Hue’s pedicabs told to clean up

THUA THIEN, HUE, 26 July 2012: The Thua Thien Hue’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism said it would improve pedicabs, an iconic mode of transport in Hue that gains the attention of tourists but are often guilty of overcharging.

Pedicabs or cycle rickshaws are known by a variety of names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw.

Tourism department chief, Tran Viet Luc, said he had approved the pedicab management project to be carried out by the Department of Tourism Planning and Development in a bid to improve service and end malpractice.

The pedicab trade union will get US$5,751 to improve cabs by painting them purple and issuing uniforms to drivers. Fares will be fixed and identified on public notices

The measures are limited to pedicabs under the trade union, while there are another 2,600 pedicabs roaming Hue that are not required to fix their fares.

“There are 2,800 pedicabs operating,” the director said, “but only 211 are trade union members.”

While popular with tourists, they are also a cause of complaints particularly in the peak season when demand is high and they can overcharge tourists. They also make commission on the side by taking tourists to shops and other service providers, some in the sex industry.