The Jinrikisha Station was built in 1903 on the corner of Neil Road and Tanjong Pagar Road. Its name still remains cut into one side of the building. At one time, it was used as a family planning clinic.
PAST
The first rickshaws arrived from Shanghai in 1880 and quickly became a distinctive part of Singapore street life. In 1919, there were 9000 jinrikishas daily plying the streets for hire with 20,000 people who gained their livelihood by pulling them. These people had a tough life. They lived in cramp cubicles and had little chance of changing their situations or improving their fortunes. Many took to opium as a form of relaxation.
PRESENT
The Jinrikisha Station was one of the prime units in Tanjong Pagar restored by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) when the project started in 1987. It has refurbished into a shopping and recreational centre. There is a seafood restaurant, shops, offices and nightclubs in the present building.
