Three years ago, former private jobholder Mohammad Ariful Islam switched to a full-time motorcycle ride-sharing profession in Dhaka, seeking better opportunities.
However, this self-employed job has yet to satisfy him economically.
Along with multiple challenges, Ariful experiences severe discomfort and low passenger availability during his day-long services, especially amid extreme weather conditions.
While speaking to this correspondent recently, Ariful mentioned that he had been absent from ride-sharing for a week due to a heat-related illness. Moreover, incessant rains during the latter part of September drastically reduced the number of his regular trips.
Humidity Comfort Levels in 2023 in Dhaka. Image Courtesy of Weather Spark.
“We [motorcycle drivers] cannot make consecutive trips, whether in the humid summer or on rainy days. Only winter seems good for biking, but even then, severe dust pollution affects our health,” Ariful said.
According to weather data from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, analysed by WeatherSpark.com, Dhaka has been experiencing humid summers, with several of the hottest days (temperatures above 90°F or 32°C) occurring between March and October in recent years.
WeatherSpark.com provides detailed reports on typical weather conditions for 145,479 locations worldwide.
Temperature history in 2023 in Dhaka. Image Courtesy: Weather Spark.
During the eight-month-long summer, hourly temperature data show that Dhaka remains warm throughout the day, with the hottest period between 12pm and 3pm.
The data also indicate that Dhaka experiences several partly cloudy and mostly cloudy days between May and September, and extremely humid conditions from June to mid-October.
Another motorcycle ride-sharer, Yusuf Abdullah, recently told Bangladesh First, “Despite the humid summer days, we often find many potential passengers waiting for a shared ride. But due to the uncomfortable weather, we are unable to make trips one after another."
“If it’s a rainy day, passengers prefer public buses instead of motorcycles. Whether it’s hot or rainy, we earn much less than on normal days,” Yusuf added.
Every day, under the open sky, motorcycle ride-sharers like Ariful and Yusuf wait for new passengers at various points around Dhaka, including some busy intersections.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Nowhere do they find the shade of greenery. They also struggle to find a shelter under passenger sheds when it is raining.
Recently, a study conducted in Cairo, Egypt, examined how changing weather patterns affect transportation.
According to the study Weathering the Ride: Experimental Evidence on Transport Pricing, Climate Extremes, and Future Travel Demand, published in 2023, mobility through shared rides decreases during extreme heat, even when reduced trip prices are offered.
Belal Ahmed, president of the App-Based Transport Union, believes extreme weather negatively impacts the health of motorcycle ride-sharers.
“Many of them eke out a living by providing transport services throughout the day. If they are unable to work due to health reasons or cannot find enough passengers, they lose out,” Belal said.
Hourly Temperature in 2023 in Dhaka. Image Courtesy: Weather Spark.
Although there are no official statistics, Belal estimates there are approximately 400,000 motorcycle ride-sharers in Dhaka.
Belal’s organisation has been lobbying for designated sheds at busy intersections for transport service providers like motorcycle ride-sharers.
The organisation recommended that city authorities establish sheds for transport service providers in unused spaces beneath flyovers.
“We have raised this demand before city corporation officials several times, but they have not paid any attention,” Belal lamented.
