British cities get 'touch of Bombay' with tuk-tuks By Anna Tomforde Jul 6, 2006, 11:33 GMT
London - Britain's first motorized rickshaw service was launched in the seaside town of Brighton Thursday, with organizers promising an expansion to London and 'all over Europe' next year.
The three-wheeled mopeds, known as tuk-tuks because of the sound of their stuttering engines, are notorious for weaving at death- defying speeds through narrow gaps in traffic-congested Asian cities.
Dominic Ponniah, convinced that tuk-tuks would catch on in Britain, imported 12 of the vehicles from Pune in India and fitted them with extra security features such as roll bars, side-impact protection and seat belts.
Introducing the service in Brighton, he said expansion next year would include London, and other major cities such as Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
'We will move into London next year and hope to go all over Europe,' he said, giving European cities 'a touch of Bombay,' also known as Mumbai.
In Brighton, adults will pay a flat fare of 2.50 pounds (4.50 dollars), and children 1.50 pounds.
They will share the ride with strangers, with up to three people squeezed into the open-sided cabin behind the driver.
The service will run all year on a set route. Ponniah is confident that there will still be a demand in the British winter, when the only protection from the cold and rain will be a plastic curtain.
The drivers, who have licences to ride cars, have had four days of training in driving and repairing a tuk-tuk.
In Bangkok, Delhi and Bombay, it is common to see drivers tinkering with the engine while passengers wait.
In Asia, drivers rely on religious artefacts to protect them from crashes.
Ponniah, however, has had to satisfy the requirements of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, which has tested each tuk-tuk.
Unlike the older, noisier versions in Asia, which run on petrol, the Brighton tuk-tuks have been converted to run on compressed natural gas.
Ponniah said that emissions of air pollutants were at least 90 per cent lower than for cars.
With a maximum speed of 35 miles (56 kilometres) and low fuel consumption, the tuk-tuks will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicles on the road.
'They are as cheap as a bus and as convenient as a taxi. We will also make sure our drivers don't drive like maniacs,' promised Ponniah.
'Riding in a tuk-tuk always puts a smile on people's faces, especially if it reminds them of an Asian holiday,' said Steve Webb, owner of the Tukshop in Southampton, which sells tuk-tuks as delivery vehicles.
(c) 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur