Easybike problem in Dhaka city
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Millions of people travel through its streets every day for work, education, and business. In this chaotic and crowded environment, various forms of transportation have emerged to meet the needs of mobility. Among these, “easybikes”, battery-powered three-wheeled vehicles, have become a common sight. Although easybikes provide affordable and convenient transportation for short distances, their uncontrolled growth in Dhaka has created several urban challenges. The easybike problem is now a significant issue that affects traffic management, urban planning, public safety, and the overall quality of life in the city.
The Rise of Easybikes
Easybikes first appeared in small towns and rural areas of Bangladesh in the early 2000s. They were cheap to buy, ran on rechargeable batteries, and could carry four to six passengers, so their popularity spread quickly. Over time, despite not being officially approved for metropolitan roads, they made their way into major cities, including Dhaka. The absence of strict regulations and the demand for low-cost public transport encouraged their uncontrolled growth. Today, thousands of easybikes ply in Dhaka, often without proper licenses or route permits.
Traffic jams
One of the most visible problems caused by easybikes is traffic jams. Dhaka is already notorious for its traffic jams, and the addition of slow, small vehicles like easybikes has made the situation worse. Easybikes occupy the same roads as buses, cars, and motorcycles but travel at much slower speeds. This creates congestion, especially at busy intersections and narrow lanes. Moreover, many easybike drivers stop suddenly in the middle of the road to pick up or drop off passengers, which further hampers traffic jams. As a result, travel times increase and the city’s productivity suffers.
Road Safety Concerns
Easybikes are not built to international safety standards. They are light, fragile, and often overloaded by passengers. Passengers face the risk of serious injury in the event of a collision. Many easybike drivers are also untrained and do not follow traffic rules. They often drive in the wrong lane, ignore signals, and compete aggressively with rickshaws and motorcycles. This reckless behavior causes road accidents. Pedestrians are also at risk, as easybikes often crowd sidewalks and crossings in search of passengers.
Energy and environmental issues
Althougheasybikes are marketed as environmentally friendly because they use batteries instead of fossil fuels, the impact is not entirely positive. Dhaka's electricity supply is already under severe strain. Charging thousands of easybikes consumes significant amounts of electricity, which is often illegally taken from residential lines. This puts additional strain on the city's energy infrastructure. Moreover, improper disposal of used batteries can cause environmental pollution. Toxic chemicals such as lead and acids leach into the soil and water, posing health risks to both humans and nature.
Economic Impact
From an economic perspective, EasyBikes create both benefits and challenges. On the one hand, they provide employment for thousands of drivers and cheap transport for millions of passengers. On the other hand, their uncontrolled presence disrupts the formal transport sector. Bus services, which are more efficient for public transport, lose passengers to e-bikes. This discourages investment in organized public transport systems. In addition, most easybikes are imported from abroad, which increases dependence on foreign manufacturers rather than promoting locally sustainable solutions.
Legal and Policy Deficits
A major reason behind the easybike problem in Dhaka is the lack of proper laws and enforcement. Although restrictions have been imposed on the operation of EasyBikes in metropolitan areas, enforcement is weak. Corruption and political influence often protect illegal drivers. As a result, thousands of unregistered easybikes ply freely, ignoring safety and traffic rules. The lack of coordination among government agencies further complicates the matter. The city corporation, traffic police, and transport authorities often switch responsibilities instead of working together.
Possible solutions
To solve the easybike problem, Dhaka needs a balanced approach. A complete ban could harm the livelihoods of many poor drivers and limit affordable transportation options. Instead, the government should focus on regulation and integration. A licensing system should be strictly enforced to control the number of easybikes on city roads. Specific routes could be introduced, with easybikes restricted to short-distance neighborhoods rather than major highways. At the same time, the government should expand and improve public bus services, metro rail, and other public transportation options to reduce reliance on small vehicles. Training programs for drivers and vehicle safety inspections should also be introduced to reduce accidents. Finally, proper systems for battery recycling should be created to protect the environment.
Dhaka’s easybike problem reflects a broader challenge of urban management in rapidly growing cities. While easybikes serve as an affordable and flexible transportation option, their uncontrolled proliferation has exacerbated congestion, safety risks, and environmental pressures. Ignoring this problem will only exacerbate Dhaka’s transportation crisis. Therefore, authorities need to take decisive action to regulate easybikes, balance their benefits with the city’s needs, and create a sustainable urban transportation system for the future.
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✅ 1. Strict regulation and licensing
• Register all easybikes through BRTA or a separate authority.
• Issue specific driving licenses to easybike operators after basic training.
• Limit the number of vehicles allowed in each area to prevent overcrowding.
• Ban unauthorized and locally installed unfit models from the roads.
✅ 2. Route management and traffic control
• Ban easybikes on highways and major city roads.
• Designate specific lanes or routes inside residential and feeder roads.
• Create formal stops and terminals to prevent random roadside parking.
• Use traffic police and digital enforcement to ensure compliance.
✅ 3. Improve safety standards
• Make brakes, lights, indicators and reinforced frames mandatory.
• Enforce passenger limits (no overloading).
• Train drivers on basic traffic rules and road etiquette.
• Require insurance coverage for drivers and passengers.
✅ 4. Proper charging and energy management
• Install legal charging stations with metered electricity.
• Ban illegal connections and fine unauthorized charging hubs.
• Promote solar-powered charging facilities in suburban areas.
✅ 5. Environmental and battery waste control
• Introduce mandatory battery recycling and collection programs.
• Register workshops that safely dispose of or recycle batteries.
• Ban the sale of low-quality or highly-polluting lead-acid batteries.
✅ 6. Integrate urban transport planning
• Integrate Easybikes as a last-mile transport, not a city-wide service.
• Connect to bus, BRT, metro, or rickshaw hubs.
• Create zoning policies so they don’t flood commercial areas.
✅ 7. Economic alternatives and driver support
• Provide training and micro-loans to drivers to switch to safer vehicles.
• Support the transition to modern e-rickshaws with safety compliance.
• Set standard fares to avoid exploitation.
✅ 8. Stronger enforcement and monitoring
• Establish mobile courts and digital monitoring for illegal vehicles.
• Fine, impound, or remove unregistered easybikes.
• Encourage cooperation between local governments and police.
✅ 9. Public awareness and community action
• Educate commuters about the risks of unsafe easybikes.
• Involve local communities in monitoring illegal stands and parking.
• Promote reporting systems for violations and unsafe practices.
✅ 10. Introduce safer alternatives
• Promote environmentally friendly, government-approved electric micro-vehicles.
• Create feeder bus or shuttle services to reduce dependency.
• Introduce ride-sharing electric vans or minibuses in densely populated areas.
✅ Final Thoughts
Avoiding the easybike problem doesn’t mean banning them altogether – it means regulating, modernizing and properly integrating them. With the concerted efforts of the government, urban planners, law enforcement agencies and the public, Dhaka can reduce congestion, improve safety and protect the environment, and support low-cost transportation.