Positive things compared to the previous rickshaw
Our previous rickshaw bike was the rickshaw of Azor. If I compare the Van Raam rickshaw with our previous one, the Van Raam rickshaw has a better sitting position, more comfort and better suspension and damping. It's also convenient that the bike has two seatbelts for the passengers instead of one. Also, the footplate has a good roughness, which is advantageous when it rains - then the feet of the passengers don't slip off the plate. As a driver, I also notice that the steering behaviour is better. So far I'm very satisfied with the bike.
With a canopy the passengers are sheltered from the sun and rain, but what would perhaps be useful is a rain cover which you can snap on, so the passengers' legs stay dry as well.
In the newspaper and a nice reaction
Last time in Harderwijk we were
adressed by a stranger who had read about the Chat in the newspaper. She read about the rikshaw project and was very suprised to see the bike 'in the wild'. That's very nice to hear!
Maybe it's also an idea to organize a day in Varsseveld for everyone with a Van Raam bike. It would be very nice to make a bike tour together!
Jan-Willem van de Water – Riksja Harderwijk (the Netherlands)
Model: Chat Rikshaw bike