Non-motorized Transport and Sustainable Development: Evidence from Calcutta

The important role that non-motorized transport plays in urban sustainability is discussed with particular reference to the developing world and to the links between environmental and poverty issues. The significance of non-motorized transport in terms of reduced pollution, income maintenance for the poor and providing transport for vulnerable groups is stressed and placed within the general context of sustainable development. More specifically, evidence is presented for rickshaws in Calcutta which demonstrates the vital role that non-motorized transport must play if sustainable development objectives are to be met. This evidence indicates that if rickshaws were to disappear from Calcutta’s streets there would not only be significant increases in air pollution but also a substantial increase in the numbers of people living in poverty.