BANGKOK: Tuk-tuks are everywhere in Bangkok. The rattle of the iconic three-wheeled rickshaws dominates much of the Thai capital, and taking a ride in one of the colourful open-top vehicles is a must-do for any self-respecting tourist.
But the future of motorised tuk-tuks hangs in the balance, after the Transport Authority proposed banning petrol-powered tuk-tuks from central Bangkok to reduce noise and air pollution.
The proposal is controversial - but unlike the tourists, many residents are fed up with the congestion and exhaust fumes caused by the small vehicles.
The rise of electric tuk-tuks
Electric auto rickshaws are no longer a rarity in Bangkok, with several manufacturers producing them for the Thai market.
App-based ride-hailing service MuvMi exclusively uses e-tuk-tuks, which look very similar to the motorised original but don't emit the characteristic engine sound.
Annika, a tourist from Berlin who visits Thailand regularly, says she's torn when it comes to the future of the iconic vehicle.
"I've long dreamt of showing my niece Bangkok one day," she says. "And a small part of me is sad that she might never get to experience the clatter and hustle and bustle [created by motorised tuk-tuks]."
However, Annika says if she had to choose, she'd prefer to show her niece around in a city where she can breathe.
Bangkok's chronic pollution problem
Indeed, tuk-tuks have many downsides. Drivers often overcharge oblivious tourists, who end up paying more for a ride in an open auto rickshaw than in an air-conditioned taxi.
Tuk-tuks also contribute to Bangkok's poor air quality. The megacity regularly struggles with high levels of particulate matter, particularly during the dry season, when schools are repeatedly forced to close and residents are urged to remain indoors.
Most of Bangkok's tuk-tuks are between 10 and 50 years old. More than 8,500 of the motorised rickshaws were registered in the Thai capital at the end of June, compared to some 1,000 electric tuk-tuks nationwide.
Public consultation
Motorised tuk-tuks have a long tradition in Bangkok, where they began replacing the bicycle rickshaws, called Samlor, in the 1960s.
Well aware that the iconic vehicles are beloved by many, Thai authorities decided not to ban the motorised version outright, instead looking to consult the public.
Residents had until the end of August to submit comments online on a possible ban on petrol-powered tuk-tuks to reduce air and noise pollution, according to the Bangkok Post.
All comments will be taken into account before a vote on the draft legislation, it said.
Heated debates
Unsurprisingly many tuk-tuk drivers are concerned about the plans.
"If this really goes ahead, I’ll be finished," one tuk-tuk owner told Thai PBS.
He invested 500,000 Thai baht (some US$15,000) to buy his motorised three-wheeler - and wouldn't be able to afford to convert it to electric, he said.
The proposal has sparked heated debates on social media. While some would like to see the tuk-tuks stay, many Bangkok residents appear to be in favour of the authorities' plans.
One user described the vehicles as nothing more than a tourist attraction that constantly causes traffic chaos.
Another complained about the disco tuk-tuks, which are most commonly found around Khao San Road, a renowned backpacker hub known for its nightlife, as well as in the party districts of Sukhumvit and Silom Road.
Equipped with glaring neon lights and blaring speakers, a ride in a party tuk-tuk is a major draw for some tourists, much to the annoyance of many locals.
City authorities have stressed repeatedly that nothing has been decided on the future of motorised tuk-tuks.
Besides an outright ban, a gradual replacement with electric tuk-tuks is also being discussed.
Another option on the table is restrictions for motorised rickshaws, for example banning them from central Bangkok during rush hour only.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: tuk-tuks will remain part of Bangkok, but their iconic sound may not. - dpa
