A bicycle beside with a seat and a wheel are fixed is called a trishaw. It can be found in South East Asia countries. If a trip is too short to take a taxi, a trishaw is more suitable. Because it is cheap and convenient to carry goods in the narrow lane where cars cannot enter.

In this visit, I would like to ask about side-car. This name is derived from English word 'Side-car'. It is adopted into Myanmar word.

In towns and cities, you will be able to find them easily. At a glance, you will see the place where side cars are waiting their customers. Side-cars cannot be driven according to the driver's desire. Their routes are restricted by the respective authorities.

Waiting the passengers

They are waiting their passengers forming a group in front of the station, markets, and so on. The number of the members of the group is limited. It cannot be expended. Because it is determined by Y.C.D.C (Yangon City Development Committee) in Yangon.

The numbers of side-cars, which are registered, are about 5000. This number is limited.

The side-cars in a new style have been driven on the roads in Yangon since two years ago. Two passengers can ride abreast under a roof. But their numbers are not more than 50. The reason why the number is small is that it can carry only two men. Goods and commodities cannot be carried. It has no space to carry them.

New style side-car

If you want to drive a side car, it is necessary to know about license. A side car can be driven only in the township where it is bought.

There is a head of stand in a rank or terminus. He has many experiences in driving trishaw. He decides the order of departure from the stand. The first man is a person who arrived at the stand firstly.

If a passenger arrives, he has to meet the driver in the first position. Only when he does not want to accept the passenger because of the amount of money the passenger offers, other driver can accept to carry the passenger. If a driver has finished his duty, he can come back to the stand and take the last place. He cannot go anywhere he wants. That is the rule of their stand. So no man violates.

Work time is from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. A driver can return the side car to his owner at the end of a day. Or he can keep it in his home. In the night, there are a few side cars in the town. So the driver can drive everywhere.

After 10 p.m., the number of side car becomes less and less. The charge becomes larger and larger. If a trip cost 100 kyats in the afternoon, now it will cost 250 kyats.

In the current prices, a side car is worth 30,000 kyats. Most of the driver drives side cars on hire. Those side cars belong to the rich men.

If a person wants to be a side car lender, he may buy it from the owner. He can haggle and make a bargain with the owner.

If a person to borrow a side car, he has to give earnest money to the lender in advance. The amount is 50,000 Ks. Besides he will have to give 50 Ks daily. Or he can give the total at the end of the month. On the other hand, the owner has to pay 500 Ks a year to the authority as a tax.

A side car driver earns 500 kyats a day. His monthly income may be 15,000 kyats. Among them, he has to pay 1500 kyats to the owner as the rent. His net income will be 13,500 kyats only. If the side car needs to be mended, he has to spend on his own. The expense for mending is about 1000 kyats a month. Therefore he gets only 12,500 kyats a month.

Many load on a side-car

To drive a side car, a person needs not only driving skill but also a driving licence. The test for side car driving licence is similar to the test for car driving licence. A text book is prescribed for the test. A driver must pass the test. In Yangon, the test is sponsored by Y.C.D.C. The test must be taken two times. The examinee must be over 18 years old. The test has two parts. They are theory and practice.

In theory, rules and regulation, signs and symbols are contained. In practice, the driver has to drive without touching the posts, which are erected along the road. There is no passenger on his side car. The amount of the money to pay for the licence and the test is 1000 Ks. Most of the examinees pass the test. This test is held annually. The old licence can be replaced by a new one. The charges for the service are 200 kyats.

Nowadays, most of the side car drivers do not take this job through out the whole life. If they find a better job, they transfer to that job. There are many persons with this idea. Whatever happens, driving side car makes daily income.

It is known from a side car driver that a driver, who wants to get more income, has to create new method using his own talent. While he is driving his side car, he many make friendly conversation so that his passenger feels peaceful.

Today, the fee will be 30 Ks at least. Although its limit is determined, new passenger gives at the price, which the driver asks because he does not know the real price.

When I ask how to make a bargain, the answer is the following. Most of the passengers have already known the price. Even if some of them do not know, the driver will carry them on the reason that they always ride the side car at the regular fee.

I would like to ask, How would you feel if the rule like this is applied everywhere?

With a passenger (a member of our company)