Karachi during the last decade and a half has been afflicted by continuously degrading law and order situation. While the operation by Rangers has to an appreciable extent been successful in containing the incidents of terrorism and other criminal activities, the unsatisfactory situation is likely to persist.
The analysis of available statistics on such malevolent activities reveals that 70 to 80 percent are committed by motorcycle borne criminals. The reasons include greater mobility, easy exit from the scene of incident, low profile/conspicuity and other advantages.
Conscious of the malicious use of this mode of commutation, the federal and provincial governments have often been enforcing a ban on pillion riding, including the mandatory use of helmets by all the occupants. In a city lacking mass transit system and offering it as an alternate, a disgusting and relatively expensive private transport system can only be termed a knee jerk and ad hoc reaction.
It would be instructive to recap some statistics and facts before dwelling upon the solution itself. Currently there are about 1.75 million motorcycles in Karachi, and predicted to increase over 3.5 million by year 2030. Motorcycles besides providing a cheaper mode of travel offer a great deal of flexibility; saving time and psychic cost to low income group.
How do we meet these two diametrically opposite requirements? One possible solution (though not without some preliminary efforts) is in making a sidecar a mandatory requirement for every motorcycle. Following benefits will accrue: (a) it will deny the criminals the advantages of manoeuverability, of getting blended in general public and quick egress; (b) safe mode of travel for 3-4 persons, eventually preventing loss of lives due to accidents and savings at State levels (the cost of treatment and of looking after the disabled motorcyclists); (c) reduced transport problem; (d) enable women to ride motorcycles with relative ease and safety; (e) travelling by motorcycle will become yet cheaper i.e., approximately 1/3rd the cost of travelling by private transport.
Like in any proposal this too entails certain problems, which certainly are resolvable. These are: (a) it will lead to road congestion; (b) additional cost of sidecar; (c) parking problems; (d) government approval to ply such transport; (e) it will create problems for who do not wish motorcycle to be used for family commutation.
Considering the imperative of taking away this potent tool of destruction from the hands of terrorists and criminals while at the same time taking due cognizance of other constraining factors, a hybrid solution as under is proposed: “Motorcycles in Karachi may only be allowed with the proviso that they have a sidecar. For those not willing to opt for this may be offered to purchase low powered electronic motorbikes.”
To make the proposal workable and viable, following additional measures will have to be initiated by the government: (a) undertake necessary changes in the transport rules to allow the use of sidecars with the motorcycles; (b) offer sidecars on subsidised rates by entering into agreement with selected manufacturers; (c) further, there is a need to standardise the model for safety reasons; (d) reduce the cost by effecting economies of scale and offering the sidecars on installments and micro credit programmes; (e) reduce private transport and create separate lanes for motorcyclists, wherever feasible; and (f) reduce duties on motorcycles.
SHAHRIYAR NAWAZ HAQ
Karachi
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