The battery-run cycle-rickshaw has now become a common mode of transport in the capital city. It is banned; yet it has been emerging as a burgeoning mode of transport in the Dhaka City. It is an ordinary cycle-rickshaw but is converted into motorized traffic which enables it to attain much higher speed than that of an ordinary cycle-rickshaw. Thus, unlike an ordinary cycle-rickshaw, it is no more an innocuous mode for the pedestrians because of higher speed. Therefore, this mode must be made readily distinctive in look from ordinary cycle-rickshaw for better safety of pedestrians. As such, its appearance must be made different from an ordinary cycle-rickshaw so that people could instantly recognize it to be a motorized traffic. This issue is very important, particularly for the pedestrians for their safe movements; because it has been observed that suddenly a higher speeding cycle-rickshaw outruns others from a bunch of ordinary cycle-rickshaws that leaves the pedestrians perplexed. Thus these scenarios have been indeed posing threats to pedestrians; because a veiled threat is always more dangerous than a visible threat. Accordingly, the most suitable way to incorporate distinction so that it could be instantly differentiated from the ordinary rickshaws is to have its altered appearance; at the first place. However, as it not possible to change its distinctive appearance at once, accordingly, immediate inclusion of an audible sound emitting device should be made mandatory to distinguish it from the ordinary rickshaws; until a new different look is recommended. Moreover, this mode should use specified single audible sound for all such modes to infuse more cognizance capability among the other road users.
Despite ban, it is growing in numbers because of its increasing demand owing to: (1) quick trip time (2) suitable for longer trips (3) same fare as of ordinary rickshaws (4) drivers also prefer it to avoid physical exertions. Moreover, it is very likely that as with socio-economic development the battery-run cycle-rickshaw might emerge as a dominant mode in the future.
On the other hand, if the safety aspects are evaluated for its occupants and drivers, then it might be rated as one of the riskiest modes. It could lead to a fatal accident on trivial grounds; for example, one lady has already been killed due to its poor braking mechanism; she was suffocated to death as her scarf got entangled with its wheel. Moreover, if its braking mechanism be rectified retaining all features unaltered; then it might be turned into a more risky mode, because its light body-weight coupled with higher centre of gravity might lead it to be overturned; if hard brake be applied at higher speed. Furthermore, the seating height is riskily high; thus the combined effect of higher speed and fall from raised seat might lead to grievous injury to its passengers in particular; while the drivers could suffer the same fate. Thus it could end up in a single vehicle fatal accident.
However, as opposed to this scenario, this new mode holds an immense potentiality to address the gridlock problem of the capital city. The gridlock problem started growing steadily with the thriving of car population as a result of banning of ordinary rickshaw on account of being a slow moving traffic. Thus the authority indulged in the surge of space-inefficient mode - cars; that ultimately leads to the deadly gridlock problem. But, this mode is no more a slow traffic (considering urban environment of the country) like ordinary rickshaws. Accordingly, it should be permitted on all roads; because, it is neither a slow nor a space-inefficient mode rather environment friendly - thus, it could serve as a replacement for cars; which is the main reason for current logjam problem. But, obviously this new mode must undergo necessary modification/rectification or retrofitting works based on automobile engineering standpoints for safety and road worthiness issues.
On the other hand, the government's prime dilemma is the extra loading on supply crunched electricity. The human pedal-powered generator system could work as a battery charging device that could lessen the pressure on the national grid to a great extent. Thus this mode holds a great potentiality - that is why the importance for establishment of 'effective' transport research institute is so such crucial, though that would be a small part of the overall tasks, to make them a popular and common mode by addressing road-worthiness, energy-efficiency and safety considerations.
Moreover, for reducing gridlock problem the following additional measures need to be underscored:
(1) Strict regulation should be imposed on the cars for best use of road space which is extremely insufficient. (2) No parking on the existing pavement while mission would be 'full utilizations of road space' - (i) this could be greatly achieved by converting ground floors of all shopping malls/centres into parking lots for rickshaws and existing markets/shopping centres might be shifted to upper levels. In this respect, one thing is extremely bewildering as to why are the authorities allowing such a huge number of shopping malls/centres/ residential building-cum-shopping centres without considering parking space for rickshaws in particular? While it is quite explicit that it is also contributing to traffic jam problem to a great extent as half of the road width is being used as parking lots. (ii) it has been observed that intersections are mainly used as parking places; accordingly, adjacent lands/shops should be requisitioned/ acquisitioned for parking lots. (3) According to the requirements, this new mode should be divided into two modes (i) a substitute for cycle rickshaw (ii) a substitute for CNG-run auto-rickshaw by extra widening and employing extra manpower, if necessary, for paddle power generator to meet added power requirement; to supplement the shortage of CNG and thus reducing its fares. (3) Maximization of double-decker buses, while the intensity of trips must vary with demands over time and days; moreover, it needs to be of different categories in terms of service facilities to cater to the need of all classes of passengers. Besides, the plying of minibuses should be banned as soon as possible not only for reducing traffic jam but also for improving air quality; which has been rated as the worst in a survey. Thus, using full road space with space-efficient modes would dispel the gridlock problem to a great extent leading to overall improvement of road traffic situation in the city. Â
The writer is a Traffic cum Road Safety Engineer. Email: himu120@yahoo.co.nz
Battery-run cycle-rickshaws and easing traffic jam
Md ShamsulArefin | Published: May 17, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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