An NGO has organized a series of actions in an attempt to reduce the number of two-stroke engines on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh. See ECFD Profile 190 to learn about this interesting example of sustainability work in progress.

Commentary on the ESDO Dhaka demonstration:
We feel that this is an excellent initiative, both for the people and city of Dhaka, and as a fine example of how people and groups in other places can move from being passive observers to focused activists ready to make a useful contribution to their community. This is the first major trickle up effort of this sort known to us that has targeted two-stroke engines in this way.

South-east Asian cities and their people are suffering enormously from the impacts of their present chaotic and unthought out transportation arrangements. It is our view that the solution, at least in the near term, does not lay in investing billions in metro systems or other such magic wands, but in coming to grips with the contradictions that are out there in the streets today. Because of the economic, social and political delicacy of everything that has to do with transport, the many and major changes that are needed must have strong public support. They must be doable without large injections of cash. And they must target the needs of all levels of society, with particular attention to those who are most disadvantaged.

Two wheeled vehicles continue to be one of the most elusive areas for sound transport policy and practice, and it has to be said that until now no clear model has as yet emerged as to how they should best be treated. They certainly constitute an enormous menace to well-being in many ways. On the other hand, there are strong arguments for them out there in the real world, including not least of which their sheer presence and numbers, and that is a fact that needs to be faced. Starting with two-stroke engines and all the environmental and health menaces that they bring with them as ESDO is going in Bangladesh is, in our view, a great way to begin.

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