Tokyobling's Blog

Ecological Taxi – Velotaxi in Yokohama

Posted in Places by tokyobling on July 7, 2009

Recently I see more and more of these colorful bicycle taxis around Tokyo and Yokohama. I caught these two at Akarenga Soko (the Red Brick Warehouse) in Yokohama’s Minatomirai district, waiting for customers. In Tokyo they are most common around the Omotesando, Harajuku area. Colorful, fun, fast and with a very small ecological footprint. What is not to like about them?

In Tokyo and Yokohama the cheapest normal taxi (the diesel version) is 710 yen for the shortest trips. These velotaxis are much cheaper than that and large enough to seat two persons!

velotaxi_eco_tokyobling1

velotaxi_eco_tokyobling2

velotaxi_eco_tokyobling3

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  1. Mazil said, on July 7, 2009 at 4:07 am

    Those are cute! Love the red pandas on the back of the first one. They look like tuk-tuks! Are they motorised or pedal-powered?

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    • tokyobling said, on July 7, 2009 at 4:16 am

      Thanks for the comment! Absolutely pedal powered. The paint work is on behalf of their corporate sponsers, Zoorasia (ズーラジア） on the first one Mitsui Insurance Company （三井生命保険） on the other one.

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  2. Jerome said, on July 7, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    those drivers must have hardcore leg muscles!! :O

    btw, i love your blog! it’s so interesting! 🙂

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  3. Bogo said, on July 7, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    Hello. I’ve been reading your site for quite some time and wanted to tell you how thoroughly I enjoy your updates. They truly provide a window into a world quite different than the U.S., and excitingly so.

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    • tokyobling said, on July 9, 2009 at 12:42 am

      Thank you Bogo-san! I am happy to hear that you enjoy my blog. I keep trying, one post at a time to inform and entertain. I hope you keep looking in every now and then! Cheers!

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  4. Yao Jia said, on July 7, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    wow…must be tiring for the cyclist tho…

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  5. Chris Jordan said, on July 9, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    These VeloTaxis are all over Europe, but very few appear in the US. I think they have electric motors available. The colour schemes are many and are always enjoyable!

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    • tokyobling said, on July 10, 2009 at 12:28 am

      Thanks for the comment. I have been stuck in Tokyo (Lost in Translation?) for so long I don’t really know what is going on at the Eco frontlines in Euroland any more. The interesting thing about velotaxis is that they have always been around here in Asia, but in the form of rickshaws. Jinrikusha in Japanese. I am glad to see thesse “updated” versions on the streets though.

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  6. SERGIO ZEPEDA said, on July 11, 2009 at 4:26 am

    Aquí en México tenemos ya nuestros modelos
    Chécalo en: http://erenovable.com/2009/03/13/ciclotaxis-una-nueva-movilidad-ecolgica-para-mxico/

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    • tokyobling said, on July 11, 2009 at 11:10 am

      Sergio, Muchos Gracias! (^0^)/

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  7. MadSilence said, on July 11, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    I’m always amazed by NYC’s pedicabs.

    The drivers have muscles!

    http://www.nycpedicabassociation.org/

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  8. michaelpanda said, on July 12, 2009 at 11:53 am

    There’s usually a few of them around the area between JR Yurakucho station and Ginza as well. Though I’ve been tempted before, I’ve never actually ridden one because I’d feel sorry for making someone haul my lazy panda butt around.

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