Jinrikisha, << jihn RIHK shuh or jihn RIHK shaw, >> is a light two-wheeled cart once widely used as a taxicab in East Asian cities. Tourists to these cities often called the vehicle ricksha. The jinrikisha usually had a top, or hood, to protect passengers from the weather. The runner, or hiki, often pulled an occupied jinrikisha 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) a day.
The jinrikisha was first used in Japan about 1870. Tricycles called pedicabs gradually replaced jinrikishas. The use of jinrikishas was declared illegal in many Chinese cities because authorities felt using “human horses” was undignified. Today, pedicabs have been replaced largely by automobiles.
See also Pedicab .
