Australian Designed Rickshaw Debuts

By Phil Latz | 2nd October 2024 |

Product shot of Tribe Bikes Ricky Rickshaw — The single seat version pictured left, features a 700 mm wide seat and the double seat version a 900 mm wide seat.

Morisset, NSW

Rickshaws date back 150 years and evoke images of hand-drawn or cycle-powered small vehicles in traditional Asian settings. According to Wikipedia there were four million rickshaws in operation during the late 1980’s.

But in Australia, rickshaw style bicycles have been virtually non-existent until more recently when they’ve found demand for two main uses – pedicabs and giving rides for older Australians including via organisations such as Cycling Without Age.

Until now, rickshaws mainly imported into Australia from Europe have been quite expensive at around $20,000. Tribe Bikes decided to design their own model from the ground up and have just released the Chinese manufactured Ricky Rickshaw V2.0 that starts at a far more affordable retail price of $7,490.

Tribe Bikes founders Nick and Steve said, “It soon became clear that cargo bikes aren’t just great for getting kids out and about, but also adults. We’ve had parents of disabled adult children wanting to get them out and about more, children of elderly parents wanting to see the smile on their faces as the wind blows in their hair, spouses whose partners mobility issues mean they can no longer ride their own bikes and community groups who specialise in joy rides for the elderly and disabled.”

Product close up shot of front kickstands of Tribe Bikes Ricky Rickshaw — These front kickstands prevent the bike tipping forward when passengers are getting on and off the rickshaw.

From the finished product, it’s clear that Tribe have put a lot of thought into their design. In fact they worked with a local Cycling Without Age group to refine their prototypes.
Some features include a removeable front step, so that elderly or disabled people can enter and exit the front seat without having to step up. Plus a heavy duty front kickstand that prevents the bikes from tipping forward when loading and unloading passengers.

The Ricky Rickshaw comes in a one person front seat version that retails for $7,490 and a two seat version for $8,490.

All of Tribe Bikes’ range including the new Ricky Rickshaw are available for distribution via independent bicycle dealers.

For more information visit Tribe Bikes at www.tribebikes.com.au