rkk

The Delhi High Court has banned cycle rickshaws from the Chandni Chowk area. A resonably balanced view on the issue can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5388374.stm

What do you folks think: is it a good or bad move?

Rajesh.

varun

I think its a good move..b'coz cycle rickshaws creates lots of problem for vehicles as well as for pedestrians. Theses rickshaws also cause traffic jam in Chandni Chowk area.

But will it implemented?

prabhat

All Right: I think there should be seperate place for rickshaw-pullers...If we have seperate place for rickshaw-pullers...then there is no chance for traffic jam. What do you think about it????

road runner

... " A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"
Plying through chandni chowk area is really a tedious exercise in itself. And I really appreciate this move by The Delhi High Court to ban cycle rickshaws from the Chandni Chowk area. Good Riddance...

bedi

I am aware that there is likely to be some debate on feasibility of restricting Rickshaws to the periphery of the Pune city. I urge the readers to join me in having a long-term vision of Pune. There is already a huge problem with the unregulated manner in which the Rickshaw drivers behave. Refusing to take short rides, driving dangerously and adulteration of the fuel are some issues we commonly encounter along with occasional rude behavior.

Yet there are several other reasons for banning the rickshaws from the city center –

1. Unlike the cars, which are improving in their safety measures through stringent crash tests, there is no study to suggest that the rickshaws in India and rest of the world are safe. This is one big reason why the Western world has banned three wheelers from their roads. Unfortunately this is true even for electric rickshaws, which may be silent and also non-polluting but just as dangerous.

2. There is evidence showing that Rickshaws hamper use of Public Transport. It is well documented that banning 6 seated rickshaws (from Jan 04) led to an increase in bus use and also profits of PMT in the periphery of Pune.

3. If the report, Pune Action Plan by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is accurate, the Road Traffic Authority has already stopped registering new 3 wheelers in the city. Indeed with phasing out of old rickshaws, a time will come when there are no rickshaws on Pune streets.

4. With a modern Public Transport Bus Service which is user-friendly, well-priced, and well operated in regards the routes, frequency and comforts – one will hope the rickshaw use decreases. Indeed if you have bus stops within 5-7 minutes of your home or work place, who will need a rickshaw? In London buses have enough places for even big suitcases, prams & wheelchairs. It is common for people to travel with their luggage to train stations and airports. Only emergency situations may require use of a Taxi service and a modern city should have a highly regulated taxi service provided by energy efficient 4 wheelers. The cost of buying a 4 wheeler is huge in comparison to a 3 wheeler and consequently we will have just the right number on streets. Also the consumer will have to pay more and hence use it only when needed.

5. Mumbai is a classic example where banning 3 wheelers from south-central city has helped enormously. Anyone who has been to Mumbai can tell you how horrific it would be if rickshaws were allowed in places like Girgaum or Dadar.

__________________
Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate and when it counts most,be the Man he was raised to be.

ruchi

--Excellent One..Bedi...

rkk

I think autorickshaws and rickshaws do have a place in the transport system as feeders to nearby bus routes for people who don't live within walking distance from bus stops. This is especially true for people living in suburbs on the outskirts of cities. It is also clear that they should not create congestion on main bus routes and city centres. I think the solution lies sensibile in regulation regarding where they can and cannot go, rather than outright banning.

prem

• Cycle-rickshaws are the future solution to Delhi's air pollution. “In Delhi alone cycle-rickshaws make more than one crore short-distance trips in a day, saving huge government investments in parking and thousands of crores of rupees that would otherwise have been spent on motorised transport for the same number of trips.
  
• A study carried out by CSE in Ambedkar Nagar shows that over 60 per cent commuters travel by public transport buses that use up 8 per cent road space, while cars move only 20 per cent people and take over 75 per cent road space. Bicycles move 20 per cent passengers and use 18 per cent road space.
  
• It is the cars that have taken over road space and need to be taken off the road by introducing a dense network of Metro trains, High Capacity Bus System, and Light Rail System with auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws providing the feeder services.It is the cars that have taken over road space and need to be taken off the road by introducing a dense network of Metro trains, High Capacity Bus System, and Light Rail System with auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws providing the feeder services.
• As for Old Delhi, it is the motorised vehicles that need to be banned so that the rickshaws can provide noiseless, pollution-free, door-to-door service in the narrow streets and bylanes

Banning the cycle-rickshaws is only going to compound the environmental and socio-economic problems in the city, planners and experts say. So let the wheels be set in motion to let the rickshaw claim its pride of place on roads.

The cycle-rickshaws are already providing feeder services at 50 metro stations, including the Delhi University station etc and they need to be formally integrated with our public transport system.

Info Source

sameer

Here is why Delhi needs Rickshaws:

• R- Risk of Accidents less than other vehicles
• I- Income for Poor
• C- Causes no Congestion(Takes Small Space in Road)
• K- Keeps City Clean
• S- Solution to Parking Problems
• H- Heritage Value
• A- Appropriate for Short Distance Trips
• W- When not overloaded, is safe in crowded places
• S- Saves Fuel( Bio-Economic)....You see...