| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 151 | Harry Duran | |
| 152 | Anonymous | |
| 153 | Emily | |
| 154 | Kristin | |
| 155 | Anonymous | I think this is a wonderful idea! I also feel that it is important to keep the neighborhood filled with independent and small bussiness. ( void of starbucks!). |
| 156 | Christopher Carbone | I fully support the idea of a carfree Bedford Avenue. I have been living in the area for over 6 years. Thank you. |
| 157 | kelley raymond | |
| 158 | danielle rem | this is incredible! yippeeeeeeee!!!! |
| 159 | Bernardo Valdes | |
| 160 | Brian Jimenez | |
| 161 | Kevin Bishop | |
| 162 | Tony Marco | |
| 163 | Jose | |
| 164 | Nancy Ruiz | |
| 165 | Anonymous | |
| 166 | Mitch Mangum | |
| 167 | Meghan Adams | |
| 168 | Anonymous | |
| 169 | Katie Rains | Live in Williamsburg, love the neighborhood, but being from the Pacific Northwest miss green stuff, LOVE the idea of having some greenspace on Bedford Ave! Plus there is plenty of parking elsewhere, how big of a deal would it be to just have one road for the community? |
| 170 | Anonymous | |
| 171 | Anonymous | |
| 172 | Vincent Bezemer | |
| 173 | Anonymous | |
| 174 | Anonymous | Fuel Consumption and Environmental Impact of Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka
Dear all
Most trips in Dhaka are short in distance, usually one to five kilometers. These trips are perfect of Rickshaws. Rickshaws are cheap and popular mode of transport over short distances. Rickshaws are safe, environmentally friendly and do not rely on fossil fuels. Rickshaws support a significant portion of the population, not only the pullers, but also their families in the villages, the mechanics who fix the rickshaws, as well as street hawkers who sell them food. From the raw materials to the finished product the Rickshaw employs some 38 different professions. Action needs to be taken to support the Rickshaw instead of further banning it in Dhaka . The combined profits of all Rickshaws out earn all other passenger transport modes (bus, rail, boats and airlines) combined. In Dhaka alone, Rickshaw pullers combine to earn 20 million taka a month.
We think that over the coming holiday of Eid du Ajah, new Rickshaw bans will be put into action on roads in Dhaka . Eid was used in the past to place new bans on roads in Dhaka . Last Eid many roads were declared Rickshaw free without public support or approval. By banning Rickshaws roads are clogged with increased private car use as well as increased parking by cars. Banning of Rickshaws on major roads increases the transportation costs for commuters. Not only due to longer trips to avoid roads with bans in effect, but also due to actually having to take more expensive forms of transport such as CNG or Taxi, where in the past a Rickshaw would suffice. The environmental impact of banning Rickshaws is obvious because it exchanges a non-motorized form of transport for a motorized form of transport, thus increasing the pollution and harming the environment. Rickshaw bans harm the most vulnerable in society, mainly the sick, poor, women, children and the elderly; generally those who can not afford or do not feel comfortable on other forms of public transport. To ban Rickshaws also hurts small businesses that rely on them as a cheap and reliable form of transporting their goods. Rickshaws are ideal for urban settings because they can transport a relatively large number of passengers while taking up a small portion of the road. In 1998 the data showed that Rickshaws took up 38% of road space while transporting 54% of passengers in Dhaka . The private cars on the other hand, took up 34% of road space while only transporting 9% of the population (1998 DUTP). This data does not include the parking space on roads that cars take up in Dhaka . If included this would further raise the amount of space taken up by private cars. Every year the Rickshaw saves Bangladesh 100 billion taka in environmental damage.
The government makes many efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka but with no success. Blaming Rickshaws for traffic congestion and subsequently banning them from major roads has not had the desired affect. Traffic is still as bad now as it was before the Rickshaws were banned on major roads. Rickshaws thus can not be seen as the major cause of traffic congestion. Instead one should look towards private cars and private car parking on roads as the major cause of traffic congestion. The space gained by banning Rickshaws is often used for private car parking. The current trend in transport planning reduces the mobility of the majority for the convenience of the minority. The next time a ban on Rickshaws on another road is discussed please take into consideration who is being hurt and who is being helped. For a better transport system in Dhaka we need to create a city wide network of Rickshaw lanes. If this is done Dhaka can reduce its fuel usage dramatically as well its pollution. We ask your help in our fight to keep Dhaka a Rickshaw city. Any information or help is very much appreciated and sought after. I write you this letter to describe the difficulties we are facing and some solutions but they are by no means exhaustive and we look forward to your help and input.
Syed Saiful Alam Shovan
Volunteer
Save Environment Movement
House # 58/1, Kalabagan 1st lane
Dhanmondi, Dhaka,Bangladesh
Email shovan1209@yahoo.
www environmentmovementbd.org. |
| 175 | Cindy Rotella | |
| 176 | Arlene Domalanta | This is the very thought for people with common sense to adopt as it is plain and obvious that Bedford Avenue can be safer for the pedestrians that inhabit the area more and more by the minute. |
| 177 | adrienne mercante | brilliant! make it happen. |
| 178 | Kate Trainor | Car-free Brooklyn? I'm down. |
| 179 | Anonymous | Outstanding idea! It's not easy to change paradigms, but good luck. I hope more neighborhoods will try the same. |
| 180 | Quinn | It's a wonderful idea. And if people who drive can't walk two blocks to their stores, they have issues. Bedford Avenue has always been busy, is really busy, & will always be be busy no matter what. The business owners will probably be making money. |
| 181 | Ian Diaz | I will always support these types of campaigns whose sole purposes are to improve the life style of our communities and bring identity to the neighborhoods we love! |
| 182 | Anonymous | |
| 183 | Jesus | I'm all for it and i own a car. |
| 184 | robin scott | entirely support a great idea like this! |
| 185 | William Seidel | This measure would greatly increase commercial value and exposure for bedford area merchants. |
| 186 | Laura Janer | |
| 187 | John Lott | Sweet |
| 188 | Anonymous | |
| 189 | Anonymous | |
| 190 | KEVIN DANIELSKI | let's preserve what's left of OUR BURG! |
| 191 | Anonymous | |
| 192 | lisa ingram | This would be absolutely wonderful and vital in creating a sense of community!! |
| 193 | Anonymous | |
| 194 | Liane Moccia | I think the quality of life would definitely be improved. Bedford Promenade! |
| 195 | Eileen Regan | |
| 196 | Anonymous | |
| 197 | Ralph Serzo | |
| 198 | Louis Gruber | |
| 199 | Riley Kubly | |
| 200 | Andrew Corso | Oh wow! What a great idea. This has worked great in Burlington VT, Boulder CO, and many other towns in the US. Why not Williamsbug? |