San Francisco is known for its cool summers, steep rolling hills, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. But, how can we also not think of the notorious traffic and never-ending parking woes!
Most locals walk, bike, ride Muni metro, or ride-share a car. You would also find a lot of motor vehicles zooming on the freeways.
But, have you ever seen this three-wheeled marvel on the SF streets? It’s called “Auto-Rickshaw” in India and fondly known as “TukTuk” in South East Asia.
Vivek Bhaskaran, Founder & CEO, QuestionPro
Our Founder and CEO, Vivek Bhaskaran, was always passionate about this vehicle since he was a kid growing up in India. Though auto rickshaws (also known as Auto’s) are looked down upon to some extent, Vivek always wanted to own them and ride!
Well, we guess perhaps all moto-lovers feel curious about auto rickshaws and want to experience the adventure.
But, it isn’t just about uncanny looks!
As Vivek puts it, “It is a very versatile vehicle and people can easily jump in and out of it”, adding that it is also a highly functional vehicle that can maneuver narrow lanes and transport people really easily.
Apart from convenience, it’s also fun. It feels like riding atop a motorcycle, feeling fresh air and freedom – something you rarely experience while driving a car.
The autorickshaw proves to be an emulsifier in bringing people from various backgrounds together. As Vivek says, “It is a great conversation starter. The minute someone sees it there is a big smile on their face because it looks so out of place here”, adding that this inevitably leads to people walking over to take pictures or ask about its origins and history.
What are we doing with “TukTuk” in the SF bay area?
In the age of Tesla’s and Google Self Driving cars, we want to ride around in our Auto Rickshaw to bring attention to interesting and diverse ideas around the world – right here in our melting pot that is the San Francisco Bay Area.
Wondering what people think about our rickshaws?
Let’s read in Vivek’s words.
While I was parking near a Ducati dealership (I needed to buy a helmet), one of the employees came out and took a photo, and mentioned “You know what I like about you guys coming from India….I love the fact that you guys also bring in the cool shit for us!” — That made my day! I love the fact that we can also cross-pollinate even a Ducati dealership employee with some Indian love!
How did we get them in San Francisco? Are they legal?
Yes, they are absolutely legal. Vivek decided to get two rickshaws shipped across from our Pune office. At first, the dealership wouldn’t sell the vehicles. We had to clarify that it was for private use and not for commercial purposes.
Once they did, the rickshaws were put in a container and shipped across to the Bay Area. When they reached the port, there was another problem. No one knew what it was. So, they had to be certified. The paperwork took us nearly 2-3 months. We had to wait for that long to get it done before the auto could leave port. Vivek had it registered as a three-wheeled motorcycle.
Everyone on board has to wear a helmet when we ride it here. There are 3-4 helmets on board all the time.
Our rickshaws even made it to Salesforce Dreamforce 2017 in San Francisco, where Vivek and Rob Hoehn, the CEO of IdeaScale, gave this unique, refreshing and adventurous experience of riding in a rickshaw.
(From left) Rob Hoehn and Vivek Bhaskaran
Get an Auto Rickshaw Ride at XDay in Austin
It’s time again for our branded rickshaw to give an unique experience to riders and have an interesting conversation with us. We’re hosting our first IRL customer conference post-pandemic on Oct 27, 2022 at AT&T Hotel and Convention Center, Austin, TX.
We’re so excited to meet our customers in-person after a long time and have meaningful conversations around market research, experience transformation and more. We have an amazing line-up of speakers from Google, MGM Resorts, Traeger, Visit Fort Worth and many more.
Find more details and register here. Chat with us now for a discount code!
Vivek has been already prepping up for the event and getting our tuktuk ready. Watch this video of his hustle to get it ready for Austin!
Tag us on social channels with the hashtag #WhatTheTuk and we’ll give you a free ride.
See you in Austin on Oct 27!
