MELAKA: The Melaka Historic City Council is concerned about tourists' feedback on elderly trishaw riders struggling to pedal their bikes while ferrying passengers.
Its Mayor, Datuk Shadan Othman, said his team had received reports that there were instances when the trishaw riders sought the help of passengers to propel their bikes at the midway point of their rides due to exhaustion and health conditions.
"Hence, the city council has decided to introduce fresh guidelines for trishaw riders to improve the standard of service at tourist destinations in Bandar Hilir," he said after launching the 2024 Stray Dogs Management Campaign at Jonker Walk World Heritage Park here on Friday night (June 21).
The campaign was launched by Kota Laksamana Low Chee Leong and was attended by various non-governmental organisations.
Shadan said the move is also aimed at improving the image of the historic city's flashy trishaw and also the welfare of the riders.
He noted that there are about 300 trishaw riders in the state, and all of them would be required to undergo health screenings starting in October to qualify for their licences, which expire at the end of this year.
Shahdan said the new guideline would also outline reasonable and uniform charges that could be imposed on tourists.
"The improvement on the service is necessary following grievances from tourists on the quality of trishaw service," he said.
"It's also our onus to ensure the riders don't exorbitantly charge the tourists," he added.
Meanwhile, Shadan said the management of stray dogs within the historic city has also improved since the campaign was launched earlier this year.
