E-bikes
Every time the authorities residing in their ivory towers come up with a new gimmick to solve the perennial headache of Dhaka's traffic jam, they never fail to amaze me with the depths of their ignorance. The latest official nightmare is electrically re-charged battery operated 3-wheel auto-rickshaws (e-bikes) that consume 250 MW of electricity, which is a waste. So it must be banned!
If the so-called authorities had the eyes to see the paucity of city roads to accommodate the private cars, and the will and intelligence to recognise what exactly causes traffic jams in Dhaka, they would not even think about banning e-bikes, but take steps to encourage its use. They are the appropriate mode of transport and an excellent alternative to rickshaws and baby taxis for over 50 lacs Dhakabashis who venture forth every day to go to their jobs, schools, bazaars, visits etc. What is 250 MW, when you get in exchange an affordable, environmentally clean, fast, safe means of transport at your doorstep? Have they ever voiced similar concerns at the much greater so-called “Systems Loss”, which is another name for barefaced theft?
A few days ago headlines proclaimed the concerned minister's latest “Lollipop”- the import of hundreds of large buses shortly. Will these buses venture into Dhaka's narrow pot-holed lanes filled to the brim with parked private cars? Will they be available to carry the old, the infirm, disabled, women, children and those with heavy bags? How will such people go from their homes to the bus stop and vice versa?
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