Rickshaws pick up speed in Europe's top cities

By Sylvia Westall

BERLIN (Reuters) - They once seemed most at home on the bustling streets of Asian cities like Delhi, Bangkok and Kolkata but cycle-powered rickshaws can now be found ferrying folks across town in Berlin, London and Amsterdam.

Whether futuristic fibre-glass pods or wooden carriages, rickshaws are a good way to experience a city and help cut down on congestion, as more and more European cities seek to promote environmentally friendly forms of transport.

In Berlin, one of the first European cities to adopt rickshaws, more than 200 bicycle taxis whiz at up to 15 km (9 miles) an hour through leafy Tiergarten park, past tourist attractions and through town squares.

"It is completely environmentally friendly. We have new models with engines to help the drivers up hills but they use 100 percent renewable energy," said a spokeswoman for Velotaxi, Berlin's biggest rickshaw company, which has carried around a quarter of a million passengers this year.

While the city is still home to around 7,000 car taxis, rickshaw companies say that their speed and green credentials mean their vehicles are more than just tourist transport.

While cycle rickshaws appear to be going out of fashion in India, Berlin has embraced pedal power since the launch of the first velotaxi fleet in 1997.

"It's better than the subway, better than a taxi, better than a bus because you feel free," said Ulf Grotensoan, 36, leaping out of an orange rickshaw near the Brandenburg Gate.

"This is something out of the ordinary - you would think you would get this on holiday in Asia, not in Berlin - but you can."