Not only are cycle rickshaws used in Asian countries, but they are also used in some cities in Europe and North America. They are used primarily for their novelty value, as an entertaining form of transportation for tourists and locals, but they also have environmental benefits and may be quicker than other forms of transport if traffic congestion is high. Cycle rickshaws used outside Asia often are mechanically more complex, having multiple
gears, more powerful brakes, and in some cases
electrical motors to provide additional power.
Africa Madagascar In
Madagascar rickshaws, including cycle rickshaws or
cyclo-pousse, are a common form of transportation in a number of cities. Rickshaws are known as
pousse-pousse, meaning
push-push, reportedly for the pulled rickshaws that required a second person to push the vehicles up hills. Cycles are more common in the hillier areas, like
Toamasina.
Americas Canada In Canada there are pedicabs in operation in
Victoria, British Columbia, and
Vancouver, British Columbia. They are regulated in
Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Mexico In
Mexico, they are called or (literally "ecological taxi").
United States In many major cities, pedicabs can be found rolling about city centers, nightlife districts, park lands, sports stadiums, and tourist-heavy areas. Myriad uses have been discovered in the states, including car-park-to-event transport at large events nationwide. Thousands of pedicabs today operate on streets in locales including Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Austin, Texas; Manhattan, New York; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego and San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Charleston, South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and dozens of other hot spots. Manhattan sports the largest collection of pedicabs operating within city limits, and the City of New York itself has mandated that approximately 850 pedicabs always sport operating permits issued by the city. Pedicabs in the United States seem to have gotten their start at the
1962 World's Fair in
Seattle.
Asia Bangladesh ,
Bangladesh. The city is known as the Rickshaw Capital of the World. Cycle rickshaws (রিকশা
riksha) are the most popular modes of transport in
Bangladesh and are available for hire throughout the country including the capital city
Dhaka, known as the "Rickshaw Capital of the World". They are either pedal or motor-powered. They were introduced here about 1938 and by the end of the 20th century there were 300,000+ cycle rickshaws in Dhaka. Approximately 400,000 cycle rickshaws run each day. Cycle rickshaws in Bangladesh are also more convenient than the other public modes of transports in the country namely auto rickshaws, cabs and buses. They are mostly
convertible, decorated, rickshaws with folding hoods and are the only kind of vehicles that can be driven in many neighbourhoods of the city with narrow streets and lanes. However, increasing traffic congestion and the resulting collisions have led to the banning of rickshaws on many major streets in the city. Urban employment in Bangladesh also largely depend on cycle rickshaws. Because of inflation and unemployment in the rural areas, people from villages crowd in the cities to become rickshaw drivers locally called the
riksha-wala (রিকশাওয়ালা).
Cambodia Cycle rickshaws are known as
cyclo (pronounced see-clo) in
Cambodia, derived from the French .
China , Beijing, targeting at tourists from Summer Palace Since the 1950s, when the pulled rickshaw was phased out, mid-city and large city passengers may travel using three-wheeled pedicabs, or cycle rickshaws. The
Chinese term for the conveyance is
sanlunche (三轮车). The vehicles may be pedal- or motor-powered. In
Shanghai, most of the vehicles are powered by electricity. Tourists are warned to beware of over-charging vendors, especially who wear an "old fashioned costume" or are located near tourist locations.
India The first attempt of improving the existing cycle rickshaws and then converting them to electric ones was done by the
Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in the late 1990s.
Service availability Cycle rickshaws were used in Kolkata starting about 1930
Ecocabs and similar service Ecocab "Nano Model"
Navdeep Asija started a dial-a-cycle rickshaw concept known as Ecocabs, Environmental friendly Ecocabs operate in the Punjab towns of
Fazilka, In November 2010, Patiala GreenCABS, similar to Ecocabs, were introduced in the city by the local
non governmental organisation (NGO) the Patiala Foundation.
Financing In
West Bengal the
Rotaract Club of
Serampore finances cycle rickshaw purchases so that unemployed people can begin their own rickshaw business. The loans are repaid from the workers' earnings. When paid in full, the rickshaw workers own their rickshaw and other unemployed individuals are entered into the program.
Soleckshaw The Soleckshaw is a battery-electric assisted cycle rickshaw. The battery is designed to be charged or exchanged at centralised solar-powered charging stations. Developed by the
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, it was launched in
Delhi in October 2008. However, in September 2010 it was reported that no Soleckshaws had been sold on a commercial basis, and the approximately 30 demonstration units, initially deployed in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dhanbad, Durgapur, Jaipur, and Kolkata, were "not in operation due to various local administrative and management problems", and the charging stations "are not being used at this point of time as the vehicles are not in operation at those locations". The
2010 Union budget of India had a concessional excise duty of 4% on solar cycle rickshaws.
Indonesia Cycle rickshaws in Indonesia are called
becak (pronounced ). They began to be used in Jakarta around 1936. Despite attempts at eradication, however, many
becak still operate near
slums throughout the city. Attempts at reinforcing the ban resulted in large-scale seizures of the vehicle in the late 1990s and in 2007. In 2018, Governor
Anies Baswedan attempted to allow
becak again because of a political contract with
becak drivers during his campaign. There are two types of
becak in Indonesia, with the first type having the driver sitting behind the passenger (similar to Dutch-style
cargo bikes), while the other one, mainly found in Sumatra, has the driver sitting beside the passenger.
Becak is still used in various parts of Indonesia, especially in smaller cities and towns.
Malaysia In
Malaysia, pedestrian-pulled
rickshaws were gradually replaced by cycle rickshaws ( in
Malay, from
Hokkien bé-chhia 馬車 "horse cart"). Cycle rickshaws were ubiquitous up to the 1970s in cities. Since then, rapid urbanisation has increased demand for more efficient public transport, resulting in dwindling cycle rickshaw numbers. Today, cycle rickshaws are operated mostly as a tourist attraction, with small numbers operating in
Malacca,
Penang,
Kelantan, and
Terengganu.
Myanmar In Myanmar, cycle rickshaws or trishaws (, directly pronounced as in the English word 'side car') came first into wide use in 1938, when the
1300 Revolution, which originated from the
Chauk oil-field strike, inspired the people in
Mandalay to have a consciousness of nationalism and to boycott British goods and services. The auto body technician Saya Nyo built the first trishaw in Mandalay by attaching a side-car to the side of an old bicycle. So two passengers are on the right of the driver. Only two forms of transportation were then available in the city; the cab and the electric train. The latter could run only on tracks. Trishaws could reach every nook and cranny, so the spirit of nationalism plus the advantage of trishaws reaching everywhere made them so popular among Mandalayans that even the train company had to stop its business.
Nepal In the
Terai region of
Nepal, cycle rickshaws are still the most popular means of public transport for short-distance commuting. Most big cities in the Terai have hundreds of cycle rickshaws that carry local commuters and travellers, and are also used for carrying goods. Since the Terai region is bordered with
India, cycle rickshaws are also popular means for shoppers, businessmen and travellers to travel in and out of the country freely. The free border between India and Nepal enable the rickshaw owners from both countries to operate across the border without any restriction. However, in
Hilly regions of Nepal, cycle rickshaws are primarily used to attract tourists who can relax and travel around the popular streets and markets at reasonable fares. Cycle rickshaws are particularly popular among tourists to roam around the popular streets and markets of
Thamel,
Kathmandu.
Pakistan The cycle and
pulled rickshaw were banned in
Pakistan in November 1991.
Philippines In the Philippines, it is called a
pedicab,
traysikad,
trisikad—or simply
sikad or
padyak, from the Philippine word meaning to tramp or stamp one's feet. It is made by mounting a
sidecar to a regular bicycle. They are used mainly to ferry passengers short distances along smaller, more residential streets, often to or from
jeepneys or other
public utility vehicles. They are also used for transporting cargo too heavy to carry by hand and over a distance too short or roads too congested for motor transport, such as a live pig. During
rainy seasons, they are useful as a way to avoid walking through flood waters. Along with the
jeepney, the
motorcycle-powered tricycle, and the engine-powered
kuliglig, the open-air pedicab provides shade when needed.
South Korea The Korean term for cycle rickshaw is
illyeokgeo (인력거), which can be pedal- or motor-powered, though most in South Korea are electric. While not commonly used as a primary mode of transportation, cycle rickshaws can still be found in certain areas like
Bukchon Hanok Village in
Seoul, where they operate mainly for tourism purposes.
Thailand In
Thailand, any three-wheeler is called (), whether motorised or not, including pedicabs, motorcycles with attached vending carts or
sidecars, etc. The driver is also called ''''.
Vietnam on an originally-designed xích lô, 1939 and other provinces are re-designed a higher carriage for both goods and passengers transport. Cycle rickshaws are known as '
(pronounced sick-low, from the French ') in Vietnam. Cyclo was an invention of a French named P. Coupeaid, which was introduced in
Cambodia and
Saigon in 1939. From 2008 to 03/2012, due to the traffic obstruction, cyclos were totally forbidden in
Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, except cyclo tours organised by tourist agencies. Another similar vehicle, a pedicab called
xe lôi of the
Mekong Delta, are now rarely found in some provinces such as
Sóc Trăng,
Vĩnh Long, and
Châu Đốc. They are on their way to disappear.
Cyclo, a 1995 film about a cyclo driver, won the
Golden Lion at the
52nd Venice International Film Festival. Beyond their practical utility, cyclos held cultural significance in Saigon. They appeared in literature, art, and cinema, becoming emblematic of the city's identity. From romantic rendezvous to everyday commutes, cyclos featured prominently in the daily lives of Saigonese residents. Despite the challenges, efforts are underway to preserve the legacy of cyclo in Saigon. Some organizations are restoring vintage models, while others are promoting eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cyclos. These initiatives aim to celebrate the cultural heritage of these iconic vehicles and ensure their continued presence in the city.
Europe Cycle rickshaws, also called pedicabs, are used in most large continental European cities.
Finland Cycle rickshaws are available for rent at
Kaivopuisto in
Helsinki. The rental company brought the vehicles from the city of
Lappeenranta in 2009.
France Most French cities have one or more pedicabs, locally known as PussPuss or VeloTaxi. Most common in
Paris,
Nantes,
Lyon,
Montpellier and
Valence, these cities operate one or more units. France have pedicab vendors. They have been made in
Berlin, Germany, by Ludger Matuszewski, the founder of "Velotaxi GmbH" company. Velotaxis are often used for group functions like weddings. Under German traffic laws, transporting people on bicycles was forbidden.
Electric-assist pedicabs Berlin's Senate, police, and taxi associations finally agreed that the "cult-flitzer" could be integrated into the city's traffic flow. Germany's highest court later ruled that transporting people on bikes was legal. It is a modern and newly designed pedicab (CityCruiser) with a 500-watt electric assist motor. Although these electric-assist pedicabs were engineered in Germany they are manufactured in the
Czech Republic and some clones are now also produced in China. The Chinese clone can be purchased for about 3,000
US dollars; the German original is around 6,000 US dollars (the newest version, 9000+
€). The batteries last about 4 hours with a full charge. As with a few recumbent and semi-recumbent designs, some drivers may suffer with knee and joint pain due to the weight of the vehicle (145 kg).
Hungary Pedicab service is available in
Budapest.
Italy Pedicab service is available in
Florence,
Milan, Thomas Lundy of Amsterdam adapted his battery-electric assisted cycle rickshaw to become what he terms "semi-solar powered", resulting in a video report on
Reuters.
Norway , Norway Pedicab service is available in
Oslo,
Poland During
World War II, when
Poland was under
Nazi German occupation, the German authorities confiscated most privately owned cars and many of the
streetcars and
buses. Because of that,
public transport was partially replaced by cycle rickshaws, at first improvised and with time mass-produced by bicycle factories. Cycle rickshaws became popular in
Warsaw and by the start of the
Warsaw Uprising were a common sight on the city's streets. Pedicabs still can be found in most large cities in Poland from
Łódź to
Warsaw.
Spain Alicante,
Barcelona,
Zaragoza,
Málaga,
San Sebastian, and
Seville have pedicab service.
United Kingdom Cycle rickshaws operate in central London, including
Soho, Rickshaws and pedicabs are found in the centre of Edinburgh where vendors are hired like taxis and provide tours. Pedicabs and their variants are also available in
Oxford. ==Economic, social and political aspects==