A discussion meeting was held in Dhaka on “Bicycles Save the City”
On February 16, 2025, a discussion called “Bicycles Save the City” took place in the WBB Trust meeting room. The Institute of Wellbeing Bangladesh and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized this discussion. News – Press note of the Institute of Wellbeing, Bangladesh. News – Press release from the Institute of Wellbeing, Bangladesh.
Traffic congestion and pollution in major Bangladeshi cities, especially Dhaka, have become critical in recent years. Only 5 percent of private cars occupy 70 percent of the roads, creating severe traffic jams.
Traffic jams are costing us thousands of working hours during our daily commutes, harming the economy. Dhaka is one of the top five most polluted cities in the world due to the widespread use of vehicles, contributing to high noise and air pollution.
All these problems are adversely affecting our environment and health. A meeting was held to discourage private car use and promote cycling to reduce carbon emissions and enhance health and the environment.
A bicycle-themed song by Ms. Deborah Ephraimson and Mwaka Lucky, the Executive Director of the Institute of Wellbeing, Bangladesh, was launched at the event. The song was sung by Ms. Deborah Ephraimson, Mwaka Lucky, Nanjiba Sayara, and Fazilatunnesa Chowdhury.
Mr. Mahamudul Hasan, Public Relations Officer of the Institute of Wellbeing, Bangladesh, moderated the event. Mr. Robert Gallagher, a public transport planning expert on Dhaka’s Revised Strategic Transport Plan, and Ms. Gauss Peary, Director of the Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, were featured.
Mr. Robert Gallagher, a public transport planning expert, highlighted the importance of adding bicycle lanes in Dhaka during his talk on the Revised Strategic Transport Plan. He noted the challenges of having various vehicles share the same roads.
Traffic laws are widely ignored. Due to the increasing number of private cars day by day, cycling in Dhaka city is becoming risky. Mr. Robert Gallagher suggests that the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority should take more responsibility to improve discipline in Dhaka’s transportation system.
He gave the example of London, a city, where there are about 2,000 people working in the Transportation Coordination Authority. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, only 200 people are working in the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
As a result, it is not possible to control the transportation system in so many cities. Ms. Gauss Peary, Director of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, said that the current condition of the cities of Bangladesh is very delicate. They are plagued by various problems.
Maybe not all problems can be solved, but some problems can be solved. For example, pollution problems can be reduced by increasing the use of bicycles. It is environmentally friendly and affordable.
If we want to keep our environment and health good, then everyone should be encouraged to ride bicycles. We should encourage people to avoid using private cars to reduce traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions in the city.
The speakers present at the event said that Dhaka metropolis is at the top in noise and air pollution. Bicycles need to be given priority to prevent pollution.
They also said that middle-class and lower-class people have to spend a lot of money every day on transportation. Bicycle prices, cycling environments, lanes, and parking should be affordable, and taxes on bicycles and related components should be lowered.
Representatives from the Uttara Cycle Community, The People’s University of Bangladesh, Daffodil University, Female Cyclists of Bangladesh, Dhaka Ideal Cadet School, UNDP, and others attended a bicycle-themed song launch organized by the Institute of Wellbeing Bangladesh and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust.
Some recommendations emerged from the speakers at the event:
- Play a more effective role in the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
- Increase the manpower of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
- Expand the network of bicycle lanes.
- Formulate a non-motorized vehicle policy for cyclists.
