The traditional samlor, three wheeled bicycle, is slowly peddling away from our city streets, with a reported 31 left in operations. From its heydays in the 80s when there were around 200 samlor peddling around Chiang Mai, these 31 say that most days they are just sitting at home waiting for a phone call.
Occasionally they have tour guides and hotels who call them for a job, but there are barely any locals using their services anymore.
One peddler, aged 82, told Citylife that most of his fellow peddlers are between the ages of 60-80 years old and most have been peddling for over three or four decades. He also said that that is to the Rotary Club, their vehicles still receive regular repairs so they are functional. According to a 66 year old peddler, he earns around 250 baht per trip within the city centre.
