A rickshaw is a small, lightweight vehicle used to transport passengers, typically in Asian cities. The original rickshaw was a two-wheeled cart pulled by a person running on foot, invented in Japan in the 1860s. Imagine a comfortable chair on wheels, with long handles extending forward for someone to grasp and pull. The runner would trot through crowded streets, weaving between pedestrians and other vehicles, carrying one or two passengers.

Today, most rickshaws are cycle rickshaws (also called pedicabs), where the driver pedals like a bicycle instead of running. You'll find these throughout India, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries. Some cities now use auto rickshaws, small motorized vehicles with three wheels that put-put along, making a distinctive sound and looking like a golf cart with a covered passenger seat.

The word comes from Japanese: jinrikisha means “human-powered vehicle.” In busy cities where cars can barely squeeze through narrow streets, rickshaws remain practical and efficient. They're cheaper than taxis, can navigate tight spaces, and give tourists an open-air view of street life. Pulling or pedaling a rickshaw is exhausting work, but for many people, it provides an honest way to earn a living in crowded urban areas.