word “Jinrikisha” which literally means “Human

word “Jinrikisha” which literally means
“Human- powered vehicle.” Jonathan
Scobie, a missionary in Japan, is widely
credited with inventing the rickshaw in
1869 as a way to transport his wife through
the streets of Yokohama.
Rickshaws appeared in India some
twenty years later. They were used by the
Chinese traders for transportation of goods.
It was a peasant job for migrants in these
places and quickly became a fixture in
many Asian countries.
Sir Marshall Campbell introduced the
rickshaw to Durban more than 90 years
ago.
With the growth of the internal
combustion engine, rickshaws as a mode
of daily transport all but died out. The 25
that operate today are all that remain of
this rich history.
Each rickshaw puller owns his vehicle
and no one is permitted to have more than
one.
Like any vehicles, rickshaws are subject to
wear and tear and need to be replaced. A
brand new rickshaw can cost a whopping
R10 000.
We spoke to an operator busy with
decorations for his new rickshaw. He
explained that the wheels alone can cost
R4 000 as they are huge and need to be of
a high quality.
“It takes time. I can sell a cow or a goat
in order to save.” But he views it as money
well spent because a new rickshaw will last
many years.
Rickshaw operators are currently in the
process of setting up an umbrella
organisation so that they can approach
businesses to support them, and in doing
so, help to expand their trade.
There has been good progress and they
already have a dedicated bank account.
They are confident that local businesses
will want to work with them, particularly
with the 2010 World Cup just around the
corner.
They already have a history with Fifa,
which hired ten of the operators to
transport delegates during last year's
Preliminary Draw.
Trips and prices
There are many trips that you can take
along the Marine Parade.
Tropicana hotel – Suncoast Casino: R60 pp
Local Ride (1Km): R20 pp
Tropicana hotel – Ushaka Marine World:
R50 pp
Ushaka Marine World – Suncoast Casino:
R130 pp
Elangeni Hotel – Ushaka marine World:
R100 pp
Videos: R15
Still Photographs: R8
Contact the Business Support Unit on
031 311 4500 for more details.
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