I remember riding in a Mini Moke—a small, no doors, all windows vehicle—heading to BBC beach squished in the back between two older cousins. At the time, that, and a beautiful golden vanilla Morris Minor were the smallest cars I had ever seen on Grenada’s roads. Apart from one moke I occasionally spot on the road, I am unsure of others in road-worthy condition.
The Town of St George, and perhaps Grenville, Gouyave and Sauteurs as well, suffers from traffic congestion. In temporary vogue, Smart Cars were not impressed by the many potholes, dips and invisible humps. A series of mishaps—Covid-19 pandemic, contracting global economy, oil market collapse, Evergreen disrupting shipping traffic in the Suez Canal, and the Russia-Ukraine disagreement—raised concerns about the local cost of fuel at the pump and for electricity, but not enough to encourage the use of small(er) vehicles.
In September 2013, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gifted Grenada ten 3-wheel moped-style ambulances, which quickly drew scorn. I am aware of one deployed at the South St George Police Station but am not sure as to its current status or to the location of the other 9.
Tiny 3-wheel delivery trucks. Photo: SLCT
Here in China, I’ve fallen in love with san lun che: 3-wheel vehicles. Ubiquitous is the word. From deliveries to construction, road maintenance, and garbage disposal, these quiet… too quiet… tiny workhorses powered by electricity are everywhere. So far, I’ve seen them in Beijing city, the outer Beijing districts of Chaoyang, Haidian, Juyongguan, Pinggu and Shijingshan, as well as in Changsha, Chenzhou and Yueyang, cities of Hunan Province.
There are many versions: open, closed, hybrid; delivery trucks, mopeds, etc. They are used for express and goods delivery, food and beverage distribution, recycling and sanitation, and are competitive in cost, time and fuel efficiency. In East, South and South-East Asia, 3-wheeled non-motorised vehicles have been a mainstay of goods and people transport for several decades. Closer to home, in Havana, Cuba, thousands of Chinese electric scooters and tricycles are used, amid constant fuel shortages and tightened sanctions.
A fleet of 3-wheel flatbeds. Photo: SLCT
I have also seen tiny 4-wheelers that are so cute I want to put them in my pocket and take them home. To ease traffic congestion, perhaps, with some modifications, we can use smaller vehicles as well. Good things come in small packages too.