Motorcycle taxi

Drivers of motorcycle taxis in Bangkok wear orange vests.

A motorcycle taxi, or cart bike, is a licensed form of transport in some countries. The taxi typically carries one passenger, who rides as the pillion behind the motorcycle operator. Multiple passengers are common in some countries.

Brazil

According to some sources, motorcycle taxi service in Brazil began in 1994, in Crateús, in the state of Ceará, when an employee of the Bank of Brazil bought 10 bikes for rent, for the transport of persons. Other sources state that it started in Bauru, São Paulo, in 1996, when an unemployed biker hung a banner across the road to the city, reading "help a biker racing to 1.00 real." Today, almost all Brazilian cities have motorcycle taxi service. Recently, they have appeared in poorer and less urban areas, where young people increasingly support themselves by driving them.

Typically, the fare is a flat fee, regardless of the distance traveled. However, the charge may vary according to the time of day or day of the week, or increase for distances that are greater than usual.

Licensing requirements for motorcycle taxis vary by municipality. Small towns tend not to regulate them at all, while in larger cities, they are regulated in much the same way as taxicabs. In July 2009, the Brazilian Senate approved standards for motorcycle taxi drivers and motorcycle couriers. They must be at least 21 years old, have held a Category A drivers licence for at least two years, and have attended a training course.

Cambodia

In Phnom Penh and other cities in Cambodia, motorcycle taxis are widely available as a form of low-cost public transport. Motorcycle taxi drivers, who are almost exclusively male, are called motodops. They tend to hang around outside major tourist attractions, office buildings, public markets, and near the corners of residential streets. There is no regulated system of training or bike maintenance and no common uniform, so anyone on his way home from the market might offer you a ride (and the driver's intentions can generally be trusted, the state of his bike, a little less so). Always negotiate the fare in advance (use gestures, if necessary). Don't expect a motodop to understand English or to read a map - he'll likely flag somebody down who can help translate or navigate, if necessary. Fares vary depending on distance and weather but should always be cheaper than a tuk-tuk. Fares are higher at night and when embarking from tourist areas. You'll get a better rate if you can negotiate in passable Khmer, but have a heart: these are generally the folks that live on a few dollars or less per day. As of 2014, helmet laws apply only to drivers, so bring your own helmet if you're worried about safety, but it's not legally required.

Cameroon

Motorcycle taxis are also the most common form of transportation in Maroua, Cameroon. Multiple passengers are carried on most trips; as many as four children are sometimes carried on a single motorcycle. Helmets are rarely used, but the traffic and speed are moderate in the city. Short distances cost about 200 francs, less than US$1.

China

In mainland China, motorcycle taxi service can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. There are currently motorcycle taxis throughout China, including in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. They are popular primarily due to their low cost: the fare for short trips is just 5 yuan (less than US$1) per person.

India

Main article: Motorcycle taxis in India

Pilots wait for customers at a motorcycle taxi stand in Vasco da Gama, Goa

In Goa, India, motorcycle taxis are required to be licensed. Driven by men called pilots, they are much cheaper than other taxis, although a passenger can only carry a backpack as luggage. In some parts of the state, motorcycle drivers are legally required to wear helmets, but any passengers riding pillion are not. Motorcycle taxis can usually be identified by their distinctive yellow and black colours. There is a practice to fix the fare in advance, and trips are not metered. A concept of motorcycle ride-share has been introduced by "Bikees" a company based in Chennai and "HeyTaxi" introduced in June 2015 by a company based in Mumbai. The authorities however closed down the project citing lack of licensing. HeyTaxi is currently operational as a bike rideshare provider and last mile delivery company in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Indonesia

Motorcycle taxis in Indonesia

Motorcycle taxis are a very common form of unlicensed transport in Indonesia, where they are known as ojek. Ojek can be found in most areas of the country, from towns where traffic jams commonly hinder other forms of transport, to rural areas inaccessible by four-wheeled vehicles. Because of traffic, ojek are often the fastest form of transport, especially in Jakarta. Many people choose them over taxicabs, which are safer, but slower and more expensive.

Many ojek drivers either own their vehicles or are buying them on credit, although in some areas, stolen motorcycles are common. The widespread availability of cheap, domestic motorcycles made by Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, and even cheaper ones imported from China, as well as credit schemes with which to purchase these, have resulted in the rapid growth of ojek. The ease with which driver's licences can be obtained has also been a contributing factor.

Before the trip begins, the passenger usually haggles with the driver over the fare, which generally ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 rupiah (about US$0.50 to US$1.00) for short trips. Indonesian law requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets; often on ojek, however, only the driver does so. Although the driver will sometimes provide a helmet for the passenger, more often, drivers simply avoid main streets, and the attention of police.

Nigeria

Main article: Okada (motorcycle taxi)

Nigeria has about three million motorcycle taxis, locally called okadas, with over one million in Lagos alone. In Lagos, new rules prohibit okadas from carrying pregnant women or children. Authorities say okadas will be stopped from driving up the wrong way, and the number of roads on which they are authorized to travel will be sharply reduced.

Philippines

Motorcycle taxis in the Philippines usually have sidecars, or seats extended sideways, often by use of a T-shaped crossbeam. The latter type of taxi is known as habal-habal, or a skylab, owing to its crude resemblance to the Skylab space station which orbited the Earth in the 1970s. Covered, three-wheel autorickshaws, known as tricycles, are also a common mode of transport.

Sweden

In 1994 and 1995, there were several motorcycle taxis in Stockholm. Due to the city's northern latitude, motorcycle taxi service is only feasible during the warmer months, and it remains a niche industry. As of 2011, there is one company offering tours using two Chang Jiang sidecar motorcycles.

Thailand

Motorcycle taxis (Thai: มอเตอร์ไซค์รับจ้าง, motoesai rap chang,วินมอไซต์ (Vin Mosai ) , pronounced [mɔ̄ːtɤ̄ːsāj ráp t͡ɕâːŋ]) are a common form of public transport in Bangkok and most other cities, towns, and villages in Thailand. They are generally used for short trips. In Bangkok, there are motorcycle taxi queues on many sois, or side streets, and the queues are regulated by the city's government. Licensed motorcycle taxi operators wear vests. In compliance with Thailand's helmet law, many (but not all) drivers carry a spare helmet to offer to passengers. Bangkok locals generally only use motorcycle taxis when they need to get somewhere fast, as metered taxi-cabs are actually cheaper (but slower) than flat-rate motorcycles. Therefore, motorcycle taxi-drivers in Bangkok have built their reputation on delivering service as quickly as possible and tend to drive very fast and weave through traffic.

United Kingdom

A motorcycle taxi waiting for passenger in London

Motorcycle taxi service in London began in 1990. It has established itself as a niche industry, never growing past a total of 15 bikes. All equipment is provided for the passenger, along with an intercom system linking the rider and passenger. The motorcycles have racks that can hold a carry-on suitcase, for trips to local airports, especially Stansted, Gatwick, and City. The bikes are now licensed by Transport for London and the Public Carriage Office, which also license London's black cabs. There are currently three firms based in London offering taxi bike service.

United States

A motorcycle for-hire service started in California and New York City in 2011. As with a sedan service, passengers may not hail the motorcycles on the street; instead, a yearly individual or corporate membership fee is charged, plus an hourly rate. Experienced riders, many former motorcycle police officers, carry clients on Honda Gold Wings, and in California, can bypass traffic congestion by lane splitting. Passengers are provided with helmets, airbag vests, and in-helmet, Bluetooth cell phones. Besides the Gold Wings, the service bought several Can-Am Spyders, before realizing they were not capable of splitting lanes.

Vietnam

A Vietnamese xe ôm driver and his passenger

Nimble motorcycle taxis, which surpass buses in speed and mobility, comprise one of the most popular modes of transportation in Vietnam, where they are known as xe ôm. Passengers can get a ride simply by hailing passing operators, or by finding drivers who gather at public places such as schools, markets, hospitals, and bus and train stations.

See also

• Boda-boda, an East African term for a bicycle taxi or motorcycle taxi

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons