Saturday, April 21, 2012

106. Tuk-Tuk

Continuing the international theme of Guatemalan public transportation (American school busses, Japanese pick-ups), we turn to India, which produces these 3-wheeled diesel taxis, a combination of a motorcycle and a rickshaw (go ahead, wiki or google "motorized rickshaw," aka tuk-tuk).  Three adults can squeeze into the back, plus a few kids, without straining the engine.

At about a buck per person, more expensive than a chicken bus or Mayan taxi, but does take you exactly where you want to go.  It is a taxi, after all.

U.S. models now available, maybe around $1000.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

105. Mayan Taxis

So, back to Guatemala.  A route that doesn't attract enough riders for a chicken bus, may instead have a Mayan taxi:  a Japanese (i.e., small) pick-up with a metal frame that standing passengers hang on to.  I think I counted 24 on one I was on.  Cheap, fun, but in a collision....

Saturday, April 7, 2012

104. "It's nuts"

Innovation and inertia may not be opposites in a dictionary but they are in reality.  Consumers stay away from innovative products, preferring to stay where they are.  But this is not the only obstacle facing hybrid cars, especially GM's Volt, which Fox news commentators have used to criticize Obama.

As reported by Joe Nocera of the NYTImes: "It's nuts," said Bob Lutz, the politically conservative GM executive responsible for the Volt. "There are so many legitimate things to criticize Obama about. It it inexplicable that the right would feel the need to tell lies about the Volt to attack the president."  


The Volt has been named the Car of the Year in Europe.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

103. Bikes and Busses

Ever wonder what happened to all those "Bluebell" snub-nose busses that took you to school every day?

Well, they were shipped to Latin America (or at least, to Guatemala), repainted (usually) and pressed into service as intracity busses.  Called "chicken busses" as a nod to the diversity of cargo, the fare is usually less than a buck, and it is not uncommon to see eight passengers in a row.

My commute depends on the bike racks that all of our busses have, but these front-loading racks are limited to two or three bikes.  Chicken busses would not appear to be so restricted.

[note the service quality:  that's the fare collector on the right, not the passenger, hoisting the bike to its resting place]