Illegal ridesharing poses threat to passengers

The number of motorcycles under the ridesharing services is increasing in the capital, with authorities struggling to maintain order, giving rise to accidents, traffic chaos and passenger harassment.

At least three ridesharing service providers stopped running motorcycle services after the outbreak of the Covid-19 as they found that most of the motorcyclists registered with them were not using mobile apps and had been carrying passengers illegally.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority officials said that among the total enlisted motor vehicles under ridesharing services 75 to 80 per cent were motorcycles.

While police blamed these motorcycles for a rising number of road accidents and traffic congestion in Dhaka, rights activists and passengers alleged that shared trips in motorcycles that did not use apps were also becoming increasingly unsafe.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials said that there should be a section in the Road Transport Act 2018 incorporating punishment for violation of the Ridesharing Services Guideline 2017.

The Ridesharing Services Guideline came into effect on March 8, 2018, allowing a commercial use of privately-owned vehicles.

BRTA officials said that integrated initiatives of all stakeholders, including the police and ridesharing service providers, were necessary to resolve the issues relating to it.

Introduced in 2016, the app-based ridesharing services, particularly in Dhaka and other metropolitan cities, have gained popularity and become a full-time earning source for many people.

As of May 19, 2022, 16 ridesharing companies registered with the BRTA, 28,600 vehicles have mandatory enlistment certificates.

Only a handful – around 50 vehicles registered under these companies – is waiting for getting the certificate, said BRTA engineering department officials.

According to the engineering department, out of the vehicles with enlistment certificates, 75 to 80 per cent are motorcycles.

Motorcyclists waiting for passengers have become one of the most common features near road crossings, bus terminals, shopping malls and other busy points in the capital.

Passengers alleged many of them were not using the ridesharing apps but were willing to go to different destinations only on a contract.

They even call out the passengers like – Bhia/Apa, where you will go?

They prefer contract services over apps to avoid paying commissions to ridesharing companies, which ranges from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, motorcyclists said.

Shah Mohammad Azad, who uses ridesharing services on contract to travel from Gulistan to Mirpur, alleged that the drivers providing service on contract normally become reckless as they try to reach destinations as soon as possible.

‘They even don’t want to drop passengers sometimes at the agreed spot,’ he added.

AAM Ahmed Khan, an English-medium schoolteacher, said he usually  avoids sharing trips on contract though they appear cheaper.

‘When I go to Gulshan from Nikunja by using an app the fare comes around Tk 130 to Tk 140. Most motorcyclists ask for Tk 100 if I agree to go contract. But I usually avoid it for safety issues,’ he said.

‘In case of any problem, I don’t know how I will track a motorcyclist with no app. So I don’t take their service,’ he said.

Female passengers said that they often face harassment after sharing trips even with apps.

‘Today I went to Ganabhaban area from Dhanmondi by a motorcycle using app,’ said Samia Morshed, a journalist, adding, ‘after few hours the rider knocked me on Whatsapp and even requested for a photo of mine to see my face as I was wearing a mask during the ride.’

Users from time to time have complained that most of the drivers and riders under the services, especially the motorcyclists, are very unskilled in driving on busy roads of the capital and do not know the traffic rules.

Pathao Limited chief executive officer Fahim Ahmed urged passengers to boycott contract-based trips for their own safety.

‘Riders get no scope to object if users are interested in app-based ridesharing and boycott contract-based trips,’ he said.

Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh secretary general Mozammel Haque Chowdhury told New Age that a huge number of motorcyclists were running the service on a contract. 

‘Oblivious of basic ridesharing concept, these motorcyclists are on roads almost 24 hours as this is their way to earn livelihoods. It increases traffic congestion,’ he said.

Mugging incidents are also common on a contract-based journey, he added.

Fatal accidents involving ridesharing services also take place.

On August 26, 2019, a ride-sharing bike driver died after his throat was slit by unidentified criminals on the 2nd floor of the Malibagh flyover.

The same year on April 25 a student of BRAC University, died on the spot as a covered van hit the motorcycle using an app, which she was riding pillion, at the Agargaon area in Dhaka.

Police arrested the driver of the covered van and the rider of the motorbike for reckless driving and found that the rider provided a fake address and information to the ridesharing company.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional commissioner for traffic Md Munibur Rahman said that motorcycles providing ridesharing services were responsible for traffic gridlock in many areas, especially at bus terminals.

Many motorcyclists wait in queues to take passengers on contract at terminals, he said.

As there is no specific section for a violation of rules in ridesharing services in the 2018 road law they file cases against the drivers for regular breaches, Munibur said.

Mohammad Tabarak Ullah, additional deputy inspector general of police and chief of the 999 national emergency service, told New Age that they had no separate category for dealing with allegations against ridesharing services. 

There was no development in integrating the 999 number with the servers of the ridesharing services, he added.

According to the Ridesharing Services Guideline, an SOS, popularly used as Save our Souls, has to be integrated into the application to send information about the riders and passengers’ Global Positioning System automatically to 999.

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/171449/illegal-ridesharing-poses-threat-to-passengers