There is no doubt that good helmets are required for protecting the two wheeler riders from mishaps. By one wonders how we are going to protect small babies/children who are also with their parents on a two-wheeler? We may answer from our high pedestals that children should not be taken on two-wheelers. A vast majority use a two-wheeler for the sake of convenience and a small minority for pleasure. Considering the poor non existing public transport and overcrowded, unruly existing transport, how can we expect people to travel? Is it not the responsibility of the government to provide good transport facilities for the public? Just by making helmets compulsory we are not protecting the lives of the people.
First and foremost good roads, efficient public transport making it possible for people to travel for their needs with their families will reduce usage and the need of two wheelers and four wheelers. At present the government is only pandering to the bus lobby and taxi groups. In the name of touristic rates a local cannot afford a taxi even when a child is sick and has to be carried on a two-wheeler – either hired or personal. Since there is no other mode of transport, the buses should be available from every nook and corner of Goa at all times with a reasonable comfort of travel. Encouraging them to cover all the hours and areas may be with a subsidy for operating at certain lean times or for certain areas.
Taxis should be made available with reasonable metered rates and not only point to point, which may or may not serve even the tourists as they are quite high compared to the realistic ones. Stop giving more tourist taxi permits, which only occupy central parking places in the cities and are happy to fleece.
Hope the authorities start acting on problems instead of being focused on compulsory helmets, which will not protect the family but may help several others. Let us try to begin somewhere to see that the facilities for the people are improved before embarking on compulsions.
