Meter Tuks In Colombo

Meter Trishaws first came to Sri Lanka last year. Now they’re everywhere, as Mayu points out. It used to be that you had to call a meter tuk to your house (like Fair Taxi, 0117588588). Now you can flag down a meter on the street, if you wait. It’s great. No more haggling, calculating, or getting ripped off. I think it should be good for the drivers as well.

As Mayu says:

I usually wait for a meter taxi and allow all the normal tuks to pass me. You can clearly see the anger in meter-less three wheel guys face. But who gives a damn?(Rise of Meter Tuk in Colombo)

I say it probably works out for drivers because I don’t hesitate to take a meter, and I tend to take meters for longer, including waiting time. Unmeter tuks have to hustle each fare cause they don’t know when the next one will be, but meter tuks tend to get hired for long trips, multiple stops, etc. I’ve even taken one to the airport. Rather than getting spikes of money, they can get a steady pay.

As for the consumer, it’s just cheaper, simpler and better.

Posted on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 in Colombo, transport.

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2 Comments »

Rukmani Devi

2012-01-11 17:20:05

Nice!

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Mayu

2012-01-11 17:33:09

Thanks for the link Indi. I feel the same way, and I tend to take meter taxi often more. If no meter taxi then I’ll always travel by bus as I hate to bargain and hate to hear the complains from tuk drivers..

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