But what are they like to drive?

Steering & Buttons

This is what the steering wheel looks like. The right handle bar is the accelerator while the left handle bar acts as the clutch. Right in the middle of the steering wheel is the speedometer which you will need to pay attention to so you don’t break the speed limit!

On the right handle bar, there are 3 buttons and the acceleration handle.
1. Light Switch.
2. Iignition Switch.
3. Horn.
4. Acceleration Handle.

The left handle bar includes:
1. Side Blinkers.
2. Screenwiper.
3. Clutch Lever.

Braking

With the Rickshaw species, you can only brake with one method (I have just been told that some rickshaws also have a front brake which is on the right hand handle). So use the only pedal (no 3) in the house! Next to the pedal is the container with the braking fluid (no 2).

There is also a handbrake (no 1), which you can use in stationary position so your vehicle won’t roll away. To operate you need to pull the yellow handle (it might be different color too!) up between your legs. To release the handbrake press the button and push the lever down and proceed rolling.

Engine & Others

The engine for the rickshaw is relatively primitive. It is a single Cylinder, two stroke forced air cooled engine. Its maximum power is 7.00 HP @ 5000 rpm (!?).
As you can see on the picture:
1. Spark Plug.
2. Carburetor.
3. Air Filter.
Just below this amazing structure is the exhaust pipe. Below you can find some “amazing” close-ups of this revolutionary piece of machinery.

The Spark Plug	The Carburetor	The Silencer - Exhaust

Fuel

Beneath the right side passenger seat in the rickshaw, there is a small lever that regulates whether the rickshaw should take fuel from the main tank, reserve or if it should be completely switched off. The 12 o’clock position is for the main tank, 9 o’clock is for reserve, 6 o’clock is to turn off the fuel supply to the rickshaw.

Just for your information beneath the driver’s seat there is a battery.

DRIVING A RICKSHAW

In order to start the rickshaw, you need to turn the ignition key and grab the lever on the left and quickly pull it with a thrusting motion. Watch your elbows as you can easily smack it against the back seat!

When you are starting your rickshaw, make sure that you hold the brake so you don’t roll in any unknown direction. In case you have hand brake turned on, release it by pressing the button in the middle of the bar on the inside.

To start moving forward in first gear, squeeze the clutch on the left and move it up, while slightly turning the right handle to add some gas as you are releasing the clutch. This is a bit of a balancing act but you’ll get it eventually. Once you have rolled through your first gear, you need to press the clutch and move the lever down to engage 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears subsequently. Use these with extreme caution as you might actually lift off … just kidding.

Gear Shift

First Gear	Second Gear
Third Gear	Fourth Gear

Conclusion:

Though the design of the autorickshaw cannot guarantee complete safety and security, the low top speed of the vehicle contributes to major accident prevention. It is common for these 3-wheeled vehicles to break down, especially older models. However, they are easy to repair and as locals drive autorickshaws throughout India, there is no short supply of repair shops or autorickshaw mechanics. For the most part, if your autorickshaw breaks down during the course of the event, you’ll be able to fix the problem yourself, and you will be orientated with your autorickshaw prior to the event. Think of it as a covered bicycle with a fuel-efficient lawn mower engine or a golf cart on Nitro J