The Jinriksha Station at 1 Neil Road

[Cecil Lee]

1. The Rikshaw is a Japanese invention of around 1800's.

2. In Singapore, this Jinrisha Station was built around 1903; at a triangular plot of land between Tanjong Pagar and Neil Road. This fork road is still visible today in Singapore. Where traffic can go either towards Tanjong Pagar or Neil Road.

3. In fact, the actual Rikshaw station at 1 Neil Road is still around but converted into commercial premises.

4. At that time, there were two stations: the first was at Middle Road. The second Rikshaw station is at this 1 Neil Road.

5. Today, we have major taxi operator: Comfort & Yellow Cab that hires out taxis to taxi drivers. And majority of these taxis are regulated and have two shifts.

6. In the 1900's the Jinrisha as they are called; see attached picture; also operate the same way: there are the licensing operator who leases these rickshaws to the "poor" with limited or no education. Many of these rickshaw pullers come from Southern part of China.

7. And they work two shifts: one shift is in the morning around 5.30am to 3.00pm while the 2nd shift works from 3.00pm to around 12 midnite. Can you draw a parallel with today's taxi operators / taxi drivers with these rickshaw pullers?

8. Many of these rickshaw pullers stay in housing quarters along Neil / Tanjong Pagar Road - close to their livelyhood.

[Cecil Lee]

A typical Chinese coolie in Singapore in the 1920's.

Quote

On 1/18/2010 10:33:49 AM, Anonymous wrote:
1. The Rikshaw is a Japanese
invention of around 1800's.
2. In Singapore, this Jinrisha
Station was built around 1903;
at a triangular plot of land
between Tanjong Pagar and Neil
Road. This fork road is still
visible today in Singapore.
Where traffic can go either
towards Tanjong Pagar or Neil
Road.
3. In fact, the actual Rikshaw
station at 1 Neil Road is
still around but converted
into commercial premises.
4. At that time, there were
two stations: the first was at
Middle Road. The second
Rikshaw station is at this 1
Neil Road.
5. Today, we have major taxi
operator: Comfort & Yellow
Cab that hires out taxis to
taxi drivers. And majority of
these taxis are regulated and
have two shifts.
6. In the 1900's the Jinrisha
as they are called; see
attached picture; also operate
the same way: there are the
licensing operator who leases
these rickshaws to the "poor"
with limited or no education.
Many of these rickshaw pullers
come from Southern part of
China.
7. And they work two shifts:
one shift is in the morning
around 5.30am to 3.00pm while
the 2nd shift works from
3.00pm to around 12 midnite.
Can you draw a parallel with
today's taxi operators / taxi
drivers with these rickshaw
pullers?
8. Many of these rickshaw
pullers stay in housing
quarters along Neil / Tanjong
Pagar Road - close to their
livelyhood.