Chiang Mai's rickshaws last of a dying breed

 

video screenshot

 

Sanook reported that the three wheeled pedal rickshaws of Chiang Mai will soon be history.

 

There used to be 1,000 pedaling about town but now only 40 are left and most of those are old men.

 

They said that particularly European visitors lamented the passing of a bygone age.

 

One man still working his rickshaw - also known as trishaws in other parts of Asia - is 63 year old Inkaew.

 

He said that the younger generation are not interested in taking up the profession and it is thus dying out.

 

He said that one of the drivers still working was aged 83.

 

They could charge 30-50 baht for short trips for locals from the market but the real money was in the tourist season when they could get 200 to 300 baht for a 30 minute tour of the city.

 

He said that he usually gets two of these a day that will give him up to 600 baht with tips.

 

He said that a rickshaw used to cost only 5-6,000 baht years ago - but nowadays one could set you back 40,000 baht.

 

Thaivisa notes that pedal rickshaws were banned in Bangkok as long ago as the 1960s when they were largely replaced with motorized tuk-tuks.

 

But they have lingered on in some country towns and municipalities in the provinces.

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-12-11

I see these from time to time here in Chiang Mai, and am amazed at the leg strength of these men.  60 - 70 year old, skinny men with the leg strength of footballers half their age.  My wife and I have taken them a couple of times in the past, usually at night, and just for fun, and I always pay them double the price they quote, out of respect for their ability. 

There are still a lot of Samlors in Nonthaburi  and Pathum Thani. And  that is the Bangkok Metropolitan area.

They are amazingly difficult to ride. Needs a lot of arm strength to keep them in a straight line as well as the leg strength. There are a few regular ones that take some of my neighbours to the market. Most would have to be well into their 60's and 70's.

The ultimate "eco transport" for central Chiang Mai.

Way back, tried driving one for a few hours in New Delhi. Very heavy, unwieldy and that's even without passengers. Not that great for the back, or pretty much anything. MiL got an old one slowly falling apart and rusting in the backyard - even she can't recall why it's there.

Inevitable that they will die as only old folk use them really now. Maybe not such a bad thing though as they are not suited to the modern roads despite their quaintness. 

Remember in 2007 Charlie of Charlie's Fish and Chip fame had every and I do mean every rickshaw in Chiang Mai tagged with his advert.

 

50 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

I can remember seeing one of these, from "The Mad Dog" restaurant every morning it had two old ladies as passengers wearing the Chinese type pointed hats, it had the same Fish an Chips placard on the back, i often wanted to take a picture, but thought it would be rude to do so, but thanks for providing the picture!

 

 

They still have them in the villages near Bangkok. It costs 10 baht for 1.5 km trip from the family house to Tesco Lotus Rama 2. I tip them 5 or 10 baht because my weight is more as 2 times their average passenger. It looks none of the guys is younger as 70. The younger ones all drive motorcycle taxis. 50 baht for a ride seems quite expensive.

Still a few about in Udon city.

time to move up to electric rikshaws