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Auto rickshaw
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An auto rickshaw or tuk tuk (auto, rick, autorick or rickshaw in popular parlance) is a motor vehicle that is one of the chief modes of transport across many parts of South and East Asia, especially as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional rickshaw or velotaxi, a small three-wheeled cart driven by a person, and is related to the cabin cycle.
Auto rickshaws are particularly popular where traffic congestion is a problem.
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Encyclopedia
An auto rickshaw or tuk tuk (auto, rick, autorick or rickshaw in popular parlance) is a motor vehicle that is one of the chief modes of transport across many parts of South and East Asia, especially as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional rickshaw or velotaxi, a small three-wheeled cart driven by a person, and is related to the cabin cycle.
Auto rickshaws are particularly popular where traffic congestion is a problem. They are common in many Asian cities like Bangkok, Dhaka, Ahmedabad, Pune, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and some can be seen on the streets of China Town in London.
Design
An auto rickshaw is generally characterized by a sheet-metal body or open frame that rests on three wheels, a canvas roof with drop-down sides, a small cabin in the front of the vehicle for the driver (called an auto-wallah in some areas), and seating space for three in the rear. They are generally fitted with an air-cooled scooter version of a two-stroke engine, with handlebar controls instead of a steering wheel. Auto rickshaws are light vehicles and only two or three people are required to fully lift one off the ground, which may be necessary when one breaks down.
Hiring
Hiring an auto rickshaw often involves bargaining with the driver. In major cities of India, such as Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Delhi, drivers are required to install taximeters in their auto rickshaws. The meters are calibrated according to the city guidelines.
In cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore, traffic-regulating authorities have tried to implement schemes in which passengers pay predetermined fares to a central authority before boarding the auto rickshaws. For example, in Chennai in 2006, the predetermined fare was in the range of 50 Rupees for many destinations within the central part of the city.
Regional variations
South Asia
A majority of Indian auto rickshaws have no doors or seatbelts. Their designs vary considerably from place to place.
As a mode of transport, the auto rickshaw is turning out to be a major employer in India. All major nationalized banks of India offer loans to buy one under self-employment schemes. Major auto rickshaw manufacturers in India include Bajaj Auto and Force Motors (previously Bajaj Tempo). A two-wheeler major, TVS Motors, has announced it will enter the auto rickshaw market with a technologically updated and a less polluting vehicle, in early 2006. Not restricted to cities, auto rickshaws are also prevalent in large numbers in Indian villages and in the countryside.
There is an initial charge at the beginning of a ride then the price normally increases in proportion to the distance. It is mandatory that the initial charge be set at a value given by the government. In Mumbai in February 2009 the initial charge was 10 Rupees for up to 1 mile and thereafter proportional charges at a rate of 10 Rupees per mile.
Known locally as Rickshah or autos, and used mainly by the lower-middle-class, auto rickshaws are a popular mode of transport for short routes within cities in Pakistan. One of the major brands of auto rickshaws is Vespa (an Italian Company). Environment Canada is implementing pilot projects in Lahore, Karachi and Quetta with engine technology developed in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of petrol in the two-stroke engines, in an effort to combat environmental pollution.
In many cities in Pakistan, there are also motor cycle rickshaws, usually called chand gari(moon car) or qingqi after the Chinese company who first introduced this rickshaw to the market.
In addition to ferrying people around, an innovative use of auto rickshaws in public life was the demonstration in Peshawar in 2001 against the American invasion of Afghanistan.
Auto rickshaws commonly known as 'three-wheelers' can be found on all roads in Sri Lanka from the curvy roads through the hill country to the congested roads of Colombo transporting locals, foreigners, or freight about. Sri Lankan tuk-tuks are of the style of the light Phnom Penh type. Most tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka are a slightly modified Indian Bajaj model, though there are some manufactured locally and increasingly imports from other countries in the region.
Auto rickshaws are very popular & are common transport in Bangladesh. In Dhaka, they are called "CNGs" lovingly by the residents. These "CNGs" are painted green to signify that the vehicles are eco-friendly. In Khulna, they are called "Baby Taxi" or "Baby". Auto rickshaws are visible in other Bangladeshi cities including Chittagong, Rajshahi. Auto rickshaws are available in most of the towns and rural areas. In rural areas, they are known as "Tempo", "Nosimon" or "VotVoti".
Southeast Asia
Referred to as bajaj in Indonesia, are common throughout the country's capital Jakarta. Bajaj is India's main Auto-Rickshaw manufacturer.
The auto rickshaw, called tuk-tuk in Thailand, is a widely used form of urban transport in Bangkok and other Thai cities, as well as other major Southeast Asian and South Asian cities. It is particularly popular where traffic congestion is a major problem, such as in Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima.
In Cambodia, the term tuk-tuk is used to refer to a motorcycle with a cabin attached to the rear. Cambodian cities have a much lower volume of automobile traffic than Thai cities, and tuk-tuks are still the most common form of urban transport.
At the temple complex of Angkor, tuk-tuks provide a convenient form of transport around the complex for tourists. One can hire a tuk-tuk and driver by the day.
Siem Reap tuk-tuks are generally of the style of motorcycle and trailer. Phnom Penh tuk-tuks are by contrast one piece. They are the front end of a motorcycle comprising of steering, tank and engine/gearbox with a covered tray mounted at the back. The power is transferred by chain to an axle mounted to the modified rear fork which drives the two rear wheels. Suspended upon the rear fork is an open cabin with an in-line seat on each side. This arrangement can carry 6 people at ease, with their luggage in the leg space. It is not unusual to see these vehicles greatly overloaded, especially in outer suburbs and around markets.
Lao tuk-tuks are generally of the Phnom Penh style. They come as tuk-tuks or jumbo tuk-tuks. Jumbos have a larger 3 or 4 cylinder 4 stroke engine, many are powered by Daihatsu engines. While the smaller tuk-tuks carry similar loads to Cambodian tuk-tuks, and are geared similarly, jumbos' larger engine and cabin size allow for greater loads, up to 12 seated people at a squeeze, and higher top speeds. Jumbos are almost without exception only found in Vientiane. A few Thai tuk-tuks, which have fully enclosed cabins, have also made their way to Vientienne.
There are comparatively few Vietnamese tuk-tuks on the road. Most are in the two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi as well as a few in other major tourist centres. Ho Chi Minh tuk-tuks generally comprise the motorcycle and trailer style of Siem Reap while Hanoi and Hoi An tuk-tuks are of the style of the light Phnom Penh type.
Auto rickshaws are an especially popular form of public transportation in the Philippines, where they are referred to as tricycles (Filipino: traysikel; Cebuano: traysikol).
Central and South America
The mototaxi or moto is the Central American and Peruvian incarnation of the auto rickshaw. These are most commonly made from the front end and engine of a motorcycle attached to a two-wheeled passenger area in back. Commercially produced models, such as the Indian Bajaj brand, are also employed. In Guatemala the commercial vehicles are referred to as tuk-tuks.
Tuk-tuks operate, both as taxis and private vehicles, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, around the island town of Flores, Peten, in the mountain city of Antigua Guatemala, and in many small towns in the mountains. In 2005 the tuk-tuks prevalent in the Lago de Atitlán towns of Panajachel and Santiago Atitlán all appeared to be from India (Bajaj Auto).
Africa
There are tuk-tuks in several Kenyan towns. Using them is somewhat cheaper than ordinary taxis.
However, tuk-tuks cannot operate in mountainous towns, which are common in Kenya. Fierce competition with Boda-bodas (bicycle taxis) and Matatus (minibuses) hinders popularity of Tuk-tuks, especially within the interior of Kenya. While they may not be as commonly found in Kenya, one does come across quite a number of them in the coastal regions, which are less mountainous. For example, in the town of Malindi they offer a less expensive and easy mode of transportation. Tuk-tuks are also becoming common in Tanzania, particularly in the outer areas of Dar es Salaam. In Tanzania they are known as Bajajis, called after the Bajaj Auto company which manufactures many of them.
The Very first Tuk Tuks to enter service in the UK were supplied and built by MMW Imports under the brand name MMW Tuk Tuks, The very first Private Hire license was issued to an MMW Tuk Tuk for tours of Bath in the 90s. MMW also gained full Hackney license in Weston Super Mare. Regarded as the leaders in Tuk Tuk design these vehicles are not to be confused with the Indian Baja, not in fact a tuk tuk.
MMW were also the company that showed the way with the first tuk tuks to be used in the Netherlands for use as Ice Cream Vans and since passenger vehicles.
MMW also now export Tuk Tuks from their factory in Thailand to New Zealand and Australia, The Vehicles are now fitted with independent rear suspension,17in DVD/TV screens and disc brakes all round.
Auto rickshaws were introduced to the city of Brighton & Hove on 10 July 2006 by entrepreneur Dominic Ponniah's company Tuctuc Ltd., who had the idea after seeing the vehicles used successfully in the transport infrastructure of India and Sri Lanka. They were introduced as a cleaner and cooler form of private transport. They are CNG-powered, using a four-speed (plus reverse) 175 cc engine, so are considered more environmentally friendly than petrol powered vehicles.
Under the terms of their license, the Bajas run on a fixed single route, and stop only at designated stops. They are of the same design as traditional auto rickshaws in other countries such as India, Pakistan and Thailand, being a design evolved since the late 1940s and early 1950s from the Piaggio Ape, which started life itself as a Vespa scooter.
An investigation was launched into Tuctuc Ltd's operation of the service after complaints that routes, stopping points and timetables were not being adhered to were raised, primarily by the city's taxi drivers. In November 2006, the company was fined £16,500 - the maximum penalty possible - by the South East Traffic Commissioner. After amendments were made to the timetable to reduce delays and improve reliability, the Commissioner allowed the company to keep its operating licence.
Since 2007, tuk-tuks have been active in The Netherlands, starting with Amsterdam. They now operate in Amsterdam, The Hague, Zandvoort, Bergen op Zoom, the popular beach resort Renesse and Rotterdam. All of the tuk-tuks in The Netherlands are imported from Thailand. They are fitted with CNG engine and have passed the EURO-4 rules.
Fuel efficiency and pollution
In July 1998, the Supreme Court of India ordered the Delhi government to implement CNG or LPG (Autogas) fuel for all autos and for the entire bus fleet in and around the city. Delhi observed a dramatic improvement in the quality of air with the switch to CNG, and this is important for a city where it is still common to see pedestrians and drivers wearing nurse's masks for protection against the prevalent city smog. Initially, auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi had to wait in long queues to get their CNG cylinders re-filled, but the situation has improved drastically with the rise of filling stations that sell CNG. Certain other local governments are also pushing for four-stroke engines instead of the current two-stroke versions. Typical mileage for an Indian-made auto rickshaw is around 35 kilometres per litre of petrol (about 2.9 L per 100 km, or 82 miles per gallon). Pakistan has also passed a similar law where Auto rickshaws are not allowed in certain areas of cities. CNG Rickshaws have started to appear in huge numbers across many cities in Pakistan.
Traffic issues
Auto rickshaws have a top-speed of around 50 km/h (about 31 mph) and a cruising speed of around 35 km/h (22 mph). Traffic authorities in big cities try to implement different mechanisms to circumvent the resulting traffic slow-down issues; however, none of these have really proven to work out.
The triangular form of the auto also makes maneuvering easy, with the front single wheel negotiating the available gap, and the rear two wheels forcing a larger space.
Racing
Due to their relatively low top-speed, auto rickshaws have never lent themselves to conventional road or street racing. However, their modest speed, simple construction and impressive fuel economy has endeared them to the international amateur adventuring community, most notably with the Indian Autorickshaw Challenge . This parent organisation hosts and organises two different events - The IndianARC Classic and the Mumbai Express - both of which are the brainchild of entrepreneur Aravind B. Kumar. The humble tuk-tuk in this circumstance not only carries hundreds of entrants thousands of miles across wild countryside in the spirit of adventure, but also delivers much needed humanitarian aid to children of the areas as part of the Adopt-A-Village program organised by the IndianARC Group.
Portrayal in media
Auto rickshaws are often portrayed in Indian films (Auto Shankar, Basha, Aye Auto, Oram Po) as well as some Hollywood and foreign productions such as the James Bond film Octopussy and the Canada-India film Amal. Auto rickshaws are also prominent in the fuel-poor London of 2027 A.D. depicted in Children of Men. A memorable tuk-tuk chase features in the Thai film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, climaxing with many of them driving off the edge of an unfinished elevated expressway.
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) rides in a tuk-tuk in a Visa Card commercial.
See also
External links
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- - an article in Wired Magazine about auto rickshaw racing
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