Research: Transportation around the world

From China to South East Asia: transport globally

Image: Hong Kong trams

Whilst in Asia I discovered a range of transportation which although may seem a little extreme in comparison with the transport we use in the UK today along with feeling detached from the feel of Cornwall, however they do provide some interesting concepts, systems and theories which could inspire future concepts provided for the towns connected by the A3047.

The trams of Hong Kong: A spectacular form of transport on Hong Kong island, the trams have become famous worldwide. Basic, traditional and in effect the opposite to the flashy and bright Hong Kong, these trams simply provide a transport route from A to B. They are efficient, easy to use, along with running on time at regular intervals. Of course most importantly they are very cheap at approximately HK$1 for each journey lasting up to one hour. In comparison to the new underground subways Hong Kong has to offer, which although offer air con and a sanctuary away from the busy streets and crowded trams, the trams are nonetheless a great form of transport available and possibly the most exciting, alternative form to use in HK. Although my thoughts would be whether or not this is a bias opinion as a non-local to the area. What would they really be like to use day in day out?

Bicycles in Beijing: Although this is possibly the most populated city in the world, the traffic and congestion feels more under control than perhaps somewhere like London. To balance out the mass use of cars, there are plenty of bikes...everywhere! With this cheap form of sustainable transport readily available Beijing is full of bikes! Many people use their bikes as a multi-functional form of transport from using their bike as a way to deliver, collect, act as a taxi driver, drop off, and carry various things from shopping, to a doorway (see various images). Nevertheless this attitude towards the bikes is not just restricted to Beijing; other parts of Asia have adopted this form of sustainable transport as a main way to get around.

Motorbikes: Motorbikes are one of the main forms of transport in Asia; for a local it is standard for up to 5 people (sometimes more) to use the same bike to get around. Many an interesting sight spotting a family of 4 along with the family dog balancing on a motorbike. The attitude towards this is fantastic! In this country where there is a 'river of empty seats' and along with the current economic climate this could be an inspiration to new ways and attitudes towards how we can use transport in a sustainable way and without causes damage to the environment.

Tuk Tuks and motos: The rickshaw is a cheap (perhaps cheaper for
locals), easily accessible, available at almost all times especially in larger cities and reliable as it is often small enough to dodge the traffic jams like a motorbike could. Tuk tuks are in concept taxis however are more like motorbikes with a carriage added on the back for passengers. In 2006 the tuk tuks were brought to Brighton in East Sussex. Tuk tuks are also popping up in other European countries such as the Netherlands where the tuk tuks are imported from Thailand and fitted with CNG engines. Other than this tuk tuks are common in South Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand and Laos, along with India, Central America and Pakistan.

Article from the Independent
From Bombay to Brighton by Geneviève Roberts
"The tuk-tuk, ubiquitous in Asian cities from Bombay to Bangkok, has arrived on British shores. The three-wheeled motorised rickshaws, named after their spluttering two-stroke engines, took to the streets of Brighton yesterday. If the fleet of 12 vehicles, which pick up passengers along set routes, prove popular, then tuk-tuks will be introduced in London from May next year. There are also plans for fleets in Bristol, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The executive director of TucTuc Ltd, Dominic Ponniah, 26, was travelling in a tuk-tuk in Delhi when he decided the rickshaws would be an asset to this country. "The streets of Delhi are as congested as our roads, but instead of being blocked with bendy buses, a tuk-tuk can nip in and out of traffic," he said. He said that the vehicles have been modified to make them safe and environmentally friendly. Each tuk-tuk takes up to three people and uses the equivalent of 50 miles per gallon. But Bob Oddie, General Secretary of Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, believes the vehicles will not be as safe as taxis or buses."

Motos are bikes which have a detachable passenger carriage, complimenting the driver's lifestyle as their form of transport becomes a personal method as well as job. This is convenient for both the user and the driver and works well economically. These can be seen in most places across Asia, such as Cambodia and Vietnam.

Cyclo: Cyclos are similar to tuk tuks again but the driver is on a bicycle peddling the passenger through the traffic. Although in some places the tuk tuks and motos are taking over from the traditional cyclo it still remains a simple form, if not hard work for the driver, of transport to get around. Disadvantages are that they are only ideal for shorter journeys around towns and cities, and unlike tuk tuks can only really take 2 adults, perhaps depending on the tip, the driver will sometimes take a small child as well, although this would be likely to the maximum. Like the bicycle people use the cyclo as a way to transport goods and produce. Common in parts of China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Buses: In general buses are used much more freely in parts of Asia compared to the UK. Buses can be picked up usually without having to stand at the bus stop from most pavement space. Tickets are often brought without much thought of booking in advance and the general experience of using a bus in certain parts of Asia is not stressful, easy and unrestricted to the ideas of timetables and waiting at a bus stop. Buses usually show up when they show up and generally there is not too much interest in whether or not the bus has too many people on. As a driver it is an incentive to get more people to use the bus as it is run more like a business such as a taxi service. People = customers. In the UK perhaps the driver feel detached from the service so the incentive to pick people up is not necessarily there.