Mali chinese Rickshaws for $2000

Post date: May 4, 2010 3:21:10 PM

Motor-rickshaws changing face of transport in Mali

The Rikshaw shop with spare parts on credit

The government sponsored Rickshaw costs

$2000, to pay back monthly. The Ricksaw

taxi entrepreneur can make $300 / month.

Transportation for 6 - 8 people.

source: blogs.reuters.com/africanews

Mali introduced Chinese-made motor rickshaws in 2006. They’ve been such a hit that most of Mali’s bigger cities are overrun with them and competition between drivers is pushing down prices. They’ve now been barred from the centre of the capital, Bamako, but in Mali’s third-largest city, Segou, the rickshaw-taxi is the main means of public transport.

For the people of Segou, 10 cents instead of 50c

the motor rickshaws

have revolutionised transport. Before, the only

options were taking a donkey cart or an ordinary

taxi, which can cost up to 50 cents per trip within

Segou. In a motor-rickshaw the same journey costs

10 cents.