Motorcycle taxi: Difference between revisions

Licensing requirements for motorcycle taxis vary by municipality. Small towns tend not to regulate them at all, while in larger cities, they are regulated in much the same way as taxicabs. In July 2009, the Brazilian Senate approved standards<ref>O Globo, 10/07/2009, acesso em 12 de julho de 2009.</ref> for motorcycle taxi drivers and motorcycle couriers.<ref>Biker doing day or night rounds in gated communities , open residential neighborhoods or commercial areas</ref> They must be at least 21 years old, have held a Category A drivers licence for at least two years, and have attended a training course.

In [[Phnom Penh]] and other cities in Cambodia, motorcycle taxis are widely available as a form of low-cost public transport. Motorcycle taxi drivers, who are almost exclusively male, are called ''motodops'' ('''{{lang-km|ម៉ូតូឌុប'''}}).'' They tend to hang around outside major tourist attractions, office buildings, public markets, and near the corners of residential streets. There is no regulated system of training or bike maintenance and no common uniform, so anyone on his way home from the market might offer you a ride (and the driver's intentions can generally be trusted, the state of his bike, a little less so). Always negotiate the fare in advance (use gestures, if necessary). Don't expect a motodop to understand English or to read a map - he'll likely flag somebody down who can help translate or navigate, if necessary. Fares vary depending on distance and weather but should always be cheaper than a tuk-tuk. Fares are higher at night and when embarking from tourist areas. You'll get a better rate if you can negotiate in passable Khmer, but have a heart: these are generally the folks that live on a few dollars or less per day. As of 2014, helmet laws apply only to drivers, so bring your own helmet if you're worried about safety, but it's not legally required.

In last few years, a few companies such as Rapido, Uber and Ola have come up in multiple cities in India providing bike taxi services. With the Central Government's rule of allowing two-wheelers as legal and commercial vehicles and 8 states already legalized the same, it has become easier for the companies to design a working framework to provide easy and comfortable commute to the people.

Motorcycle taxis in the Philippines usually have sidecars, or seats extended sideways, often by use of a ''T''-shaped crossbeam. The latter type of taxi is known as ''habal-habal'', or a ''skylab'',<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/338469/house-bill-seeks-to-legalize-habal-habal/story/ | title=House bill seeks to legalize 'habal-habal' | work=[[GMA News Online]] | date=December 5, 2013}}</ref> owing to its crude resemblance to the [[Skylab]] space station which orbited the Earth in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://globalvoices.org/2014/04/06/habal-habal-philippine-motorcycle-that-can-carry-10-passengers/ | title=Habal-Habal: The Philippine Motorcycle That Gives 10 People a Ride | work=[[Global Voices (NGO)]] | date=April 6, 2014}}</ref>

[[Angkas]] is a Philippine motorcycle [[vehicle for hire]] and delivery service company based in [[Makati]], [[Metro Manila]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/01/24/20/heres-a-definitive-timeline-of-the-angkas-saga | title=Where did Angkas go wrong? A timeline | first=Gelo | last=Dionora | work=[[ABS-CBNnews.com]] | date=January 24, 2020}}</ref> Its competition in passenger market is [[JoyRide]].

Motorcycle taxis were deemed illegal in 2020 due to possible exposure of passengers and riders to COVID-19 when in contact with each other, especially in the cities.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1294931/no-more-motorcycle-taxis-but-private-angkas-allowed-soon | title=No more motorcycle taxis but private ‘angkas’'angkas' allowed soon | first1=Krixia | last1=Subingsubing | first2=Leila B. | last2=Salaverria | worknewspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] | date=June 21, 2020}}</ref>

Motorcycle taxi service in [[London]] began in 1990 as a niche industry. All equipment{{elucidateexplain|reason=What equipment specifically?|date=September 2014}} is provided for the passenger, along with an intercom system linking the rider and passenger. The motorcycles have racks that can hold a carry-on suitcase, for trips to local airports, especially Stansted, Gatwick, and City. The bikes are now licensed by [[Transport for London]] and the [[Taxicabs of the United Kingdom#Public Carriage Office|Public Carriage Office]], which also license [[Hackney carriage#Black cabs|London's black cabs]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/11372586/Is-the-limo-bike-the-taxi-of-the-future.html | title=Is the limo-bike the taxi of the future? | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=January 27, 2015 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Moto Limos Club, a motorcycle for-hire service, started in California and New York City in 2011. As of 2012, the business filing was not renewed and of 2015 the filing was considered suspended.<ref>California Secretary of State. https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business</ref> Passengers were not able to hail the motorcycles on the street; instead, a yearly individual or corporate membership fee is charged, plus an hourly rate. Experienced riders, many former [[Police motorcycle]] riders, carried clients on [[Honda Gold Wing]]s, and in California, can bypass traffic congestion by [[lane splitting]].<ref>{{Cite news | title=Moto Limos Club takes you there — by motorcycle | last=Carpenter | first=Susan | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-xpm-2011-apr-27-la-trb-moto-limos-service-20110427-story.html | date=April 27, 2011 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> Passengers were provided with helmets, [[Motorcycle safety#Airbag devices|airbag vests]], and in-helmet, [[Bluetooth]] cell phones. The service also bought several [[Can-Am Spyder]]s, before realizing they were not capable of splitting lanes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/first-motorcycle-taxi-service-headed-for-los-angeles-and-new-yor/ | title=First motorcycle taxi service headed for Los Angeles and New York | first=AARON | last=RICHARDSON | work=MotoBlog | date=April 15, 2011}}</ref>

Nimble [motorcycle taxis, which surpass [[bus]]es in speed and mobility, comprise one of the most popular modes of transportation in Vietnam, where they are known as ''xe ôm''. Passengers can get a ride via [[mobile app]] or by hailing passing operators, or by finding drivers who gather at public places such as schools, markets, hospitals, and bus and train stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smartertravel.com/hanoi-transportation-taxi-train-bus-airport-tips/ |title=Transportation in Hanoi |date=27 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.techinasia.com/hold-tight-vietnams-motorbike-taxis-entered-uber-age | title=Hold tight! Vietnam’sVietnam's motorbike taxis just entered the Uber age | first=Anh-Minh | last=Do | work=[[Tech in Asia]] | date=9 October 2014}}</ref>

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