Cycle rickshaw

The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport. It is a type of tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for-hire basis. It is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, beca, becak, trisikad, sikad, tricycle taxi, trishaw, or hatchback bike.

While the

The first cycle rickshaws were built in the 1880s and were first used widely in 1929 in Singapore. Six years later, they outnumbered pulled rickshaws there. By 1950, cycle rickshaws were found in every south and east Asian country. By the late 1980s, there were an estimated 4 million cycle rickshaws worldwide.^[1]

The vehicle is generally pedal-driven by a driver, though some are equipped with an electric motor to assist the driver.^[2][3][4]

The vehicle is usually a

The cycle rickshaw is known by a variety of other names, including:

• velotaxi (used in Germany)^[7]
• pussuss (used in parts of France)
• velotram (used in parts of France)
• bikecab
• cyclo (used in Vietnam and Cambodia)
• pedicab (used in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada)^[8]
• bike taxi (used in Buffalo, New York)^{[citation needed]}
• bicitaxi (used in Mexico)
• taxi ecologico (used in Mexico)
• trishaw
• beca (used in Malaysia)
• becak (used in Indonesia)
• helicak (used in Indonesia) it is another version of becak but with engines, not manual pedals
• traysikad, trisikad, sikad, or padyak (used in the Philippines)

Not only are cycle rickshaws used in Asian countries, but they are also used in some cities in Europe and North America. They are used primarily for their novelty value, as an entertaining form of transportation for tourists and locals, but they also have environmental benefits and may be quicker than other forms of transport if traffic congestion is high. Cycle rickshaws used outside Asia often are mechanically more complex, having multiple

In Madagascar rickshaws, including cycle rickshaws or cyclo-pousse, are a common form of transportation in a number of cities. Rickshaws are known as pousse-pousse, meaning push-push,^[9] reportedly for the pulled rickshaws that required a second person to push the vehicles up hills. Cycles are more common in the hillier areas, like Toamasina.^[10]

In Canada there are pedicabs in operation in

In Mexico, they are called bicitaxi or taxi ecologico (literally "ecological taxi").^{[citation needed]}

In many major cities, pedicabs can be found rolling about city centers, nightlife districts, park lands, sports stadiums, and tourist-heavy areas. Myriad uses have been discovered in the states, including car-park-to-event transport at large events nationwide. Thousands of pedicabs today operate on streets in locales including Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Austin, Texas; Manhattan, New York; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego and San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Charleston, South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and dozens of other hot spots. Manhattan sports the largest collection of pedicabs operating within city limits, and the City of New York itself has mandated that approximately 850 pedicabs always sport operating permits issued by the city.^[14]

Pedicabs in the United States seem to have gotten their start at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.^[15]

Cycle rickshaws (রিকশা riksha) are the most popular modes of transport in Bangladesh and are available for hire throughout the country including the capital city Dhaka, known as the "Rickshaw Capital of the World".^[16] They are either pedal or motor-powered. They were introduced here about 1938 and by the end of the 20th century there were 300,000+ cycle rickshaws in Dhaka.^[17]

Approximately 400,000 cycle rickshaws run each day.^[18] Cycle rickshaws in Bangladesh are also more convenient than the other public modes of transports in the country namely auto rickshaws, cabs and buses. They are mostly convertible, decorated,^[19] rickshaws with folding hoods and are the only kind of vehicles that can be driven in many neighbourhoods of the city with narrow streets and lanes. However, increasing traffic congestion and the resulting collisions have led to the banning of rickshaws on many major streets in the city. Urban employment in Bangladesh also largely depend on cycle rickshaws. Because of inflation and unemployment in the rural areas, people from villages crowd in the cities to become rickshaw drivers locally called the riksha-wala (রিকশাওয়ালা).^{[citation needed]}

Cycle rickshaws are known as cyclo (pronounced see-clo) in Cambodia, derived from the French cyclo.^{[citation needed]}

Since the 1950s, when the pulled rickshaw was phased out, mid-city and large city passengers may travel using three-wheeled pedicabs, or cycle rickshaws. The Chinese term for the conveyance is sanlunche (三轮车). The vehicles may be pedal- or motor-powered. In Shanghai, most of the vehicles are powered by electricity.^[20]

Tourists are warned to beware of over-charging vendors, especially who wear an "old fashioned costume" or are located near tourist locations.^[20]

Whilst many local tourism authorities still issue licences for rickshaw drivers to carry passengers, authorities in China are tightening rules in order to alleviate cheating of tourists and to reduce traffic congestion (e.g. a typical Chinese cycle-rickshaw will travel at less than 10 ⁠km/h⁠ and is wide enough to fill an entire motor or bicycle lane and therefore are blamed as a major cause of traffic congestion), and have been banned in many cities already.^[21]

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.^[22]

Cycle rickshaws were used in Kolkata starting about 1930^[17] and are now common in rural and urban areas of India.^[23]

In West Bengal the 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.^[31]

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

The 2010 Union budget of India had a concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle rickshaws.^[34]

Cycle rickshaws in Indonesia are called becak (pronounced

There are two types of "becak" in Indonesia: the first type is the driver sitting behind the passenger (similar to Dutch-style cargo bikes), the other one which mainly found in Sumatra is the driver sitting beside the passenger. "Becak" is still being used in various part of Indonesia, especially in smaller cities and town.

In

In Myanmar, cycle rickshaws or trishaws (Burmese: ဆိုက်ကား, romanized: saik kar, directly pronounced as in the English word 'side car') came first into wide use in 1938, when the 1300 Revolution, which originated from the Chauk oil-field strike, inspired the people in Mandalay to have a consciousness of nationalism and to boycott British goods and services. The auto body technician Saya Nyo built the first trishaw in Mandalay by attaching a side-car to the side of an old bicycle.^[38] So two passengers are on the right of the driver.

Only two forms of transportation were then available in the city; the cab and the electric train. The latter could run only on ten-kilometre (six-mile) tracks. Trishaws could reach every nook and cranny, so the spirit of nationalism plus the advantage of trishaws reaching everywhere made them so popular among Mandalayans that even the train company had to stop its business.^[39][40]

In the Terai region of Nepal, cycle rickshaws are still the most popular means of public transport for short-distance commuting. Most big cities in the Terai have hundreds of cycle rickshaws that carry local commuters and travellers, and are also used for carrying goods. Since the Terai region is bordered with India, cycle rickshaws are also popular means for shoppers, businessmen and travellers to travel in and out of the country freely. The free border between India and Nepal enable the rickshaw owners from both countries to operate across the border without any restriction.

However, in

The cycle and pulled rickshaw were banned in Pakistan in November 1991.^[43]

In the Philippines, it is called a pedicab, traysikad, trisikad—or simply sikad or padyak, from the Philippine word meaning to tramp or stamp one's feet. It is made by mounting a

The Korean term for cycle rickshaw is illyeokgeo (인력거), which can be pedal- or motor-powered, though most in South Korea are electric. While not commonly used as a primary mode of transportation, cycle rickshaws can still be found in certain areas like Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, where they operate mainly for tourism purposes.^[44]

In Thailand, any three-wheeler is called samlor (Thai: สามล้อ, lit. 'three wheels'), whether motorised or not, including pedicabs, motorcycles with attached vending carts or sidecars, etc. The driver is also called samlor.^{[citation needed]}

Cycle rickshaws are known as xích lô (pronounced sick-low, from the French cyclo) in Vietnam. Cyclo was an invention of a French named P. Coupeaid, which was introduced in

Cyclo, a 1995 film about a cyclo driver, won the Golden Lion at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival.^[47]

Beyond their practical utility, cyclos held cultural significance in Saigon. They appeared in literature, art, and cinema, becoming emblematic of the city's identity. From romantic rendezvous to everyday commutes, cyclos featured prominently in the daily lives of Saigonese residents.

Despite the challenges, efforts are underway to preserve the legacy of cyclo in Saigon. Some organizations are restoring vintage models, while others are promoting eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cyclos. These initiatives aim to celebrate the cultural heritage of these iconic vehicles and ensure their continued presence in the city.

Cycle rickshaws, also called pedicabs, are used in most large continental European cities.^[48]

Copenhagen and Odense have pedicab service.^[48][49]

Cycle rickshaws are available for rent at Kaivopuisto in Helsinki. The rental company brought the vehicles from the city of Lappeenranta in 2009.^[50]

Most French cities have one or more pedicabs, locally known as PussPuss or VeloTaxi. Most common in Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Montpellier and Valence, these cities operate one or more units. France have pedicab vendors.^[48]

Lake Constance,^[48] Berlin, Frankfurt, Dresden, and Hamburg offer cycle rickshaw, also called pedicab, service.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1990s, German-made cycle rickshaws called velotaxis were created. They are about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of regular taxis. Velotaxis are three-wheeled vehicles with a "space-age lightweight plastic cab that is open on both sides", a space for a driver, and behind the driver, space for two passengers.^[51] They have been made in Berlin, Germany, by Ludger Matuszewski, the founder of "Velotaxi GmbH" company. Velotaxis are often used for group functions like weddings. Under German traffic laws, transporting people on bicycles was forbidden.^{[citation needed]}

Berlin's Senate, police, and taxi associations finally agreed that the "cult-flitzer" could be integrated into the city's traffic flow. Germany's highest court later ruled that transporting people on bikes was legal. It is a modern and newly designed pedicab (CityCruiser) with a 500-watt electric assist motor. Although these electric-assist pedicabs were engineered in Germany they are manufactured in the Czech Republic and some clones are now also produced in China. The Chinese clone can be purchased for about 3,000 US dollars; the German original is around 6,000 US dollars (the newest version, 9000+ €). The batteries last about 4 hours with a full charge. As with a few recumbent and semi-recumbent designs, some drivers may suffer with knee and joint pain due to the weight of the vehicle (145 kg).^{[citation needed]}

Pedicab service is available in Budapest.^[48]

Pedicabs operate in Cork and Dublin, Ireland.^{[48][nb 4]}

Pedicab service is available in Florence, Milan,^[48] Rome,^{[citation needed]} Bari.

Pedicab service is available in Amsterdam, The Hague and in the Caribbean, at Willemstad.^[48][52]

Thomas Lundy of Amsterdam adapted his battery-electric assisted cycle rickshaw to become what he terms "semi-solar powered", resulting in a video report on Reuters.^[53]

Pedicab service is available in Oslo,^[48] Fredrikstad, Bergen, Porsgrunn, and Tønsberg.^[54]

During

Pedicabs still can be found in most large cities in Poland from Łódź to Warsaw.

Alicante, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Málaga, San Sebastian, and Seville have pedicab service.^[55]

Cycle rickshaws operate in central London, including Soho,^[17] Piccadilly, Leicester Square, and Covent Garden. Pedal Me is a pedicab company using electric cargo bikes to transport passengers and cargo across Central and Inner London. In 2024, Transport for London was given powers to regulate pedicabs, including fare control, vehicle standards and driver licensing.^[56]

Rickshaws and pedicabs are found in the centre of Edinburgh where vendors are hired like taxis and provide tours.^[57] Pedicabs and their variants are also available in Oxford.^[48]

In many Asian cities where they are widely used, cycle rickshaw driving provides essential employment for recent

In 2003, Dhaka cycle rickshaw drivers earned an estimated average of Tk 143 (US$2.38) per day, of which they paid about Tk 50 (US$0.80) to rent the cycle rickshaw for a day. Older, long-term drivers earned substantially less.^[58] A 1988–89 survey found that Jakarta drivers earned a daily average of Rp. 2722 (US$1.57).^[59] These wages, while widely considered very low for such physically demanding work, do in some situations compare favourably to jobs available to unskilled workers.^[60]

In many cities, most drivers do not own their own cycle rickshaws; instead, they rent them from their owners, some of whom own many cycle rickshaws. Driver-ownership rates vary widely. In

Some countries and cities have banned or restricted cycle rickshaws. They are often prohibited in congested areas of major cities. For example, they were banned in Bangkok in the mid-1960s as not fitting the modern image of the city being promoted by the government.^{[citation needed]} In Dhaka and Jakarta, they are no longer permitted on major roads, but are still used to provide transportation within individual urban neighbourhoods.^{[citation needed]} They are banned entirely in Pakistan.^[43] While they have been criticised for causing congestion, cycle rickshaws are also often hailed as environmentally-friendly, inexpensive modes of transportation.^{[citation needed]}

In Taiwan, the Road Traffic Security Rules require pedicabs to be registered by their owners with the police before they can be legally driven on public roads, or risk an administrative fine of 300

Electric-assist pedicabs were banned in New York City in January 2008, the city council decided to allow pedicabs propelled only by muscle power.^[citation needed] The city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has decided not to issue permits to electric-assist pedicabs.^{[citation needed]}

As a key part of the urban landscape in many cities, cycle rickshaws have been the subject of films and other artwork, as well as being extensively decorated themselves. The cycle rickshaw in Dhaka is especially well known as a major medium for Bengali folk art, as plasticine cutouts and handpainted figures adorn many cycle rickshaws.^[62]

Films featuring cycle rickshaws and their drivers include

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cycle rickshaws.

• 
  An extensively decorated trishaw in Melaka
• 
  A trishaw and rider at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore
• 
  A Cycle rickshaw puller in Chittagong, Bangladesh
• 
  A becak and its driver wait for a fare in Bandung, Indonesia
• 
  Trishaws are used to ferry

  tourists around the city for sightseeing in Singapore
• 
  Cycle Rickshaw in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
• 
  Cycle rickshaws in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• 
  Cycle rickshaw parking in Bangladesh
• 
  A cycle rickshaw driver in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• 
  Taiwanese Prohibitory Sign P9: No Pedicabs

• Boda boda (bicycle taxi)
• Party bike
• Tandem bicycle
• Trailer bike
• Utility cycling
• Rickshaw art
• George Bliss (pedicab designer)

External links

Look up trishaw in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Becak Yogya