For many years, environmentalists have encouraged people to tread more lightly on the planet through buying local. The most common way to buy local is through fresh food purchased at a local farmer’s market, and to get there you should bike or walk since everyone knows that you can’t produce a sustainable car with local material. Right? Wrong. You’ve heard of bamboo bikes, well now there are bamboo taxis. These taxis were commissioned by the mayor of Tabontabon (in the Philippines) Rustico Balderian.
The bamboo taxis are made out of 90 percent bamboo and run on coconut biodiesel. The palm trees and wild bamboo stalks are native to the area.
There are two versions of the taxis. The ECO 1 taxi seats 20 people comfortably, versus six people on a motorcycle which up until now is a common way to travel. It runs for eight hours on one gallon of biodiesel (wow) and is covered by a Filipino woven mat. Want to make your taxi stand out from the crowd? Then rev it up with a custom paint job.
The ECO 2 taxi seats eight, also runs for eight hours on one gallon of biodiesel but is equipped with a stereo and sound system. A welcome addition I’m guessing since I assume these taxis don’t travel at excessive (or even moderate) speeds. Now the big question….how do these taxis hold up if it rains?
I hope I’ve made you feel guilty about your unsustainble car. But if you’re not up to building your own bamboo taxi (or here in the States maybe we could build a switchgrass taxi) then you can start off with building your own bamboo bike….








Not another delusional rider who believes that “loud pipes save lives?” Having ridden motor, and holding a motorcycle license for thirty-eight years, it is the skill of the rider that makes all the difference. If you are lane-splitting, and driving like once you enter a lane you then have all the road rights in the in the world then pre-invite me to the funeral. The aspect of quieter environment is so appealing that one only need escape to the solitude of nature to realize how much it is taken for granted.
Not another delusional rider who believes that “loud pipes save lives?” Having ridden motor, and holding a motorcycle license for thirty-eight years, it is the skill of the rider that makes all the difference. If you are lane-splitting, and driving like once you enter a lane you then have all the road rights in the in the world then pre-invite me to the funeral. The aspect of quieter environment is so appealing that one only need escape to the solitude of nature to realize how much it is taken for granted.
Not another delusional rider who believes that “loud pipes save lives?” Having ridden motor, and holding a motorcycle license for thirty-eight years, it is the skill of the rider that makes all the difference. If you are lane-splitting, and driving like once you enter a lane you then have all the road rights in the in the world then pre-invite me to the funeral. The aspect of quieter environment is so appealing that one only need escape to the solitude of nature to realize how much it is taken for granted.
My apologies as 1Password remembered my sign-in entry AND my last comment. Kindly delete said comment. Thank you.
My apologies as 1Password remembered my sign-in entry AND my last comment. Kindly delete said comment. Thank you.
Wow, that is amazing! I do wonder how durable they are, as well, and how much they cost to make… but very cool taxis.
Wow, that is amazing! I do wonder how durable they are, as well, and how much they cost to make… but very cool taxis.
Wow, that is amazing! I do wonder how durable they are, as well, and how much they cost to make… but very cool taxis.