Motorcycle taxi
Encyclopedia
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
is a licensed form of transport in some countries. Typically, they will carry one passenger (but sometimes two or more), who rides as the pillion
Pillion
A pillion is a mostly British English term for a secondary pad, cushion, or seat behind the main seat or saddle on a horse, motorcycle, bicycle or moped...
, behind the motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
operator.
Cambodia
In Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
and other cities in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, motorcycle taxis are the primary form of public transport. Motorcycle taxi drivers are called motodups. They form in queues outside major tourist attractions, office buildings, public markets and near the corners of residential streets. In Phnom Penh, a typical motodup ride will cost around 2,000 riel.
India
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
as luggage
Luggage
Baggage is any number of bags, cases and containers which hold a traveller's articles during transit.Luggage is more or less the same concept as "baggage", but is normally used in relation to the personal luggage of a specific person or persons Baggage is any number of bags, cases and containers...
. Motorcycle taxis in Goa are driven by men called 'pilots'. By law, in some parts of the state, the rider is expected to wear a helmet, but the pillion-rider is not. These motorcycle taxis can normally be identified by their yellow-and-black coloured paint. The fare should be fixed in advance, and the rides are not metered.
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Commonly called ojek, they are present in most areas of the country, from the metropolitans where traffic jams prohibit other forms of transport to the backwater areas where four-wheeled vehicles cannot travel. Would-be passenger have to haggle with the driver for the fee, which generally lies at around IDR 10,000 for short trips.
Many motorcycle taxi drivers own their vehicles or are paying installments for them through credit. The availability of cheap Indonesian made motorcycles from Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki and some cheaper Chinese imports has combined with the ease with which to obtain driver's licenses and credit schemes and resulted in the significant growth of motorcycle taxis. However, in several areas, the motorcycles used are often stolen ones without any papers.
Indonesian law requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets, however, often only the driver does so. Sometimes drivers provide a helmet for the passenger, but more likely he will simply avoid the larger streets where police might catch the violation.
Nowadays, because of the traffic, "ojek" becomes the quickest transportation compare with any other form of transportation in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta. Many people choose "ojek" rather than taxi, because motorcycle can easily move ahead in the traffic.
Sweden
In 1994-1995 there were several motorcycles working as taxis in Stockholm. Due to the Northern climate of Sweden, there is not a long period for a motorcycle taxi to work in Stockholm, and so it remains only a niche industry. Currently there is one company offering tours using two Chang jiang sidecar motorcycles.Thailand
Motorcycle taxis are common forms for public transport in BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and most other cities, towns and villages in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. They are generally used for short trips. In Bangkok, there are motorcycle taxi queues on many soi
Soi
Soi is the term used in Thailand for a side-street branching off a major street . An alley is called a Trok .Sois are usually numbered, and are referred to by the name of the major street and the number, as in "Soi Sukhumvit 4", "Sukhumvit Soi 4", or "Sukhumvit 4", all referring to the fourth soi...
s, and the queues are regulated by the city's government. Licensed motorcycle-taxi operators wear orange vests. In compliance with Thailand's helmet
Motorcycle helmet
A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life...
law, many (but not all) carry a spare helmet to offer to passengers.
United Kingdom
The industry began in 1990 and has established itself as a niche market, never growing past a total of 12 bikes. All equipment is provided for the passenger along with an intercom system linking the rider and passenger. The luggage rack means a cabin-sized suitcase can be taken on the back for convenient trips to local airports, especially Stansted, Gatwick and City. The bikes are now licensed by Transport for LondonTransport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
and the Public Carriage Office, (PCO) who also license London's black cabs. There are currently 3 firms offering a taxi bike service based in London.
United States
A motorcycle for hire service began in California and New York City in 2011. Like a sedan serviceSedan service
A sedan service is a transportation service that offers taxi-like rides in vehicles. Sedan services exist in many places, though the exact definition, along with regulations, may vary in different places. In some places, the term refers to a more luxurious service than taxicabs, while in other...
, random passengers may not hail the motorcycles, but rather a yearly individual or corporate membership fee, plus an hourly rate, is charged. Experienced riders, many former police motorcyclists
Police motorcycle
A police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police forces and departments. They may be custom designed to meet the requirements unique of a particular use. A police motorcycle is often called a "motor" by police officers in the United States...
, carry clients on Honda Gold Wings, and in California can bypass traffic congestion by lane splitting
Lane splitting
Lane splitting refers to a two-wheeled vehicle moving between lanes of vehicles that are proceeding in the same direction. More narrowly, it refers to passing stopped or slower moving traffic between lanes at a speed greater than surrounding traffic....
. Passengers are provided with helmets, airbag vests, and Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
in-helmet cell phones. Besides the Gold Wings, the service bought several Can-Am Spyders before realizing they were not capable of splitting lanes.
See also
- OkadaOkada (commercial motorcycle)Okada refers to commercial motorcycles used as vehicles for hire in Nigeria. The name Okada was borrowed from Okada Air, a now defunct local airline in Nigeria.-Naming:...
, commercial motorcycle in Nigeria. - Boda-bodaBoda-bodaBoda-boda also known as a Poda-Poda in some parts of Africa is a bicycle taxi, originally in East Africa . The bicycle rider can also be called boda-boda...
, the term used in East Africa