This, combined with the fact that it can be converted for passengers or goods, makes it extra useful in rural areas. Traditional rickshaws have only a front brake and accidents are common as a result of this. In Bangladesh, for example, the vast majority of the country s one million rickshaws are fleet-owned. The owner will rent out up to 100 rickshaws a day and live handsomely on the profits. She or he has a vested interest in making sure that nothing changes.
Rickshaw drivers are also suspicious of change.
Although they are severely exploited they view new developments with scepticism for fear of being exploited further. The tric-shaw is not going to take the country by storm. After the locust Preparing for famine Drought and locusts have combined to threaten famine once again in northern Ethiopia. The RRC blames the failure of the rains earlier this year and widespread locust infestations for the situation. The provinces most severely affected are Eritrea, Tigray and Wollo which witnessed some of the most harrowing scenes in the one of the highest anywhere and last famine.