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Post by oldmike on Jul 11, 2006 6:53:23 GMT 7
From Bombay to Brighton - tuk tuks introduced to the UK to ease traffic By Geneviève Roberts Published: 11 July 2006 The tuk-tuk, ubiquitous in Asian cities from Bombay to Bangkok, has arrived on British shores. The three-wheeled motorised rickshaws, named after their spluttering two-stroke engines, took to the streets of Brighton yesterday. If the fleet of 12 vehicles, which pick up passengers along set routes, prove popular, then tuk-tuks will be introduced in London from May next year. There are also plans for fleets in Bristol, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
The executive director of TucTuc Ltd, Dominic Ponniah, 26, was travelling in a tuk-tuk in Delhi when he decided the rickshaws would be an asset to this country. "The streets of Delhi are as congested as our roads, but instead of being blocked with bendy buses, a tuk-tuk can nip in and out of traffic," he said. He said that the vehicles have been modified to make them safe and environmentally friendly. Each tuk-tuk takes up to three people and gets the equivalent of 50 miles per gallon.
But Bob Oddie, General Secretary of Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, believes the vehicles will not be as safe as taxis or buses.
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Post by Methinks on Jul 11, 2006 7:53:38 GMT 7
But Bob Oddie, General Secretary of Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, believes the vehicles will not be as safe as taxis or buses. No sh!t, sherlock? Well, they are safer than a motorcycle. I wonder if they will prove to be popular? Maybe yes, but I doubt they will ease congestion. A bus has 50 passengers (at least in theory) and a tuk tuk 2. Anyway it's not a bad idea. Well done Dominique!
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Post by Brightonian on Jul 14, 2006 21:55:57 GMT 7
Will feedback observations from Brighton as I'll be there in a couple of weeks time.
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Post by ninja on Jul 21, 2006 15:53:33 GMT 7
Actually, the tuk-tuks (or auto riks) are great little vehicles. I've taken my life in my own hands by jumping into one in Bangalore and remember racing a mate's tuk-tuk in Bangkok some years ago (stupid I know). If you get them all running as 4 strokes, they'd be less polluting as well. For short commutes within the city, they'd have merit I think. Will get people from A-B a lot faster than buses or trains... and you can hop off/ hop on kerb-side, too. Longer distances > 15 minutes probably wouldn't be an incentive for the proprietor. Good idea!
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Post by bernie on Jul 24, 2006 21:44:52 GMT 7
Where's brightonian's feedback? Interesting to know.
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Post by Noname on Jul 28, 2006 18:48:03 GMT 7
Brightonian got smashed up in a tuk tuk. Thats why ;D
Read the post again: He/She's only just left for Brighton, be patient.
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Post by drongo on Aug 8, 2006 22:28:13 GMT 7
Last I heard was the Brighton car taxi drivers were going all out to stop the service. As the article says you cannot just hail a Tuk Tuk but have to wait for one at a preset place (different licence type). This meant Tuk Tuk drivers either ignored the rule or sent hailing passengers to nearest pick up point and then picked them up; cue angry taxi drivers and official complaints and problems for TT company.
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