In praise of the humble rickshaw

The humble rickshaw has traveled a long way in Delhi. But a ban on this integral mode of transportation in Delhi's Chandni Chowk may lead the now ubiquitous rickshaw pullers to oblivion. "It is quite an irony that while international cities like Berlin, Paris, Tokyo are steadily switching over to the usage of cycle rickshaws, in India, we are trying to get rid of this age-old mode transportation", says Nalin Sinha, programme director, Initiative for Transportation & Development Programmes (ITDP).

"To say that cycle rickshaws cause traffic jams is incorrect. It is the petrol and diesel-run vehicles like buses, cars that create traffic congestion in cities.

"Rickshaws are environment friendly as they neither add to the growing air pollution nor to the noise pollution", Nalin says.

But some section of people argue that rickshaws should be banned on the ground that it is "inhuman" on the part of a human to pull the weight of his fellow human beings.

Countering the point, Sharfuddin, director, Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), says that alternative ways can be devised to ease the burden on the rickshaw-pullers by making technically improved rickshaws.

IRTE which has conducted a study in this regard, enlists certain technical changes which can be incorporated in the existing rickshaws to make them more convenient both for the puller and the rider.

"Rickshaws should be made simple, convenient and environmental and rider-friendly especially for children and older people. The rickshaws should weigh 90 - 110 kgs with effective gears and breaks to reduce any risk of accident, which in any way, is less harmful as compared to speeding motors. Also, each rickshaw should not accommodate more than 3-5 passengers", says Sharfuddin.

Incorporating newer designs, rickshaws can be used for a wide range of purposes like garbage collection, carrying babies and for handicapped poeple, says Nalin noting that cycle rickshaws are the most ideal ones for short distance travel.

A project developed by ITDP shows that upgraded cycle rickshaw technology can make it more efficient, lightweight, safer and comfortable. Moreover, the modern cycle rickshaws are quite popular among the tourists and as many as three lakh such rickshaws are running on the roads in India.

Bureau Report