インド男性、娘のために「対人距離」確保できるバイクを開発

【アガルタラＡＦＰ＝時事】インドのテレビ修理店で働くパルタ・サハさん（39）はこのほど、運転手と後ろに乗る人の間に1メートルの「対人距離」を確保することができるバイクを開発した。新型コロナウイルス対策として全土で実施されているロックダウン（封鎖措置）が解除された際には、このバイクで娘の学校の送り迎えをするという。（写真はインド北東部トリプラ州のアガルタラ郊外で、対人距離を確保することができるバイクに娘と共に試乗するパルタ・サハさん）
　先月インド政府が封鎖措置を少なくとも５月３日まで延長することを決めた時、サハさんは、ウイルスとの闘いはそうすぐには終わらないだろうと悟った。
　サハさんは廃棄物販売業者から古いバイクを購入。エンジンを取り外し、車体を半分に切断した後、１メートル超の棒で前後の車輪をつないだ。わずかな貯金を全部使って、このバイクをつくったという。
　「混むだろうから、娘にはスクールバスに乗ってほしくない」と、サハさん。
　この特製バイクは電動で、最高速度は時速４０キロ。サハさんによると、バッテリーの充電には３時間かかり、満充電時の走行可能距離は８０キロだという。
　通りで試乗した際には、道ゆく人々はそのデザインに驚いた様子だったという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/05/01-11:25）

An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic.
Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two before affixing a rod slightly longer than a metre (3.2 feet) to connect the wheels.
Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance, he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura.
Like other countries, the Indian government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and urged citizens to practise social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.
As of Thursday, India had reported 33,050 cases of COVID-19, with 1,074 deaths.
When the nation extended its lockdown this month until at least May 3, Saha realised the battle against the virus might not be over any time soon.
He used up his meagre savings to make the vehicle, which he plans to use to ferry his daughter to and from school once the restrictions are lifted.
I didn't want her to take the school bus as it would be crowded, said Saha, who works in a TV repair shop.
His new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).
It takes three hours to charge the battery, which allows the bike to travel 80 kilometres (50 miles), Saha said.
The cost of charging it once comes to about 10 rupees (13 cents), he added.
The mechanic has already tried out his invention on the streets, leaving onlookers stunned at the design and drawing praise from Kumar Deb, Tripura's chief minister.
Necessity is the mother of invention! I congratulate Partha Saha... for making a unique motorcycle to create awareness during COVID-19 pandemic, Deb tweeted.