Actually, I’m from North Louisiana, and there are some great hilly rural roads - if we can get people so slow down, that is.

Big up Ian and BB.

cW

Most trips in Dhaka are short in distance, usually one to five kilometers. These trips are perfect of Rickshaws. Rickshaws are 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 them food. From the raw materials to the finished product the Rickshaw employs 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 out earn all other passenger transport modes (bus, rail, boats and airlines) combined. In Dhaka alone, Rickshaw pullers combine to earn 20 million taka a month.

We think that over the coming holiday of Eid du Ajah, new Rickshaw bans will be put into action on roads in Dhaka. Eid was used in the past to place new bans on roads in Dhaka. Last Eid many roads were declared Rickshaw free without public support or approval. By banning Rickshaws roads are clogged with increased private car use as well as increased parking by cars. 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 or Taxi, where in the past a Rickshaw would suffice. 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. Rickshaw bans harm the most vulnerable in society, mainly the sick, poor, women, children and the elderly; generally those who can not afford or do not feel comfortable on other forms of public transport. To ban 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 Rickshaw saves Bangladesh 100 billion taka in environmental damage.

The government makes 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 affect. Traffic is still as bad now as it was before the Rickshaws were banned on major roads. Rickshaws thus can not 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. The next time a ban on Rickshaws on another road is discussed 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 its pollution. We ask your help in our fight to keep Dhaka a Rickshaw city. Any information or help is very much appreciated and sought after. I write you this letter to describe the difficulties we are facing and some solutions but they are by no means exhaustive and we look forward to your help and input.

Volunteer of
Save Environment Movement

I live in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada and this idea seems fantastic to me. I would be interested in having more information so that I can promote this in our city.

Alberta is very car friendly, and it is time we get out and promote our bicycles. I have been actively doing this for the last 5 years.

Jim

I’m a bike commuter, and I love every minute of it. I’m certain, however, that most people wouldn’t have the commitment/fitness to do the commute I do. Pelham, AL isn’t designed for biking. Most of the subdivisions have heinous hills, there are nearly no bike lanes, there aren’t any nice/safe places to park a bike at local businesses, and it gets *really* hot in the summer.

This summer, I gave my son (13) a $5/day incentive to ride his bike to the YMCA to workout in preparation for a triathlon and the upcoming football season. He *loves* the freedom (and the money), and I think that he’ll continue once the incentive is over. Your program is bound to enlist some new recruits, which will probably help to address the problems I mentioned above.

Are you looking for local representatives? Is there any literature that I can print and give to local businesses? I know of several cycling friendly businesses.

dhw

I want to do this in my area of MI. Do you have any stickers or handouts or anything? I wouldn’t mind purchasing this online. My family owns a successful restaurant where I commute by bike to work. As a leading business in the community, I think we could get the ball rolling quick.

Thanks.

But here in Oak Cliff, “the Down side of town” of Dallas, for example, a local real estate company gives a 50% discount on your first month’s rent! Not a bad little Texas size incentive at all.

http://bikefriendlyoc.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/ride-your-bike-get-a-discount/

Oak Cliff is a part of Dallas, but frankly, quite apart from Dallas in many ways - geographically, culturally and otherwise. Oak Cliff is the proud birthplace of Lance Armstrong, Stevie Ray Vaughn and quite a few other great athletes and entertainers.

Even here in Dallas, which topped Cycling Magazines list of worst cities for cycling, the bike benefits idea has blossomed quite nicely among the local independent businesses. The rewards are much better than I am familiar with in places I’ve been like Cambridge/Somerville, MA which only has a “Green Friday” discount card which gets a small discount at a small number of places one day a month.

Here in Oak Cliff, “the Down side of town” of Dallas, the rewards/incentives are much better. As an example, a local real estate company gives a 50% discount on your first month’s rent! Not a bad little Texas size incentive at all, if I do say so myself.