In the latest instalment of Metro Éireann’s MEET THE BOSS, SANDY HAZEL speaks to Bruno Moses, a student from Brazil who operates a rickshaw in central Dublin.
Taking a year out from his chemical engineering degree, Bruno Moses from Brazil is having a ball in Ireland. Before he came here to study English, Moses knew that he could work a certain number of hours each week while on his student visa, and he has found a more than suitable occupation for himself as a rickshaw driver.
“A friend of mine did this previously and when he left I bought the bike from him,” says Moses. “It has turned out to be very fun and I get to earn a bit of money.”
The rickshaw bike he uses is a genuine Chinese import, with large wheels and a sturdy seat for two with plenty of room.
“I work nights mostly as there is less traffic then,” he explains. The area around Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green is the best location for Moses and his fellow rickshaw drivers to offer their exotic transport services, especially as tourists seem to enjoy the ride. “We get a lot of tourists who are tired from all their walking,” he says.
On the short journeys through the streets, Moses points out attractions to visitors, and he has become something of an expert on the Temple Bar area. “They want to see the well-known parts of the city,” he says.
Moses also enjoys the social side of the job: “It is great because people want to talk to me so I get to practice my English in conversation with people from all over the world.” But it’s not all talk; there is plenty of hard graft, too.
“Yes, it keeps me fit,” laughs Moses. “I once had a couple of Irish guys who were very large. That trip was uphill and I was nearly dead after that.”
Working on the streets at night when the pubs and clubs empty certainly has its downside, with drinkers often hassling the rickshaw drivers, but Moses remains magnanimous: “They sometimes try to hop on to the rickshaw and want me to bring them somewhere, but I tell them I’m on a break and I just sit and chat, then they generally just go away.”
A short trip with Moses on his rickshaw will cost from around €5, which he says is enough for him to make a student living.
When he moves back to Brazil at the end of his studies here, Moses plans to sell the rickshaw on to someone else. In the meantime, the vehicle needs maintenance and looking after, and he has a secure garage for storage when off-duty.
“The only real problem is that I cannot work when it is raining, as the seat does not have a cover for the customers,” says Moses. “Also, it is not too nice to cycle in the rain and the cold.” Would you like to have your business profiled? E-mail news@metroeireann.com
