Bikes In Thailand, part II
Cargo Vehicles
Here are a few more pictures of bikes I saw in Thailand. These photos are of cargo trikes, both the pedal kind and motorized. There are a lot of different types of vehicles with two and three wheels that are used for hauling stuff. Some of the most burly are the motorized cargo trikes, which are seen all over the place.
Just down the road from one guesthouse where we stayed in Bangkok was an ice factory. There was a fleet of motorized cargo trikes that hauled giant bags of crushed ice to the street vendors. The bags were fifty kilos each (about 110 pounds) , and I saw these cargo trikes loaded with at least 8 to 10 bags, possibly more, as they left the factory. They ran ice around the city all throughout the day.
If you've ever been to Bangkok you know how many markets there are, and how many food vendors, fruit sellers, beverage makers, etc. are out there. Most of them have no electricity for refrigeration, so they need ice to keep their stuff cold. It must be a big business for the ice factory. Bangkok is hot as hell. Without ice people would be pretty miserable.
I wish I could say that I saw a lot of pedal powered cargo trikes, but I fear its a dying breed in the city. Everybody wants a motor to push them around. I saw a few cargo trikes, but not many. It makes me wonder what it was like thirty, or even fifty years ago. How did people get around the city? How did they move their stuff around to the markets?
The last group of photos in this session are of vintage Indian tuk-tuks. They are such elegant rides. These are pictures of a type that is no longer in use. I hope you enjoy them.
News, Travel | tagged Thailand, cargo bike, work trike
Reader Comments (1)
As a resident of both Eugene and Thailand (about a half-year each), having just discovered your Thailand-related posts was a treat. I've been living in Thailand part time for about 10 years now. While the majority of my time in Thailand is spent as an ordained Buddhist monk at a remote north-eastern Thailand monastery, I am deeply connected to the people, culture, and life there. I spend almost all of my non-monastery time in Thailand in small villages and the non-tourist parts of Bangkok, interacting with the people and everyday life. Your photos of the bike-related transportation aspect of that life are very much representative of the beauty and simplicity inherent in Thai life. Thanks for the photos and thoughts from your visit, I hope you enjoyed your visit.