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India moves forward on two and three wheels, to an extent that most developed countries can't relate to
 

 

It was in Fethiye, Turkey, that I first started seeing these three-wheeler vehicles

 

Here for cargo

 

 

Then in Peru I encountered them, and was told that they were imported from India

These were in Pisco, Peru

Taxis

 

 

I became quite fascinated with the way cargo and passengers are transported in these countries.  The range of options is seemingly infinite, with choices being totally appropriate to the task at hand--in many cases stretching the tool close to its limits

In the USA and other developed countries, the gradations are not nearly as fine

 

 

 

 

Let's start with no-wheel transport

Pretty basic

 

 

 

Add a couple of wheels, and start taxing the capacity

 

 

 

The basic bicycle is everywhere in India

Sumir peddles fish from his

 

 

Add a third wheel, and in this case hand pedals

 

 

 

Here, too

 

 

 

Garbage collection in Mamallapuram

 

 

 

Do you like your cargo in front?

 

 

 

Or in back?

 

 

 

In back makes it easier to enlist help

 

 

 

Check out these elegant carriages

 

 

 

Built for royalty, in the Land of the Small?

 

 

 

A Conestoga knock-off

 

 

An Indian version of a sound truck

 

 

 

A pretty basic 4-wheeler, with minimal steering capability

 

 

Cargo hauling, yes.

But a ready-made mobile market, also

 

 

 

 

 

Now on to the motorized stuff

Throughout Asia, motorbikes/motor scooters/motorcycles are ubiquitous

 

 

 

Commonly in the 100cc to 150cc range

 

 

 

But the real charmers are the 3-wheelers

Start with a pretty simple frame and body

 

 

 

and then introduce a seemingly endless variaty of superstructures

 

Here's the vanilla auto rickshaw

 

 

 

Useful for cargo as well as humans

 

 

Here's a slightly more spacious version of the basic auto rickshaw

 

 

This will prolly hold upwards of 50 people

Limit yet to be found

 

 

 

And then a micro bus

 

 

 

 

 

And in the grand Indian tradition, torture its capacity

 

 

 

My favorite cargo hauler is this articulating truck, again with the basic 3-wheeler cab and engine

 

 

 

And again, test its capacity

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