Tuk-Tuks/Samlors

[admin]

A local university professor asks:
"Some of my students are researching transport issues in Bangkok, especially the role played by the tuk-tuk, and possible designs for a more efficient and sustainable tuk-tuk.
Do you have any access to information, such as article or reports on transport issues?
Do you have any advice?"

[jpatokal]

What happened to the nifty plastic eco-tuktuk they were promoting last year around the time of the APEC conference? Seems to have disappeared without a trace.

[peterarthey]

Where can I buy a new Hotel Type Tuk Tuk? For example like the ones that are used as courtesy transport eg. Omni Towers in Suhkamvit Soi 4? Does anyone one of the factory or distributor contact details?
thanks
Peter Arthey

[spotgunk]

If Tuk-Tuks (http://www.tuk-tuk.co.uk) are your thing you might want to check out the MMW Imports website in my sig, they're producing tuk-tuks that are much cleaner than the normal ones, for use mostly in the European market.

[GWR]

http://www.frangipani.com/huahin/samlor.htm

[ncr]

Nice overview. Who wouldn't love the Isaan version with the pompous name "Skylab"? Covered quite some distance as a passenger in those contraptions myself.

On a sidenote, what I found somewhat conspicuous was the excellent quality of the photos (click on'em to enlarge). All look contrived (not bad, though) and almost like promotional shots or something.

[GWR]

Chavrolet tuk-tuk forced off road

The Chavrolet tuk-tuk will be redesigned in a different style
A motorised rickshaw designed in the famous Burberry check has been forced off the streets of Brighton and Hove because of a breach of copyright.

The so-called Chavrolet was one of 12 individually designed three-wheeled tuk-tuks launched in the Sussex city in July as a new type of taxi service.

It was voted the most popular design by the public, but ran into legal problems with the international fashion house.

TucTuc Ltd said a complaint from Burberry had been resolved amicably.

A spokeswoman said it was forced to withdraw the Chavrolet after receiving a letter from Burberry's London office highlighting a breach of its copyright.

Gold jewellery

The tuk-tuk will now be redesigned in a different style before it is returned into service.

"The pattern wasn't exactly the same as Burberry's, but the company felt that it was too close to its own design, and considered it an infringement of copyright," the spokeswoman added.

The distinctive check made famous by the fashion house has won devotees among the UK's so-called "chav" population - young people who typically dress in tracksuit trousers, hooded tops, and checked baseball caps, and adorn themselves with gold jewellery and body piercings.

Burberry states on its website: "Anyone who uses our name, our Equestrian Knight Device or a check identical with or confusingly similar to our Burberry Check without our permission is infringing our trademarks and will hear from our lawyers."

The company's 12 liveried vehicles were imported from India and given individual designs, including the Strawberry, the Union Jack Britannia and the Swiss Cheese.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5335868.stm

[GWR]

http://www.tuctuc.co.uk/flashsite.html

Made in India! Which is I suppose because the Indian comapny were prepared to build a natural gas version. Pay 3 Pounds Sterling and ride all day in the region of Brighton's long seafront. I suspect not a bad deal if you ...... perchance ...... feel like a holiday in Brighton - a town/city that might well be described as Chav-on-Sea.;)

[jpatokal]

http://www.tuctuc.co.uk/flashsite.html

Made in India! Which is I suppose because the Indian comapny were prepared to build a natural gas version.
Many "tuktuks" (autorickshaws) in India, including all those in Delhi, use CNG. It's also a fairly safe bet that the subcontinent has way more of the things than Thailand...

Are Thailand's tuktuks manufactured locally?

[GWR]

It seems there are about 5 manufacturers of 3-Wheel Tuk-Tuks in Thailand.I notice no mention of CNG on the pages for models and engine spec.

I'd also like to know just who it is who manufactures the 4-Wheel Tuk-Tuks that are used in some cities like Hat-Yai. I can tell you that I know the whereabouts of a Daihatsu showroom that also sells new 4-Wheelers. Most 4-Wheelers appear to have been Daihatsu originally. My suspicion is that few new ones are bought, and that there is heavy emphasis on continually rebuilding and refurbishing old machines in local workshops: -

http://www.thailandtuktuk.net/tuktuk-history.htm

http://www.thailandtuktuk.net/

The history of Tuk-Tuk in Thailand.

The vehicles known as Tuk-Tuk originated in Japan by Daihatsu and it was Thailand who subsequently went into production with these vehicles many years later.

Thailand built Tuk-Tuks cost between 95'000 Baht and 150'000 Baht. As far as we know, there are about five to six manufacturers of Tuk-Tuks in Thailand.

The original Thai Tuk-Tuk is found in many places in Thailand, mostly operating as an open air taxi. Named for the sound made by their small-capacity, two-cycle engines, tuk-tuks are often found in tourist areas, around markets, or cruising the streets for fares. It is common to see 4 or 5 people in one tuk-tuk, such as students heading home from school, or a single person riding a Tuk-Tuk full of boxes and bags being taken home from the market.

Visitors to Thailand are usually very interested and curious about the Tuk-Tuk, a locally made and designed three-wheeled vehicle. Tourists are often seen getting their picture taken with the open-air vehicle, and heard swapping tales of their experiences with the charming little machine.

Tuk-Tuks were invented in Thailand over 50 years ago, evolving as a motorized relative of the rickshaw. The Tuk-Tuk was given its name from the rather rough sound of the early models. The single stroke motor powering the first three-wheelers had a distinctive hum when operating, and the "tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk" sound became a familiar sound to many in need of quick and convenient transportation in Bangkok. The Tuk-Tuk has improved its technology and quality over the years, while emerging as one of Thailand's most recognizable and identifiable symbols.

While Tuk-Tuks are most commonly used for transporting passengers, many industrial uses for the vehicle have been initiated with dramatic changes incorporated into new designs and models. The relatively small size of the Tuk-Tuk finds the vehicle navigating small alleys on delivery routes, and scooting around narrow factories taking advantage of its agility and slight turning radius.

Since the beginning, They can be modified to have automatic gears, doors, safety belts, air-conditioning, and much more depending on what the customer require.

As current models, powered by a 550 CC Japanese made engine, are able to carry a payload of 1000 kilograms. Customers have used Tuk-Tuks for hauling goods in factories, distributing goods and products in regions that have extremely narrow roads, and transporting guests around resort properties

[GWR]

Wikipedia is informative on this subject, as ever. It appears more routes are intended in the UK. In fairness, it could be a good option for the light-traveller who doesn't wanted to be arsed paying an arm and a leg for a cab: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuk-tuk

English Tuk-tuks

There are currently twelve Tuk-tuks (spelt tuctuc) in service in Brighton running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). These run a fixed route between Brighton Marina in the east of the city, and Hove in the west, along the seafront via Brighton station. They are used by both tourists and locals. They are Bajaj Retros, a design of the auto rickshaw Piaggio Ape style.

A service for London is planned for May 2007, and the rest of the country in 2008/9.

[GWR]

Wiki's Auto rickshaw page is actually more informative than Tuc-Tuc's own site: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autorickshaw

As of Monday July 10, 2006, auto rickshaws (named tuctucs) were introduced in the city of Brighton & Hove, England by entrepreneur Dominic Ponniah, who had the idea after seeing the vehicles used successfully in the transport infrastructure of India and Sri Lanka during his university gap year.

They were introduced as a cleaner and cooler form of private transport. They are CNG-powered, using a four-speed (plus reverse) 175cc engine, so are far more environmentally friendly than petrol powered vehicles - an important factor for the many Brightonians and tourists who are concerned about the environment.

Currently, under the terms of their licence, the tuctucs run on a fixed single route, and stop only at designated stops. The route runs along the seafront from Brighton Marina in the east, to Hove in the west with a diversion along West Street to Brighton railway station and back. They run from 8am to 2am daily (except Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays, when close of service is 11pm); the frequency varies between 5-minute and 20-minute intervals. A simple ticketing scheme is in place: a £3.00 all-day ticket is available on weekdays only, while a single-journey ticket is £2.50 adult, £1.50 child. Tickets are issued on board and at various outlets both in the city and elsewhere in South-East England.

Each tuctuc has its own colour scheme, including the Britannia with its Union Flag design and the Gresham, named after Gresham Blake, the local tailor who designed the drivers' uniform of a pinstriped waistcoat. They are of the same design as traditional auto rickshaws in other countries such as India, Pakistan and Thailand, being a design evolved since the late 1940s and early 1950s from the Piaggio Ape, which started life itself as a Vespa scooter.

The vehicles became very popular within the first month of service, and are to be introduced in other towns and cities in the UK, starting with London in May 2007.

Issues

In September 2006, Burberry filed a lawsuit against Tuctuc Ltd for using a design similar to Burberry's famous check pattern on one of its vehicles [1]. This has now been resolved as the vehicle in question is currently been repainted.

An investigation was launched into Tuctuc Ltd's operation of the service after complaints that routes, stopping points and timetables were not being adhered to were raised, primarily by the city's taxi drivers. In November 2006, the company was fined £16,500 - the maximum penalty possible - by the South East Traffic Commissioner. After amendments were made to the timetable to reduce delays and improve reliability, the Commissioner allowed the company to keep its operating licence.

[GWR]

It appears that they are also becoming popular for light delivery work: -

www.tuktuks.co.uk

[Scuba22]

The vehicles known as Tuk-Tuk originated in Japan by Daihatsu...

...Tuk-Tuks were invented in Thailand over 50 years ago

So...which is it? :-)

Scuba

[GWR]

I'm not entirely clear whether the original auto-rickshaws were Japanese or Indian. I suspect Japanese, with the Indians building their own version at a later date with both Japanese and local components. But I expect to be proved wrong!

I guess they are saying that the Thai 'Tuk-Tuk' arose from the Japanese auto-rickshaw, and was also produced using a comination of both Japanese and local components.

I'm not sure I really care either way, but I WOULD like to testdrive a CNG machine. I'm not totally immune from the male itch to drive different vehicles; although I'm no racer. My favorites to date are skid-steer loaders, all-terrain tricycles and the Haflinger (a sort of bite-size 4WD Steyr Puch pickup that looks a bit like a four-wheel tuk-tuk.)

[Jromerz]

If anyone wants to see a truly bling-bling tuk tuk, then go take a look at Crystal Lounge on Sukhumvit soi 20. There is a tuk tuk completely covered with crystals ...

A pic is three quarters down this page:

http://www.bangkokeyes.com/2006sep01.html

[Baton Rouge]

If anyone wants to see a truly bling-bling tuk tuk, then go take a look at Crystal Lounge on Sukhumvit soi 20. There is a tuk tuk completely covered with crystals ...
A pic is towards the end of this page:

http://www.bangkokeyes.com/2006sep01.html

Thanks for that!

If you are having trouble finding the picture, here's a more direct link.

I got bogged down in the goodlookers. I then got bogged down thinking that there were about a thousand other ways I would much prefer to meet them. Eventually, I found the picture and got bogged down in the thought that I prefer my motorcycles in military austerity mode. Women look better in fatiques too.

http://www.bangkokeyes.com/crystal2.jpg

I also got bogged down in the thought that webmaster William R. Morledge is a complete morph, both in terms of composition and facial features.

http://www.bangkokeyes.com/newswriter.jpg

[Jromerz]

The direct link is definitely much better..
There's a lot of stuff to get bogged down with on that site

I managed to get another pic of the tuk tuk from a friend, its posted on Flickr now:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jromerz/322482613/