Take a tuk-tuk!
Whether you find them cute and quirky, or slow and frustrating, tuk-tuks have been on the Joburg transport scene for nearly three years — and it’s clear that they’re here to stay.
Bruce Cowie of Shesha Tuks explains that the company has 33 tuk-tuks operating in Sandton, creating jobs for around 55 people, with plans afoot to introduce 20 in Pretoria next month, with tuk-tuks based at the Centurion, Pretoria and Hatfield Gautrain stations.
The covered scooters, so iconic in India and Thailand, are powered by Piaggio, the manufacturers of Vespa scooters, and typically carry fares for between 5km and 10km — or distances that are just too far to walk, but not really far enough to drive.
“From being a novelty and a new player in the public transport game a few years ago, we are now establishing ourselves as a long-term player, catering to a certain segment of the public transport market,” says Cowie. “There is a real and increasing demand for our tuk-tuks, and over time, many of our drivers have created their own repeat-client base. These include doing the school run, or transporting shoppers, tour- ists and business people coming in from the Gautrain.”
Shesha Tuks operate from the Gautrain station, but carry their passengers as far as Parkhurst. Drivers work on a commission basis, with the company ensuring its profitability by selling branding and sponsorship opportunities on the vehicles themselves, with Old Mutual being a lead sponsor at present.
“We don’t clash directly with the metered taxi industry, as our fee structure is lower and we specialise in short distance trips,” says Cowie. “We aim to slot in with buses and other modes of public transport, and with the EcoMobility Festival in full swing in Sandton at the moment, we have definitely seen a demand for our services.”
You’ll also find a network of tuktuks further west in Johannesburg, around the University of Johannesburg (UJ), where e-tuk- tuks provides its services to students, tourists, SABC employees and other residents around the area.
Like Shesha Tuks, this small business arose from a small group of people wanting to provide a desperately needed service for their community — in this case, originally UJ students. Based at Picobella restaurant in Melville, which is owned by one of e-tuktuks’ owners, this small business operates 10 tuk-tuks in the area, and also has plans to expand.
Tuk-tuks have also found their way into Lenasia, with Tuk-a-Lift’s four vehicles primarily taking commuters to their taxi rank of choice.
The fares in all the tuk-tuks are affordable, are usually set according the distance travelled, and are best agreed upon at the beginning of the journey. Each tuk-tuk can take two passengers — or even three at a push — and the fare is per journey, not per passenger.
Apart from being affordable, the tuk-tuks (particularly the Piaggio ones) meet European emissions standards, and are kinder to the environment than many other modes of transport. Above all, they give you a different perspective on your commute, giving you the chance to smell and hear the vibrant city around you, all the while supporting the drivers, each of whom is building their own small business.