius

+230 707-1134 (Mauritius mobile: most reliable way to reach me at
all times)

+1 (617) 395-4360 (US phone number rings at home -- call me in
Mauritius for the price of a call to the US).

+1 (425) 998-0998 (US phone number, connects to mobile phone when in
wifi zone, or goes to voice mail)

+44 (0)7978 807532 (UK mobile number, connects to mobile phone when in
wifi zone, or goes to voice mail). This is also a SIP number. If you
have a SIP phone you can reach me by dialing: sip:447978807532 at truphone.com

>From Google Talk you can add me as a contact by clicking add and
then entering ext+447978807532 at truphone.com. Clicking on this address
will then ring my mobile phone when I am in a wifi zone, or go to voice
mail at other times.

e-mail: richmond at alum.mit.edu
http://the-tech.mit.edu/~richmond/