The exorbitant number of cycle rickshaws is exasperating many in the ‘City of the Sun’. They are set to be replaced by motorized tricycles.
There are some 15,000 registered cycle rickshaws in the urban commune of Toliara, based on 2023 figures. The actual number is likely higher when accounting for those from surrounding communes in the Toliara II district, such as Betsinjaka, Belalanda, or Mitsinjo Betanimena, which also serve the city. There are no fewer than 20,000 cycle rickshaws for a population of about 300,000 in Toliara city.
While municipal and national police attempt to manage urban traffic, frustration among residents and road users is rising. “They outnumber motorized vehicles and occupy a large portion of the streets. We try to keep them in a single lane, especially on major axes like Sanfily, Lycée Laurent Botokeky, Ankilifaly, and Scama, so other vehicles can pass,” explains police officer Séraphin Emahavelo.
Other road users feel the situation is disorganized. “They respect their lane for a moment, but do not hesitate to overtake without checking for nearby vehicles. They ignore traffic rules, turn as they please, stop anywhere, and occupy unauthorized public or private spaces to park,” says Mohamed, a regional department driver.
Cycle rickshaw drivers are also criticized for their behavior toward passengers, with daily complaints appearing on social media. Passengers report drivers demanding extra fees upon arrival, or abandoning them mid-journey. A recent viral incident involved a driver mistreating a woman with a three-month-old baby over a lack of change. Migrant drivers from the Androy region, who gather in Tanambao, defend themselves by citing the lack of other employment opportunities.
Many residents are now calling for the official adoption of ‘bajajs’ (motorized three-wheelers) as the primary mode of transport, questioning why their use is currently restricted to only a few specific routes.
Captured & Published at: 2026-11-03 05:54:24 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/11/toliara-les-cyclopousses-pousses-vers.html