New rules may bring pedicabbies to heel
By Helen Gao
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
April 4, 2008
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
April 4, 2008
SAN DIEGO – Pedicabs have proliferated so much in downtown San Diego over the past decade, the city is planning tougher regulations to rein in the muscle-powered three-wheelers.
Overview
Background: More than 400 pedicabs operate in San Diego, mostly in the Gaslamp Quarter, at the waterfront and near Petco Park.What's changing:
The city, working with pedicab owners and police, is trying to develop better regulations. A proposed ordinance calls for limiting the number of pedicabs in certain areas and requiring them to prominently post fares and other vital information.The future: The ordinance is being presented to community groups for input. It's expected to reach the City Council in the fall.
Working with police and downtown businesses, city regulators are proposing to restrict the number of pedicabs in certain zones and require all to prominently post fares.
Zones would be carved out in downtown, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla. Only a certain number of pedicabs with special decals would be allowed in those zones, but how many has not been determined.
Pedicabbies with a city permit currently can roam pretty much anywhere in San Diego to pick up passengers. They are concentrated along the waterfront, Gaslamp Quarter and around Petco Park. If a limit on pedicabs is set, those without restricted-zone decals would have to find fares elsewhere. The proposed ordinance also includes safety and consumer protection measures. For example, pedicabs would have to be marked with numbers assigned by the city and the company's name and phone number – requirements meant to give consumers information for calling in complaints.
The ordinance would reiterate that the California Vehicle Code applies to pedicabs; some drivers have been accused of being reckless. Pedicabbies would have to carry proof of insurance, and their vehicles could be impounded if the operators lack a valid California driver's license.
Pedicabs also would be prohibited from being parked in metered spaces. Downtown businesses have complained that pedicabs take up spaces meant for patrons. Zones where pedicabs can pick up and drop off passengers would be created instead.
Brad Jacobsen, a city associate traffic engineer, said pedicabs have reached a saturation point.
“There are some problems with sheer numbers. You do reach a threshold where it ceases to be a street ambience, where it starts to become a little bit of a nuisance,” Jacobsen said.
“We want to strike that balance. We think by putting a little bit more restriction on this and by bringing the numbers down a little bit, it will really benefit the businesses.”
Police estimate there are more than 400 pedicabs in the city. Some already post their fares. Drivers typically lease their vehicles from companies. How much they make depends on their ability to lure passengers.
At peak times, such as the summer or during major conventions, the ranks of pedicab drivers swell. Many come in from out of town and some arrive from out of the country.
“It gets really bad when everybody comes in from Russia, Poland, Turkey and Brazil,” said Holmes Walton, a local who has been driving a pedicab on and off for three years. “The market just gets flooded.”
Joao Ferreira of Brazil, who has been driving a pedicab for about three months, agrees that there are sometimes too many pedicabs, creating an environment that is “bad for business, bad for sidewalks and bad for traffic.” Jacobsen said the city hasn't decided on a method to distribute the decals.
“We are trying to do this in an equitable manner so nobody corners the market,” he said.
The proposed ordinance is being floated around different communities for input and is expected to go before the City Council in the fall.
Jimmy Parker, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association, which represents more than 400 businesses, welcomes better regulation.
Parker has heard anecdotal complaints about unfair charges for rides, so he is pleased with the proposed requirement to post fares. Most of the complaints he has heard are about pedicabs being on sidewalks, driving recklessly and taking up parking spots.
While the proposed regulations have drawn favorable reactions downtown, the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board has expressed skepticism.
Board member Joe LaCava is concerned that pedicabs would disperse from downtown to places like La Jolla, where they may not be wanted.
“If you've got a problem downtown, fix the problem downtown,” LaCava said. “Don't do anything that might push the problem elsewhere.”
Jacobsen said the reason why zones are being considered outside of downtown is to address the potential problem of pedicabs migrating outward.
Downtown motor Officer Scott Thompson believes once the stricter rules are in place, fly-by-night operations – and some of the problems – would disappear. Thompson stressed that pedicabs provide a valuable service for tourists and he wants to see them stay.
“We are just trying to make the industry more viable rather than tear the industry down,” he said.
[Thanks to my big brother for the heads up on this news.]
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Rickshaw: Environment Comrade Vehicle’s Departure
November 6, 2007 by Md. Arafatul Islam
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“I am pulling rickshaw for seven years. My house is in Rampur district. My Father-Mother, Sister-Brother lives in the village. I send them two thousand taka every month. I pass my life in Dhaka with rest money” - Md. Deloar Hossain said this with hesitation. This twenty seven years old rickshaw puller has not married yet. He can not think about his marry for his low income.
Abdul Malek Raton of Tangile has lost his everything at the time of the flood of eighty eight. After that, he has come to Dhaka. At first he started rickshaw pulling. I asked what your present condition is. He answered “My income was sound through rickshaw pulling initially. Three or four hundred taka existed everyday in my pocket. I was passing my happy life with one son and two daughters. Suddenly, pulling rickshaw on highway was stopped. My income has got down to half. Now I earn one or one fifty taka daily. I married off my daughters under compulsion. Child marriage? He said yes. I had nothing to do else. I could not feed them if I not married off them. Now, my income is diminishing gradually. Road is going to be closed.
These are the depositions of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka. Poverty Reduction Strategy has been made. But poverty is not diminishing. On the other hand, authority is decreasing the income of rickshaw pullers through restricting rickshaw pulling. Their spending of life is becoming more and more critical. Economy is degrading.
Confiscated rickshaw
Restricting rickshaw was initiated at the reign of formal government H. M. Ershad. Then restricting rickshaw was announced in Motejhel area suddenly. Rickshaw pullers did movement against this announcement. Then, government of that time counted rickshaw through licensing. But rickshaw restricting program was ineffective in a few days. After that, pulling rickshaw in capital is restricted frequently from 2002.Rickshaw pulling from Gabtoly to Rasel square was restricted on that time. Next, rickshaw pulling from Rasel square to Ajempur was restricted from 17 December 2004. Arguments of authorities
ware same behind restricting rickshaw pulling .They claimed that rickshaw is the main cause of traffic jam. Speed of mechanical vehicles increased from 15 to20 kilometers per hour for restricting rickshaw pulling from Gabtoly to Kolabagan of Mirpur road. Subsequently, rickshaw was restricted on several roads including Aliphand road, Shabag road,Motsho Bhaban road, Presclub road. But, what is the effect of restricting rickshaw on rickshaw pullers? The answer of this question is found in a report of Human Development Recherché Centre (HDRC). According to this report, the monthly income of rickshaw pullers has decreased by 32% for restricting rickshaw on above roads. The average income of the rickshaw pullers of these roads was three thousand eight hundred thirty six taka which is now two thousand six hundred taka only.
On the other hand, rickshaw passenger Shoriful Rahman claimed that people’s trouble has increased for restricting rickshaw. According to his view, getting bus is so distressing at office time. We have to remain standing for a long time to get setting service bus. Then, seat is not available after getting bus. He said that I went to my office in Dhanmondi by rickshaw before the restriction of rickshaw. It was quite time killing but comfortable. Girls’ suffering has also increased for restricting rickshaw. Sumona Mallik, student of Eden collage, said, “I face a lot of trouble at intervals when I receive blow of passengers at the time of getting up in local bus. Besides, I can not get any auto rickshaw or taxicab because it is so costly for me. From all perspectives, rickshaw was suitable for us.” We have known through a local investigation that at present rickshaw is restricted on Science laboratory road, New elephant road even Bata signal road. In spite of this initiative traffic jam is available on these roads almost every time. So, question arises about the effectiveness of restricting rickshaw to remove traffic jam.
Endangered economy
What is the condition of your income after restricting rickshaw? I asked this question to rickshaw puller Robiul. He answered, “We are facing big trouble for restricting rickshaw on high way. Our income has decreased to twelve-sixteenth part. Now, my income is half. I can not send money to my family like before. I have brought my youngest son in city for selling nut to increase my income separating him from his school. Now, many rickshaw pullers’ life is as difficult as rickshaw puller Robiul’s life. We have been informed from an investigation of Technology Today that an enormous number of rickshaw pullers’ families live in village. For this reason, we are observing direct reaction against decreasing the income of rickshaw pullers from the villages. According to HRC’s research, rickshaw pullers expended 64% of their monthly income personally and sent 36% of their monthly income to their family in village. At present, the rates have decreased excessively. For this reason, poverty has increased in villages. Rickshaw pullers’ live is becoming more and more uncertain.
Now, rickshaw pullers have to work hard because of their falling income. Rickshaw pullers who worked half-day are trying to work full-day now. Many rickshaw pullers had driven rickshaw for 15 to 20 days and went to their families in village for rest. But that state does not exist now. They have decreased their time of taking rest. According to a survey of WBB trust, rickshaw pullers exceed 30 thousand miles with passengers and carry almost 100 ton goods to nearer distances every year. Vehicles which are not mechanical are the place of work for almost 80% people. 85% vehicles of small roads
are not mechanical. Rickshaw pulling and repairing is the job sector of almost 12 lack 50 thousand people in Bangladesh. Seventy five percent of them are in cities. Almost 50 lack people are depended on rickshaw pulling for their livelihood.
Gin pig Bangladesh
World Carfree Network claims that World Bank is working behind extirpating rickshaw from Dhaka. World Bank thinks that driving rickshaw and mechanical vehicles on similar road creates much more traffic jam. More black smoke is emerged from vehicles for more traffic jam. It harms the environment. Besides, it takes augmented time for communication. For these reasons, rickshaw should be extirpated from the roads of Dhaka.
But many people are not prohibiting this logic of World Bank. According to source, World Bank wants to remove the vehicles which are not mechanical and increase the presence of mechanical vehicles on the road of Dhaka city. Dependence on mechanical vehicles will increase through this initiative. Bangladesh has insufficient oil to drive mechanical vehicles. For this reason we will have to be depended on foreigners to fulfill our required oil. World Bank wants to create dependency on foreign vehicles instead of local vehicles.
World Bank has initiated Dhaka Urban Transport Project at Dhaka in Bangladesh. Why Dhaka city is the gin pig of their experiment among the world? Rickshaw ejecting expedition is under this project. We have known about this project and ejecting rickshaw from World Bank’s website that travel time has decreased by 30 percent at rickshaw free zones of Dhaka. According to a research, rickshaw free zone users have supported this process. But previous rickshaw pullers and passengers of short distance of present rickshaw free zones are the sufferers of this process. According to the information of the research, World Bank is thinking about the rehabilitation of the sustaining a loss rickshaw pullers. Bangladesh government have already taken a project to rehabilitate the rickshaw pullers. Almost 15 million dollars will be expended to train the rickshaw pullers for creating alternative employment. Professor Anu Mohammad, distinguished economist, said about the rickshaw ejecting and rehabilitation project that poor or lower- middle-class people are not regarded in the transportation planning of Dhaka city. But many people of this city do movements through walking and rickshaw. Lower-middle-class and middle-class people are very much depended on rickshaw. Private car has got much more emphasis in the transportation planning which has been prepared according to the instruction of World Bank. But the number of private car rider in Dhaka is only 5 percent.
World Bank gave fifteen million dollars
World Bank gave fifteen million US dollars as a grant on 31 May for the rehabilitation of rickshaw pullers. This money will be expended for only the rehabilitation of poor rickshaw pullers. This money will be used appropriately by Palli Karma Shohayok Foundation (PKSF). Samsuddin Ahmad, senior economic expert and project team leader of World Bank, said to news organization that this grant will operate the rehabilitation project successfully. This money will be used for 3.50 million rickshaw
pullers and almost 3 lack 35 thousand poor people of city. Hopefully, this fund will assist the sufferers of ejecting rickshaw. But Professor Anu Mohammad has different opinion about the usage of this fund of World Bank. He said that majority of the plans in our country are depended on getting fund of World Bank. For this reason, these plans are disordered and against public interest in most cases. Person interest is also related with these plans. Recently, World Bank has given 15 million dollars for ejecting rickshaw and rehabilitation. A cruel matter is related with this issue because rickshaw pullers have no definite residence. They will not be available after the ejection of them. At that moment, this money of rickshaw pullers will be sent to consultants and NGOs. So, rickshaw pullers will be neglected. We went to know about the rehabilitation project of rickshaw pullers from the rickshaw pullers. They said that they know nothing about this project. Old rickshaw puller Hasam said, I am becoming older now. I do not work as much as before. Rehabilitation project of government can be helpful for us. May be I will pass my rest life happily through this project. But anybody else has not said this until now.
Rickshaw puller Blaet said, “What is rehabilitation of rickshaw pullers? Owners of rickshaw want to increase rent but passengers want to pay a lesser amount of rent. I am passing my life with great difficulty. I have known about our rehabilitation at first from you. Today I will ask my owner that how I can get it.” How can I get it?
Save rickshaw
Rickshaw puller Mojebor of Mogbajar said with frustrated voice, I pulled rickshaw from Eskaton to Shabag for 5 taka. I had to pass little distance through highway. But now I have to pass too much distance unnecessarily and I not get just fare according to my labor. It is needed to fix our fare which will be equitable at law.
Mojebor’s home district is Bogura. He earns almost 200 taka daily through rickshaw pulling. He said, I have four members in my family who are totally depended on my income. I have to send them almost two thousand taka every month.
Maruf Rahaman , project officer of WBB trust, said, “We do not cut down our head at the time of headache. We have solution of rickshaw problem. We have to remember that rickshaw is an important vehicle and it is possible to save this vehicle.”
He said, “12 feet wide lanes can be constructed beside the footpaths of main roads of Dhaka. Traffic police have to discharge the accessibility and parking of mechanical vehicles on these lanes.”
He added, “At present many roads of Dhaka are 110 feet wide. It is possible to construct lane on these roads separately for the vehicles which are mechanical and not mechanical.
About the same issue, Anu Muhammad said, “Nobody pulls rickshaw for his enjoyment. Industries are becoming closed and poor people are becoming jobless. Rickshaw
pulling is a open sector of job. In most cases, males come to town for rickshaw pulling at the time of dearth. They return to their village when their condition is better. So, it is a short time job for the poor people and extremely important for the frequenting of middle-class people. Government should build required infrastructure for rickshaw pulling in Dhaka.
Rickshaw is used as a vehicle in 42 cities of North America and 69 cities of the world. Where advanced world has taken rickshaw as an alternative environment comrade vehicle there why we want to eliminate rickshaw? Alternative roads should be constructed for non motorized vehicle rickshaw and bicycle instead of ejecting these. Rickshaw not scatters black smoke ,it does not take much more place to pull as private car as well as there is no alternative of rickshaw for short distance journey. So, people of our country expect that the project of closing employment sector of poor people naming this as rickshaw ejecting and rehabilitation project of World Bank should be stopped.
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