End of the Road for Trishaws in Singapore
The oldest rickshaw puller at that time was 72-year-old Goh Ah Leng, who came to Malaya when he was 54 years old. He had previously worked as a sedan chair carrier in China. The rickshaw ban prompted him to retire and go back to China…
From their heyday in the 1940s to their demise: The end of trishaws in Singapore
Originating from Japan, rickshaws were first seen in Singapore in the 1880s. They were one of the earliest modes of transport in Singapore, alongside steam trams and bullock carts.
Plying
This painting captured a trishaw rider looking for passengers.
Four-wheel motorised taxis were not options for crowded streets & short distance rides. Tricycles were alternatives to lorries and vans for goods movements from central offloading points to stall holders.
Cane or rattan baskets were the usual packings and carriers for durians, melons & bulky merchandise that could not go into carton boxes.
Anthony Woo Art 