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Tap-tap cab
Taxicab

A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of public transport for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride....
s (also known as camionettes) serve as mass transportation in Haiti
Haiti

Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Haitian Creole language- and French language-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago....
. Tap-taps are privately owned, but publicly operated as a form of shared taxi
Share taxi

A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport, often with a fixed or semi-fixed route, but with the added convenience of stopping anywhere to pick or drop passengers and not having fixed time schedules....
. They are one of various forms of transportation such as the Guaguas of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a Autonomy Territories of the United States of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands....
 named after a sound, in this case, the sharp taps on the metal panel signifying a passenger's request to be dropped off.






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Tap Tap City
Tap-tap cab
Taxicab

A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of public transport for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride....
s (also known as camionettes) serve as mass transportation in Haiti
Haiti

Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Haitian Creole language- and French language-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago....
. Tap-taps are privately owned, but publicly operated as a form of shared taxi
Share taxi

A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport, often with a fixed or semi-fixed route, but with the added convenience of stopping anywhere to pick or drop passengers and not having fixed time schedules....
. They are one of various forms of transportation such as the Guaguas of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a Autonomy Territories of the United States of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands....
 named after a sound, in this case, the sharp taps on the metal panel signifying a passenger's request to be dropped off. Urban Tap-taps are small pickup truck
Pickup truck

A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area which is almost always separated from the cab to allow for chassis flex when carrying or pulling heavy loads....
s, sometimes mini-vans, with benches and a sun cover, able to maneuver in heavy traffic. For longer journeys between cities or across the country-side, larger trucks known as gwo machins, and buses, known as auto buses, are used. Both versions are elaborately decorated by their owner with bright colors and other artistic elements, which stands in contrast with some of the bleak city blocks in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince is the Capital and largest List of cities in Haiti of Haiti. Growth, especially in crowded slums in nearby plains and hillsides, has raised the population of the Port-au-Prince area to between 2.5 and 3 million....
 and Cap-Haitien
Cap-Haïtien

Cap-Ha?tien is a city of about 130,000 people on the north coast of Haiti. It is the capital of the Nord, Haiti department. Founded during France colonial rule, the city was originally named Cap-Fran?ais....
. Christian phrases and secular slogans usually in French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
, although increasingly seen in Haitian Creole, are often imprinted. Although one may see a number of smaller tap-taps making cross-country trips, gwo machins and auto buses are more frequent due to their ability to better handle Haiti's rugged infrastructure
Infrastructure

Infrastructure can be defined as the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise , or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function....
.

Most tap-taps operate over fixed routes, departing only when full. One can usually ride a tap-tap for approximately five gourdes, but the charge will depend on the distance you ride or your overall destination for longer trips. Characteristic of similar situations in the Third World
Third World

Third World is a categorical label used to describe states that are considered to be developed in terms of their economy or level of industrialization, globalization, standard of living, health, education or other criteria for 'advancements'....
, foreigners are often charged more due to their perceived socio-economic advantage compared to everyone else. As a tap-tap passes, simply shout 'alé' to join the ride, but when ready to get off, say 'mesi chofè' and pay as you leave.

Tap-taps are also notorious venues for local gossip and politically charged, but light-hearted kompa
Kompa

Compas is a musical genre which is native to Haiti. It is also known as kompa, kompas, kompass, compas direct, or konpa direct. This style of music is closely associated with Haiti for many people, and it is often featured at Haitian festivals and events; worldwide, several festivals annually feature comp?s music and other aspects of Haitian...
 music.