History of the Cyclo
Everyday, Phnom Penh's busy streets buzz with motorcycles, cars, tuk-tuks and bicycles as thousands of local commuters carry out their daily business and droves of foreign visitors site hop between city landmarks. Meandering lazily amongst its speedy counterparts, the humble cyclo offers a completely unique and historically significant mode of transport for locals and tourists alike.
The three-wheeled pedal-driven carriage is a specific type of man-powered, small-scale means of transport, variants of which can be spotted throughout Asia in the forms of the pedicab, trishaw, rickshaw and more. Setting the cyclo apart from its siblings is its pedal-powered technology, as well as its unique origin and deeply rooted history within the heart of the Kingdom.
The cyclo dates back to 1937, when it was first invented in Phnom Penh by a French engineer named Maurice Coupeaud. Noticing the popularity of the rickshaw in China and the already dominant use of bicycles in his adopted city of Phnom Penh, he merged the two vehicles in his design of the all-new people-carrier: "the cyclopousse", as it was initially named.
The "cyclopousse" (later shortened to "cyclo") gained relatively instant popularity amongst the citizens of Phnom Penh. According to Im Sambath, the Executive Director of the Cyclo Conservation and Careers Association (CCCA) in Phnom Penh, the now iconic three-wheeler was instantly embraced as a form of personal transport as well as a means of cargo.
"Cyclo is the traditional means of Cambodian transportation. It was the solution to a lack of transport in the past, so it was very popular when it was invented," Sambath says. "Before the cyclo, people generally used bicycles to get places or to transport goods or products from one place to somewhere else. At that time, there was no busy traffic like now, as the streets were very quiet. So cyclos were the main form of transport for most people for a long time. That's why it's still very important to the culture."
While the cyclo was, and still is an important fixture in Cambodian daily life, its usage has not been limited to within the Kingdom. Soon after Coupeaud designed the first model in Phnom Penh, he spread the idea into Vietnam and beyond through the most effective means available at the time - he rode it there!
"When [Coupeaud] invented it, he drove it from Phnom Penh to Saigon, Vietnam. It took him 27 hours and 24 minutes." Sambath says. "That was the first time the cyclo entered into Vietnam and it has stayed there until today."
Cyclos not only possess significant cultural and historical importance within the Kingdom, they are also incredibly functional. Because they are powered by pedaling,
they are one of the most environmentally friendly means of transport available within Cambodia. They are also well suited to the city's busy streets, and traffic tends to give way to cyclos at every turn. Phnom Penh's narrow streets also make the cyclo a favourable means of transport, particularly over larger vehicles such as cars.
Beyond this, cyclos have become a popular means by which tourists can view the city sights due to their leisurely pace and open-air, comfortable seating.
"The cyclo is slower, so tourists can see more, and it is much more open so there is a better view of the street. It's also very relaxing to sit back on the cyclo, especially on the riverside where there is fresh air and a nice breeze," Sambath says.
Those who wish to experience a slice of Cambodian heritage while taking in the metropolis of Phnom Penh will find cyclo drivers omnipresent throughout the city.
"We now have approximately 450 cyclos in Phnom Penh. There are around 150 cyclo drivers who operate them," Sambath says. "Mostly they can be found in Russian Market, Central Market and Boeung Keng Kong market. You can also just ask any one of these drivers if you can take a ride. "
For those wishing to arrange a fixed tour of the city via cyclo, the options are many and varied, and booking could not be made easier.
"You can book through travel agents a day in advance, who will contact us and we will arrange it," Sambath explains. "They tell us the time and the place and we will organise it. The cost varies depending on the distance or period of time. If you book our cyclo tour of Phnom Penh it is one hour for 3USD. Half days are ?USD and full days are 12 USD. It will take passengers wherever they would like - it's up to the passenger to say where they want to go."
Next time you're in Cambodia's capital, set aside some time to soak in the city through this time-honoured, relaxing style of transport.
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