THE Sunday Stabroek News of June 20, 2010, depicted an extremely dangerous situation, which always worry me, and which has caused me to establish a new business to help the poorer people own a vehicle to transport themselves, their families, and even public and goods transport. The article showed a family of three, wearing helmets, thank God, showing maturity of the responsible rider, but also the reality that he cannot afford a motor car to transport his family.  I have seen similar cases in the past where a child’s leg was cut off after being towed on a motorcycle by his father.  I have seen a motorcycle being used to haul large motor less mobile canteen, along important and busy roadways, sometimes heading for an area of the seawall with all kinds of foods.  The Police do not act as they understand the culture and needs of the situations and try to turn a blind eye. Then there are weak and sick donkeys being beaten mercilessly by owner to haul large loads at fast speeds.  Urinating and messing everywhere.

I am not writing to highlight the affair to affect poor and small families from using motorcycles nor to ask the police to harass them, as this would make life very unbearable.  In Third world countries, it is not unusual to have a cyclist (bicycle) towing his entire family: his wife, his teenager child and two other children.  This is a common occurrence in Guyana, especially in the country area.  In India, while on  a 30-seater bus transporting 30 of us to Rajasthan from Mumbai, I saw a rickshaw that should carry six passengers, carrying thirty, with heads and feet in areas and postures that would boggle the mind, tighter than sardines, with postures that PHYSICS would get confused. All of this in the presence of police everywhere.  They know their population and transport problems.

In answer to this problem, that is, to help people to get cheaper vehicles that can carry a family, cheaper transport for citizens to get to work without the possibility of tumbling or sliding down as is the case with motorcycles, yet with gas mileage of a motorcycle, and also to support our President’s and nation’s campaign on LCDS, and to fulfill the President’s call for environmental friendly vehicles that uses little or no fossil fuels, such as gasolene or dieselene I will soon launch a business to cater for these people and that need.  Workers being held ransom by the minibus operators, with none or little transport on Sundays and holidays, and nights, can own these vehicles, and can also transport friends or families, and clear their installments and/or small fuel bill, with what they pay for mini bus

TRANSPORT MONTHLY:  Public Operators can charge less than 50% and still make a profit, some can specialize in such areas as inside Mon Repos, inside Mards, inside the Canal Polders in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice, ideal for Linden Town, Lethem, interior villages and towns.   Fishermen can benefit as well as vendors, vegetable and provision vendors and hucksters.  And those who own regular motorcars can use these as ‘the other vehicle,’ for marketing, supermarket and here and there runs, at cheap cost. Taxis can operate at less than 50%, and it will be ideal for tourist rentals and even rentals/sales to contractors for the cargo vehicles.

I like to call it motorcycle evolution and revolution.  Watch out for the grand opening, launch and advertisements in the media and entertaining television commercials.  So the family on that motorcycle and so many others can soon afford a safer and better ride, with low fuel consumption.