Europe's first fleet of motorised rickshaws is to double after proving a runaway success since its launch three weeks ago.

Tuctuc executive director Dominic Ponniah is looking to ship-in and modify another 12 Asian-style tuk-tuks due to overwhelming public demand.

The low-emission three-wheeled vehicles have carried an estimated 6,000 passengers since their introduction in Brighton and Hove on July 10.

Mr Ponniah, 26, said: "Because this has never been done before we were unsure what to expect but the response has far surpassed what we hoped for.

"We've had great weather which has helped and at weekends we have been mobbed. The only setback is that has meant people have sometimes had to queue for a while because we currently only have 12.

"It's great we're in demand but I don't want people waiting a long time so I'm going to buy another dozen which will be on the road as soon as we can get them here and get them modified to include things like side impact protection, roll-bars and seatbelts."

The tuk-tuks run between Brighton Marina, Brighton station and Hove and cost £2.50 for an adult single journey.

Mr Ponniah added: "The station and Marina have been by far our busiest pick-up points. The passenger numbers are up every day.

"We're getting a lot of tourists but also a lot of locals trying us out instead of the bus or a cab."

But not everyone has been so welcoming.

The city's Taxi Trade Forum is taking legal advice and planning to mount a challenge to Tuctuc Ltd's bus operators licence, which means the firm can operate as many tuk-tuks in the city as it wants.

Drivers have contacted The Argus complaining the tuk-tuks are picking up passengers on demand and not just at their designated stops. Mr Ponniah responded: "It is a condition of our licence that the tuk-tuks must pick up from our stops and as far as I am aware the service is not running in breach of this.

"However, if there is hard evidence that vehicles are picking up outside of these stops I will of course take appropriate action.

"If someone flags us down we pull over and tell them we can only pick them up from a stop. To ignore them would be bad service.

"Ninety per cent of the cab drivers have been fine but there are a minority who are following the tuk-tuks and taking photographs.

"There is one particularly abusive driver who has shouted, sworn at and threatened our drivers on several occasions."

The taxi firm taking the lead in opposing tuk-tuks is Brighton Streamline. Director Dave Smith declined to comment on any impending legal action.

Monday, July 31, 2006