Tap tap

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a tap tap bus used for longer journeys

Tap taps are gaily painted buses[1] or pick-up trucks[2] that serve as share taxis in Haiti. They may also be referred to as camionette.[3]

Literally meaning "quick quick",[4] these vehicles for hire are privately owned and ornately decorated.[1] They follow fixed routes, won't leave until filled with passengers, and their passengers can disembark at any point in the journey.[5]

Decoration

Tap tap in Carrefour, Haiti.

Often painted with religious names or slogans,[4] the tap tap is known for its lavish decoration, and many feature wild colors, portraits of famous people, and intricate, hand-cut wooden window covers.[1]

Network maps

Routes and stations are mapped by grassroots volunteers, thanks to the Wikipedia-like global community-mapping project OpenStreetMap. Likewise far East of Port-au-Prince, Santa Domingo has a beautiful public transit map showing major routes.

Travel warnings

tap tap cab in Port-au-Prince

Many developed countries inform their citizens to not take tap taps when visiting Haiti.

Canada

While saying not to use any form of public transport in Haiti, the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against tap tap travel especially.[6]

US

The US State Department warns travelers not to use tap taps "because they are often overloaded, mechanically unsound, and driven unsafely."[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Haiti's 'Tap Tap' Bus Art Flourishes After Quake PBS Newshour, March 30, 2010
  2. ↑ Haiti: Tap-taps traveladventures.org
  3. ↑ Paul Clammer, Michael Grosberg, Jens Porup (2008). Dominican Republic and Haiti (4th ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 355. ISBN 1741042925, 9781741042924 Check |isbn= value (help). 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tap-tap, fula-fula, kia-kia: The Haitian bus in Atlantic perspective. Thompson, Robert Farris. African Arts. Los Angeles: Spring 1996. Vol. 29, Iss. 2; p. 36
  5. ↑ My Haiti Picture for today : Tap-Tap katianovetsaintlot.blogspot.com, February 9, 2010
  6. ↑ TRAVEL REPORT Haiti: 9. Travel and Currency Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Official Site
  7. ↑ Travel Warning: Haiti US Department of State Official Site, January 20, 2011

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tap tap.


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