Taxi or rickshaw?

Id go for a taxi any day. Rickshaws need to be shelved, they take up too much space on the roads and look tacky. Nothing beats the air conditioned comfort of a taxi.

Rickshaw, nothing more bracing than facing the elements and seeing the world right up close. Taxis are indespensable, of course but there's something wonderfuly traditional about the rickshaw.

Who would have thought, say 15 years ago, that pulled rickshaws would become cool or even 'ok' haha! Reckon the same photo i.e 2 reasonably well-dressed Caucasian/Asian tourists, taken in Kolkata or anywhere in India would make headlines for very different reasons.

Personally have always been more of a motorised rickshaw/tuk tuk lover. Always felt sorry, and still would, for the dude pulling the whole thing (J or not).

Tourism changes mamy things.

Taxi for everyday, rickshaw on leave. Question was rethorical anyway.

But I do recall a trip to phuket with wife.

We went on an Elephant tour, guide asked me to sit on the neck, painfull as I wore shorts and the hair is like barbs.

Careful to decide.

One of these modes of transport is very environmentally friendly the other one is not.

Didn't know they did this in Tokyo. It's always been common in Kyoto, and there it makes for less startling juxtapositions.

At least a rickshaw "driver" can decide for himself if he has enough energy and stamina to do the job - I pity the poor horses when they are used to carry tourists around - they don't have any choice and I recently saw a picture (I don't remember where - maybe JT ?) of a horse lying exhausted on the road.

As Brian Wheway says :

these modes of transport is very environmentally friendly...

Most Fiaker got strict rules to care for their horses.

Hard surfaces can ruin their ankles and more over extended perods, no horse no income.

My hometown police uses horses too, some areas are no motorized vehicles (gasoline or battery).