Rickshaw Transports in West Bengal

Rickshaw is a mode of transport, which in West Bengal is available almost always as human - powered. The word Rickshaw derives from jinrikisha, which literally means human-powered vehicle in Japanese. They were introduced in Kolkata in the year 1900 by the Chinese immigrants but stayed back as a popular mode of transportation. For those residing outside west Bengal, Rickshaw has been immortalized by Dominique Lapierre's City of Joy. Several streets in West Bengal have been closed for heavy vehicles for safety and rickshaws are the only option in such streets. They are perfect for short distance traveling and are preferred by many when one wants to reach exactly near his destination over a short distance. Rickshaws can easily glide through narrow lanes and streets and so are always in demand.

In West Bengal rickshaws is a non polluting form of transport and at the same time affordable though charging more than buses and trains. A runner draws a two-wheeled cart in a rickshaw. In West Bengal one has the option of choosing from Bicycle Pedaled Rickshaw, Manual Pull Rickshaw and Cycle Van Rickshaw. The Bicycle Pedaled Rickshaw and the Manual Pull Rickshaw seats two people in each of them but kids are allowed with extra fare. Cycle Van Rickshaw is used for carrying goods as well. These rickshaws operate in the whole of West Bengal but in select parts of Kolkata because of security reasons. They were introduced in Kolkata in the year 1900 by the Chinese immigrants but stayed back as a popular mode of transportation.

For some, rickshaws plying in West Bengal are an essential mode of transport. Some others have raised the issue of violating human rights as this is a highly labor intensive job for the rickshaw puller.