In an effort to keep India’s majestic Taj Mahal from turning black because of serious air pollution, the government is clamping down on industry and cars in the city of Agra. One plan to help clean the air is to promote pedal-powered rickshaws, a non-polluting form of transportation that has long been used in the nation. Two non-governmental organizations, the India-based Asian Institute of Transport Development and the New York-based Transportation and Development Policy, have collaborated to come up with a new rickshaw design that is lighter and more comfortable. Sixty of the new rickshaws have been introduced to the city since last October, and the drivers find that customers are willing to pay more to ride in the new vehicles. Another 300 are due to arrive later this year.
