Pedicab drivers research

[Leonie]

Hello Everyone,

I am a grad student trying to get out of grad school and to write a dissertation that would be interesting and fun. I am thinking of doing research on pedicab drivers and perhaps some of you might be able to give me some help.

I have contacted a few pedicab companies and am waiting to hear from them. Essentially, I'm studying labour supply and decision making. I'm building my research off a similar study done on New York City cabdrivers where the researchers got the trip sheets of several thousand cab drivers and then looked at whether income affected how hard they worked i.e. how many more hours they drove.

So I wondered if any of you who drive pedicabs and lease them from companies are required to turn in trip sheets that say how many rides you gave and how much you made that day. Also do you find that on a busy day, you work longer hours or do you quit early if you feel you've made enough money?

Feel free to email me privately or here on the forum.
Hope to hear from you all soon
Leonie :)

[tdayuk]

"Also do you find that on a busy day, you work longer hours or do you quit early if you feel you've made enough money?" :rolleyes:

We have a some 'special shows' here were it is possible to earn as much as you can, providing that you continue to peddle. The thing is that most humans run on food & water, so it is important to stop for these. When you don't you start to lose 'drive' & then you start to damage your next days working 'drive' too & can end up not being able to work for a few days.

This is most highly illustrated by the Fri & Sat rush that happens every week but sunday is the most desserted rickshaw day in Londons week. Most of this is due to a personal body limit & even if the money is going to be good it is hard to go & get it, as the mental & physical struggle to move hurting legs & hart is quite an amazing work stopper;) .

I'm not sure but maybe some one els knows if this is true but when you work hard you use muscles & they get lactic acid in them once you reach your body limit, after this it will take a few day befor your cleared up enough to be able to start again. (If you work too hard & its hot you might even get a visit from the 'Cramp fairy' as you cycle:D ).

I find that working 3 or 4 days per week is enough for me & have been working for a few years now like this (though if its bill paying week in the month may have to work more). Riders do find income close to what they need & not more, as it is all earned through very hard work, which creats a limit.:cool: