Thousands will lose jobs
It seems that many big cities, even in the US, are taking steps to embrace human-powered transportation as a way to reduce pollution and ease traffic congestion. Bicycle lanes, bike-to-work days, and free or low-cost rental bikes are becoming more popular.
In Ho Chi Minh City, however, thousands of bicycle-style cyclos will be banned come June to “clean up” the city's streets.
The cyclos are used as “rickshaws” to carry tourists and other passengers around town. They're also adapted to haul goods and garbage through the streets of Vietnam's capital city formerly known as Saigon. The YouTube video shot from a cyclo shows several in use.
Treasured symbol
In addition to taking these bikes off the streets, the move is expected that the move would put some 60,000 people out of work, according to Gadling.com.
“In an effort to clean up the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, authorities have voted to ban all and four-wheel vehicles; in other words one of the treasured symbols, and livelihoods, of the city. The controversial ban was originally to take place on January 1, 2008, but in a crucial last minute decision, the complete ban was pushed back to June.
“The ban doesn't just affect locals in the tourist transportation business; other jobs like trash collectors which use modified vehicles will also feel the effects of the ban. Until June, cyclos and other modified vehicles can continue to run, but only at night. Giving them an extra six months is intended to allow time for the 60,000 people whose lives depend on the classic mode of transportation to find other means of earning a living.”
The New Zealand Listener says Vietnam is not alone in banning the cyclos. Rickshaws have been banned in Bangkok, Jakarta and all of Pakistan.
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