Uber Cool
Feb 1954
Wander along Clarke Quay and you'll see a host of 'trishaw uncles' waiting for tourists or those drunk enough to pay S$30 for a 10-minute ride. But in pre-independent Singapore, they were probably the original Uber. Evolved from the man-powered rickshaw, trishaws first surfaced in Singapore in 1914, but gained popularity in the 1940s, especially during the Japanese Occupation. Here, a family goes Chinese New Year visiting in their rented wheels.
Trishaw riders were either ex-rickshaw pullers or former coolies - they could earn anything from S$3 to S$20 a day, before the advent of taxis which have since reduced them into tourist attractions. But with the ever-increasing COE rates, we might see the trishaw making a comeback as a legitimate means of transport again. Just bring an umbrella with you.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut