Tuk-tuking the world by storm

摘要

They are most commonly associated with the teeming cities of developing Asia, but three-wheeled motorised rickshaws, or tuk-tuks, first emerged in Japan and Italy just over half a century ago. Since then the compact, cheap and adaptable vehicles have spread to every corner of the globe. Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Peru, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the biggest markets. They are increasingly seen chugging through the streets of cities in east Africa, the Middle East and China. The tuk-tuk's rising popularity in Egypt is worrying its military-backed government. On February 12th it imposed a one-year ban on imports of three-wheelers (and of motorbikes). Unlikely as it sounds, ministers claim they are being used as getaway vehicles by criminals.