A response to the Jan 13 article "Crack down on
cyclos"
Editor:
Is there anything that a cyclo cannot carry?
While heading to work today I was amazed at the variety of things; One had a
huge basket of eggs, another coconuts, another charcoal, another steel rods for
construction and even a number with people in them. In short, cyclos seem to be
the trucks of Phnom Penh and if you need some labor the drivers are the laborers
as well.
How do we repay these city servants? Lately it seems that the
cyclo drivers are taking the brunt of the traffic problems of the city. I do not
really understand that. They seem to be the only ones who signal what they are
about to do. Well that's not altogether true, four wheeled vehicles also signal
when they are about to move traffic out of their way. I know because I do it
too.
The problem with cars and land cruisers is that they take up the
space of about 4 cyclos, frequently carry only one person and guzzle foreign
petrol. According to the article, "If they (cyclos) collide with your car even
if you are in the right-you never get compensation because you know how much
money they make a day." I have never seen a cyclo win in any accident. Which has
more to loose in an accident? A one and a half ton truck going 30-40 kph or a
200 pound cyclo going 10 kph? Of course a cyclo always gets the worst and the
poor cyclo driver may loose everything he has.
If there is a problem on
the streets it is the cars and land cruisers. The great majority of Cambodians
seem to be on the 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles. If this is true can someone explain
to me why Norodom Blvd (Tousa-mouth) is off limits to motorcycles, bicycles and
of course cyclos. How about making some streets off limits to trucks, cars and
land cruisers? Nah! Why make room on the streets for the majority of the
Cambodians?
Furthermore, according to the article there is talk of taking
5,000 cyclos off the streets. What will all of those people do after their work
has been taken from them? The ones who are lucky enough to survive the purging
will be hassled by police for penalties because their cyclo isn't the right
color or their roof has a leak.
We should be thanking them and try to
help them by not forcing them off the streets. The crackdown on cyclos is
unwarranted and unfair. I salute the cyclo drivers for providing a great service
to the community at a low price. I salute the women who sweep the streets and
the people who pick up the garbage. All of these people do jobs which we do not
want to do and by doing those tasks make our lives better. I salute you.
- Paul Luchtenburg
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