>Metered Three-Wheelers
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This is one of those public service posts, which I’m pretty sure will greatly contribute to the betterment of people’s lives, enhance society and pave the way for a better future.
Actually, I’m positive of it.
I come across metered tuk-tuks’ some time early this year and I must say I was impressed. (Which incidentally takes a lot to do.) They’re reliable, safe, friendly and extremely cheap. A ride, which would cost me about Rs. 450 in a normal tuk-tuk and about Rs. 500-ish in a cab, cost me just Rs.220, leaving me extra dough for food and other essential commodities.
The chap who drove me, Lalith, or as I like to affectionately refer to him, ‘Uncle Lal’, (One of the many ‘Uncle’s’ I’ve christened around the country. What can I say.. I’m a Sri Lankan. When in Sri Lanka you do as the Lankans do. ) spoke impeccable English. I was pleasantly surprised because I never thought I’d see the day when tuk-tuk drivers exclaimed ‘Good Heavens!’ ‘Good gracious me!’ ‘My goodness!’, and such like. Pretty darn cool actually!
The three-wheeler itself has a detailed description of the driver pasted behind the drivers seat with particulars such as his license number, mobile number, name etc. Some three-wheelers have wonderful devices such as fire extinguishers (why? In case a fire breaks out in your handbag of course.) And even –wait for it –a box of tissues fixed on the inner roof of the tuk-tuk. (In case you want to blow your nose) I don’t know about you, but that’s something I’ve never seen before.
So, if your car stalls, if you don’t feel like placing your already short life into the precarious hands of a bus driver or when you’re in SL the next time, I suggest you give them a call. The numbers 0712 500800, you call half an hour previously and they’ll dispatch a three-wheeler in time to the necessary location.
I left the tuk-tuk with a smile on my face, my wallet still full, advice on how to deal with annoying neighbors in my head (courtesy of the driver), and these profound words of trishaw wisdom to mull over.
And no, I wasn’t paid to post this.
>lol thats great. im entering the number into my phone as i speak. tee hee, how cheap am i?!
May 12, 2008 at 8:16 pm
>i used them once too. a trip from town hall to galle face and back to flower road cost me around 250 bucks. they were punctual too. they are a find. unfortunately, these guys were always full when i called them after that. i think there are too few of them to answer all the calls.
May 13, 2008 at 3:17 am
>wow.. I never knew this…. shah! good to know about it…:)
May 13, 2008 at 4:25 am
>thanks will try them out
May 13, 2008 at 7:36 am
>Woah! it’s about time I say!Thanks for the info!
May 13, 2008 at 7:59 am
>Where’s the fun in that? Takes away the whole routine of being asked to pay way over the odds because I look like a tourist, then haggling, then paying closer to the original price because I feel guilty.
May 13, 2008 at 8:40 am
>have to agree with RD
and come on, a Sri Lankan bus ride is the next evolution of the rollercoaster: none of the safety, with double the thrill, especially on the footboards 
he heThese guys sound cool. Thanks for the no GF. Will use if needed.
May 14, 2008 at 4:21 am
>T – Not cheap, just smart! There’s a huge difference.
PP – Yeah, they are pretty busy most of the time. But the few times I’ve used them, save for one occasion they’ve always come when called. LD –Yes, it is!JP and Jerry– You’re welcome.RD – LOL. Happens to me a lot too, only I don’t look remotely like a foreigner. Except for the atrocious Sinhala perhaps. In that case at least pay to see the box of tissues on the roof. Or even the ‘Good gracious me’s’ Dili – No probs, but don’t come running to me when you’ve fallen off the footboard and I’m snug in my metered three-wheeler! :p
May 14, 2008 at 7:22 pm
>i came across one of these rare commodities too. i wish it could be made national threewheeler policy. tuki fellows rip off big time these days! some are not even bargainable. one day i asked this fellow to go to my university from 5th lane which would cost about 50 bux baximum to cut across royal and he asked for 150 and when i said 50…he actually had the audacity to smirk and tell me that he wouldn’t even bother to start the engine for that much! sigh.
May 16, 2008 at 4:52 am