They may be a sight associated more with Asia, but rickshaws are coming to Dundee – and not just any rickshaw, as local taxi firm City Cabs 505050 is adding an electric version to its fleet.
It will not be rolling out on to the streets of Dundee until “about June”, according to City Cabs’ owner Jimmy Marr.
The firm has only bought one so far, but if it proves popular then it is likely that more will be added.
The carriage is decorated in the same eye-catching yellow that was introduced last year to some of the firm’s cars.
The addition is part of the firm’s “all electric fleet” strategy and will give people the chance to “explore the city in a unique manner”.
Mr Marr said: “We have always recognised the importance of moving all of our fleet to electric cars. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and as such are investing in electric vehicles as we continue our business growth plans.
“We strongly believe that our customers are becoming more and more aware of the green challenges facing our city and as such we are determined to become the first all-electric taxi company in Dundee.”
Lynn Short, convener for city centre development, said that while it may seem like “just a quirky rickshaw”, it actually “shows where the city is going”.
She added: “Dundee has already been one of the main cities for electric vehicles, and this shows there are businesses in the city that have been looking to the future.
@DundeeElectric @DundeeCouncil Look what I found when round and about today – coming soon to the streets of Dundee fully electric Rickshaw from 505050 Taxis! pic.twitter.com/ZkS03Bl3DS
— Lynne R Short (@LynnesnpR) January 17, 2019
“The next big thing for us is the last mile which Next are going to do, where the end of a delivery is taken on by smaller vehicles. The big delivery truck will take the stuff near the Kingsway and the smaller vehicles will take it from there.
“That helps fight congestion in the city centre and will be good for all of our lungs.
“There’s no reason that this, or places like Amazon, can’t use electric rickshaws for things like this.”
The SNP councillor also hailed it as a a safer way for people to get home after a night out.
She added: “I’ve taken my high heel shoes off to walk home on my bare feet plenty of times after a night out and something like this would stop women from having to do that.
“It’s also a lot safer for women than walking home, so there’s that too.”
