Delhi sees return of cycle rickshaws

A large number of new model cycle rickshaws are making their presence felt in the capital's residential areas.

Bright, colourful and comfortable these cycle rickshaws are now ubiquitous in the capital, as common as the motorised autorickshaw and the yellow and black taxi cabs.

From Mayur Vihar and Shahdara in the East to Paschim Vihar and Rajouri Garden in the West and Ashok Vihar and Shakti Nagar in the North to Kotla Mubarakpur and Lajpat Nagar in the South, this mode of transport is becoming more and more popular.

Spacious and safe, it is being preferred by both the owner and the passenger.

Says a passenger Mridula Seth, "Now there is no fear of slipping right off the inclined seat. Previously I used to cling to the sides of the rickshaw for fear of falling off. But this new rickshaw with upright seats is so comfortable that I do not have to be quite so frightened for my safety!"

The latest design vehicle is also easier for the rickshaw driver to pull because it is lighter. It has a better balance and is thus less prone to accidents. The passenger seat unit is a tubular frame with nylon straps woven on, which is light and provides comfortable and safe seating with adequate suspension, giving a jerk-free ride.

The new rickshaw also has a spacious seating area with a canopy over it which gives the passenger ample head space.

Compared to the old rickshaw that weighed 80 kilograms, the new leaner version weighs 55 kilograms with the height of footrest at 1.5 feet. It is priced at Rs4,000, whereas the old model was worth Rs3,500.

The new version is the product of collaboration between design engineers from the United States and India. Explains Rajendra Ravi, Director, Lokayan, a Delhi-based organisation that works in the non-motorised vehicle sector, "It is an outcome of the extensive all-round research we undertook for several years."

A non-government organisation, Lokayan took it rather seriously when in 1997 the Supreme Court passed a judgement that there was a need to preserve historical heritage, which was being destroyed due to pollution.

"It became imperative to provide pollution-free conveyance in the areas around Taj Mahal," says Ravi.

Even while Lokayan had been working out the modalities, in came a U.S.-based NGO, International Transport Development Policy (ITDP), which managed funds and distributed the newly improvised rickshaws to 100 rickshaw pullers in Agra during the year 2000.

"Initially rickshaw-pullers were hesitant but soon the likeness caught up with them as passengers preferred the new model to its rickety old cousin," informs Ravi.

Its presence in the capital followed soon after.

Explains Lokayan director, "Rickshaw pullers had a misconception that the earlier heavier version of the rickshaw was more stable and could take a heavier load. But after having used the lightweight models, they realised that it is not only easy to pull, but equally has the capacity to take a heavy load."

With demand for the new model rising, many look-a-likes have also made appearance. Local garages procure new frames and fix it to the front portion of an older bicycle, thus giving it a new look.

Also many rickshaw owners running old vehicles but at the same time not wanting to lose customers are merely going in for a seat change. Although the seating arrangement becomes passenger-friendly, the vehicle remains quite heavy.

The much-needed improvement on a vehicle that had remained relatively unchanged ever since it came into existence in the 1930s has found all-round acceptance.