Editing Cycle rickshaw (section)

====India====
[[File:Cargorickshaw.jpg|thumb|upright|A cycle rickshaw carrying shoe boxes in [[Agra]]]]

<!---- I've not seen this anywhere yet --- commenting to hold ---In India, the term ''rickshaw'' usually refers to cycle rickshaws,{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} although their number is decreasing.  In cities where both pulled [[Pulled rickshaw|rickshaws]] and [[auto rickshaw]]s are present, the term ''auto'' is often used to refer to the auto rickshaw to avoid confusion.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}--->

The first attempt of improving the existing cycle rickshaws and then converting them to electric ones was done by the [[Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute]] in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/sep252002/703.pdf|title=Electric and improved cycle rickshaw as a sustainable transport system for India|website=Iisc.ernet.in|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808223105/http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/sep252002/703.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====Service availability=====
Cycle rickshaws were used in Kolkata starting about 1930<ref name="Edgerton pp. 46-47" /> and are now common in rural and urban areas of India.<ref>{{cite book | title=Good Earth Varanasi City Guide | publisher=Eicher Goodearth Limited | year=1989 | pages=189 | isbn=8187780045 }}</ref>

=====Ecocabs and similar service=====
[[File:ECB1.jpg|thumb|upright|Traction Man on [[Fazilka]] Ecocab "Nano Model"]]

[[Navdeep Asija]] started a dial-a-cycle rickshaw concept known as Ecocabs,<ref name=Ecocabs>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecocabs.org/|title=Ecocabs|website=Ecocabs.org|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref> Environmental friendly Ecocabs{{#tag:ref|In 2010, Ecocab service was introduced by the state governments of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Haryana]] upon the orders of the Honorable Punjab and Haryana High Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/ecocab-can-become-viable-and-ecofriendly-means-of-transport/612632/|title=Ecocab can become viable and eco-friendly means of transport|website=Expressindia.com|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015021450/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/ecocab-can-become-viable-and-ecofriendly-means-of-transport/612632/|archive-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>|group="nb"}} operate in the Punjab towns of [[Fazilka]],<ref name="IA With Ecocab" /> [[Amritsar]].<ref name="Tribune Amritsar" />{{#tag:ref|Ecocabs were introduced in Amritsar by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board in association with Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) and District Administration in [[Amritsar]]. Here in the Ecocabs<ref name="Tribune Amritsar">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101016/aplus.htm#2|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Amritsar PLUS|website=Tribuneindia.com|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>|group="nb"}} [[Central Delhi]] and [[Kolkata]].<ref name=Ecocabs /> Passengers may call to request transport service, similar to dial-up taxi cab operations.<ref name="IA With Ecocab">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/with-ecocab-fazilka-shows-the-way/611194/|title=With Ecocab, Fazilka shows the way - Indian Express|website=Indianexpress.com|date=26 April 2010|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://carbusters.org/2010/03/18/fazilka-come-without-your-car/|title=Fazilka: Come Without Your Car – Carbusters|website=carbusters.org|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref> {{#tag:ref|Named "Ecocabs", it is known locally as "Pushpak Sewa". the first modified light-weight low-floor rickshaw was introduced under the name ''Nano''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100405/bathinda.htm#9|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Bathinda Edition|website=Tribuneindia.com|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>|group="nb"}}

In November 2010, Patiala GreenCABS, similar to Ecocabs, were introduced in the city by the local [[non governmental organisation]] (NGO) the Patiala Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/topic/patiala-green-cabs|title=Patiala Green Cabs: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Patiala Green Cabs|website=NDTV.com|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

=====Financing=====
In [[West Bengal]] the [[Rotaract|Rotaract Club]] of [[Serampore]] finances cycle rickshaw purchases so that unemployed people can begin their own rickshaw business. The loans are repaid from the workers' earnings. When paid in full, the rickshaw workers own their rickshaw and other unemployed individuals are entered into the program.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Rotaract rickshaws pedal ahead | journal=The Rotarian |date=April 1990 | pages=48 | publisher=Rotary International.}}</ref>

=====Soleckshaw=====
The Soleckshaw is a battery-electric assisted cycle rickshaw. The battery is designed to be charged or exchanged at centralised solar-powered charging stations. Developed by the [[Council of Scientific & Industrial Research]], it was launched in [[Delhi]] in October 2008.<ref name="Wired01" /><ref name="TOI Solar rickshaws">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Solar-rickshaws-to-power-green-city-dreams/articleshow/17347916.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209045729/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-24/bhubaneswar/35333213_1_rickshaw-pullers-solar-rickshaw-soleckshaw|url-status=live|archive-date=9 December 2012|title=Solar rickshaws to power green city dreams|date=24 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=13 April 2013 }}</ref> However, in September 2010 it was reported that no Soleckshaws had been sold on a commercial basis, and the approximately 30 demonstration units, initially deployed in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dhanbad, Durgapur, Jaipur, and Kolkata, were "not in operation due to various local administrative and management problems", and the charging stations "are not being used at this point of time as the vehicles are not in operation at those locations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/100289/csirs-solar-rickshaw-finds-no.html|title=Solar rickshaw finds no takers|website=Deccan Herald|date=28 September 2010|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

The [[2010 Union budget of India]] had a concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle rickshaws.<ref name=TEDDY>{{cite book|title=TERI Energy Data Directory & Yearbook (TEDDY) 2010|publisher=TERI Press|page=403|date=2012|isbn=978-8179933930}}</ref>