Adil Najam
Pictures of overloaded vehicles are nothing special. Not in Pakistan. And our fascinations for rickshaws (here, here, here, here, here, here) is also well known. So, why yet another rickshaw picture?
Unless I have it terribly wrong, what we have here is really an ordinary motorcycle – probably not 7occ, maybe more like 140cc (what do you think, Owais?) – that has been retrofitted to become a people-carrier. All very good till here.
But the question is, how many people are riding on this, well, motorcycle? And did they just break any records without even knowing about it?
By my count, there are at least 9 people on this (3 in the front, four in the back, at least 2 hanging), and maybe as many as 12!
Even by Pakistani standards, that is impressive (and really really dangerous!).
Has anyone here seen worse? Or better? [Depending on what you consider worse, or better!]
This motorcycle turned rickshaw has a name of its own. Its called Qingqi, pronounced “chingchee”. In Lahore, these are just as common as rickshaws but with a lot more room and less fare and you can see entire families commuting in these qingqis. These are extremely dangerous as far as balance goes. My brother in law is a doctor who used to work in the emergency room. He told me that most road accidents involve these qingqis because they overturn very easily, especially while turning speedily. Most people who get killed in road accidents in Lahore are qingqi riders.
Converted rickshaws ply roads of inner Kemari area in Karachi and are the worst types of public transport.
@ atleast eleven
I think it has to be more than 9. Because we cannot see how many are standing on the other side (at the back) and for balance it has to be as many as on this side.
So, I would say it is closer to around 11 people, maybe 12.
Dil barra hay naa :)