Motos, Motos and more Motos

We spend a lot of time driving around Phnom Penh.  It’s a unique experience.  Motos (scooters and a few actual motorcycles) dominate the flow of traffic.  They are used to transport people (often two or three, and sometimes up to a family of 6), and the owners have figured out ways to carry seemingly impossible loads.  Motos are generally immune to normal traffic laws.  Besides the standard model, there are several additional configurations:  The tuk tuk, the hauler, the moto equivalent of a food truck and the mobile store.  Phnom Penh is incredibly flat, so underpowered motos can move large loads.  Since this overloads the original design, and it is pretty hot here, many owners have added a simple water cooling system for the engine consisting of a tank of water connected to a small tube which drips water onto the cylinder head.

The good news: motos provide a relatively inexpensive form of transportation that enables the local economy.  The bad news: they swarm the streets, there appears to be no age limits and rider licensing processes, and they are intermixed with large vehicles, so accidents don’t turn out well for the moto riders.

Here’s are some selected photos from our first 6 months in Cambodia.  Enjoy…