Rickshaws in Singapore

The word “rickshaw” is an abbreviation of the Japanese word “Jinrikisha” or “Rikisha”.[1] In the 1880s, the rickshaw began to displace gharries (horse-drawn carriages) as the main mode of cheap transport in Singapore.[2] A comprehensive study of the “rickshaw” in 1921 Singapore necessarily examines rickshaws as a mode of transport, as well as an avenue to gain insights into the lives of rickshaw pullers. In the latter sense, rickshaws serve to bring the lives of the common people into sharper contrast, creating a social history of sorts. This essay will first analyse rickshaws as a transport form in 1921 Singapore, before proceeding to the individual pullers.

Rickshaws had 2 wheels and were pulled by one person. There were previously 2 classes of rickshaws: 1st Class (rubber tyres) and 2nd Class (iron tyres). However, by 1920 there were no 2nd Class rickshaws in Singapore. Rickshaws had collapsible canvas hoods for shelter purposes. In addition, it had a canvas screen that was theoretically waterproof, for protection against the weather. The screen stretched from the passenger’s feet to his chest, and was fastened at the sides with snap-on buttons. But it did not keep out driving rain, so the passenger had to wear a raincoat. The rickshaw puller might have worn a short canvas cloak over his shoulders in the rain, but most of the time he ran bare to the waist.[3] New rickshaws were being imported from Japan in 1921, which cost $180, doubling the original price of $90. Because of this increase, some rickshaws were made locally but were inferior to the imported ones. Rickshaws in the Municipality increased from 8022 (1920) to 9244 (1921) and the behavior of the pullers owing to increased competition greatly improved. This rise was due to the falling employment in estates. In 1921, rickshaws began to face competition from omnibuses, which foreshadowed their eventual displacement by motorized transport. Small 7 seater omnibuses, which were converted from Ford