The Creativity of the Car Tuk Tuk

In Cambodia, the moto reigns supreme. I would wager that there are more motorcycles that people, at least in the capital, Phnom Penh. Aside from simply being a form of transportation for one to three people and a baby, motos are often rigged up to carts, cargo beds, or tuk tuks.

I just assumed that the moto was everywhere--until I visited Sihanouk Ville this past weekend and discovered a variation that took me by surprise---the car tuk tuk. Made from 80s era sedans, these repurposed cars made me think appreciatively about ways in which less wealthy countries don't simply throw things away, but find ways to use what they already have in incredibly creative ways. It's interesting that I saw these car tuk tuks for the first time outside of the capital, so it makes me wonder whether they are generally more popular in the country side where the lack of paved roads make it more important to have the more stable ride a car tuk tuk can offer. Still, its mere existence confirms that when it comes to finding creative ways to reduce waste, the answer doesn't always involve new technology, but being able to repurpose old!