The Indian rickshaw, a veritable symbol of the country's lively streets, is a small three-wheeled vehicle that can carry two to three passengers. The traditional pedal-powered version, which can still be seen in some older districts, consists of a bicycle extended at the back by a seat covered by a coloured canvas canopy, often decorated with hand-painted motifs. Driven by a cyclist whose agility is well-suited to the narrow streets, it moves along at a slow pace, offering a first-hand glimpse of Indian urban life.
More common today, the auto-rickshaw, or tuk-tuk, the one pictured here, runs on gas or electricity. It has a metal chassis, a leatherette-covered back seat and a hard roof that protects it from the scorching sun or torrential rain. Coloured green and yellow in many cities, it meanders noisily among cars and sacred cows, embodying the hectic energy and practical resourcefulness of daily transport in India.
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