Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Mike, I've seen the one in Hythe too and even had their coffee which I must say was divine
They look so cute!!
Is this a new business idea of yours Pauli, I can feel a meeting coming on
I'm going on a long holiday, a very long holiday
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
The Simply Indian restaurant in Aldershot has a tuk-tuk in the front of the shop. I believe they use it for deliveries.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 718- Registered: 28 Jun 2011
- Posts: 195
This is my friend Nick with his Tuk Tuk. Nick's an avid collector of old things with wheels (the odder the better) and the reason for the ethnic dress is that on the day I took this he was using it as a wedding car!
(Picture 2 shows him whizzing down Clarendon Place
).
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ah jeez thats great. Great wedding car idea.
Terrific little thing innit!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that top picture was taken where there is an old mattress dumped now.
will have to keep an eye out for the tuk tuk.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
just wondering what the mpg is on those tuk tuks.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
No specifics Brian...
"Vehicle Specifications
Weight: 650kg Length: 3m Width: 1.4m Engine: Petrol, 650cc Daihatsu, 5 speed + reverse, Four Stroke/12valve Wheels: 12in
As you can see, it is a small, lightweight vehicle and hence a highly efficient mode of transport. The engine is economical and based on a unit which is widely available in the UK and Europe, so parts are easy to come by."
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
on holiday in sorrento many years ago and these were very common mainly used as small delivery vans. we were in a hotel very high up and is was about a mile down to town via this narrow winding lane. the drivers found it very amusing to drive with their hands in the air until they arrived at a hairpin bend then dramatically steer the vehicle around.
Guest 771- Registered: 27 Sep 2012
- Posts: 4
The Tuk Tuk that John put up was mine and that's me in the Indian gear! I had the vehicle for several years and only sold it a couple of years ago as I wasn't getting the chance to use it any more. I was a part-time taxi driver in Dover for Star Taxis and then County Cars and asked the then licensing officer about using the Tuk Tuk to collect Cruise Terminal visitors and take them on tours of the town, along the sea front, up to the Castle, Western Heights etc. The answer was that I wouldn't be given a licence for the vehicle as it didn't meet the criteria set down for a taxi - size of vehicle, number of doors and so on. I was told that I might get a bus licence for it but I would then have to publish a timetable and have regular fare stages. As I had (and still have) a full-time job this was a non-starter so I abandoned the idea and Dover lost out! I continued to use it for occasional weddings, school proms and rallies with the National Autocycle & Cyclemotor Club (www.thebuzzingclub.co.uk) of which I am the local Section organiser.
The Tuk Tuk is now in service as a taxi in Portsmouth where the licensing authorities have a more enlightened attitude to alternative transport. It was so successful that the new owner bought four new vehicles in addition to mine and the venture really took off.
As for the Brighton venture, a guy called Dominic Poniah had a fleet of a dozen Tuk Tuks painted in various colour schemes and had students driving them to a timetable with a published fare structure. Unfortunately, the Brighton taxi trade took a dim view of his success and he gave up the unequal struggle after a couple of seasons.
Semper in excrementum, sole profundum qui variat!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
welcome to the forum nick, maybe you should consider reapplying for a licence as d.d.c recently gave permission for a two seater car to be used as a taxi?
would brighten up the town nicely.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
If it is good enough for Brighton I would have thought it would have been good enough for Dover, yet another opportunity missed because of officialdom.
http://www.brightontuktuk.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
One passed me today, a red van type. I was not quite quick enough with my phone to get a picture. :(
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Welcome Nick, I love your signature.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 771- Registered: 27 Sep 2012
- Posts: 4
Thanks Peter. I can relate to yours, too! I've seen the "cab for one", what a brilliant concept. I spoke to the owner/driver and it seems to be a great success. My Tuk Tuk has gone to its' new life, doing what it was born to do so I'm very happy for it. I'm still very enthusiastic about oddball transport though, as my very full garage will prove. It's good to be part of the Forum, something of which I was unaware until John Mavin gave me the heads-up when he asked about posting my photo.
Semper in excrementum, sole profundum qui variat!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Good to have you with us Nick. Some interesting info there re the little Tuk Tuk. Looks like that idea about ferrying cruise passngers around that I whimsied about previously was a non starter as you already tried it. Pity though as you say..a little fleet of those whizzing about all summer would certainly be a plus for tourists. We often talk about getting tourists to linger..we really have to grab some new ideas that offers them some fun things to do while here.
Guest 718- Registered: 28 Jun 2011
- Posts: 195
"New Ideas", "Fun" ??? ....... bit of radical thought there Paul, oh dear!
Nice to have you aboard Nick. Back to visitors - a quick diversion from a shopping trip showed the RNLI Severn class relief lifeboat boat The Will, not at the Crosswall .... in Wellington Dock.
Also returning is Elida V. This is operated by a Swedish all-Christian organisation, working under the motto "Sailing for Jesus" and with the goal of spreading the message via sail training.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i saw that earlier this afternoon john only had a pocket camera with me and it was extremely overcast.
Guest 718- Registered: 28 Jun 2011
- Posts: 195
Here's the former Mersey lifeboat William & Kate Johnston in the Wellington Dock earlier today. She was in operation as a lifeboat between 1924 and 1950 and at the time of her launch she was the largest vessel of her type.
Although now in private hands, as far as I know she's still based at Ramsgate.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
That is a great photo sir,and what a boat,love to look round that one.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Beautiful photo John and what a good looking boat. I saw it today too, it certainly commands a second look!!
