Legendary “Happy Days” actor Henry Winkler found himself in an awkward situation a few months ago when he mistakenly assumed a rickshaw bicycle ride was the same thing (with the same price tag) as a taxi while he was in London.
He literally paid for his mistake with a hefty $200 bill for only a half-mile trip!
The 78-year-old Emmy-winning actor posted on X (formerly Twitter) to share how this awkward experience came about, and we have all the deets.
Rickshaws have a long history
Embed from Getty ImagesRooting back to 1860s Japan, rickshaws have been used as a transportation tool for centuries, eventually becoming popular around the globe. While other modes of transportation have overshadowed rickshaws throughout the years, they’re still commonly used in tourist areas.
Central London is a particular hub for rickshaw rides, and they’ve even become known for their colorful glitz and glam decor!
They are largely unregulated
Embed from Getty ImagesOne of the main concerns that people have about rickshaws is the fact that they aren’t very government-regulated. This means rickshaw drivers don’t have to adhere to safety requirements (like seatbelts), can decide their own speeds and routes, and they can set their own prices per ride.
It may be one of those “only in an emergencies adventures” unless you live for that kind of thrill or are confused like Winkler. We aren’t judging!
Winkler made the fatal error of not getting a price upfront
In his post on X, Winkler warned others that they must negotiate a price before getting into a rickshaw, or it will be set for them.
“TRAVEL TIP: DO NOT take one of these bicycle taxis without absolutely negotiating the price first,” the Barry actor wrote.
Winkler said the rickshaw driver was just driving in circles
Embed from Getty ImagesTo add insult to injury, Winkler shared that his ride was expensive only because the rickshaw driver decided to drive them in circles around the city instead of going straight to the requested location.
“This person in London rode us around in circles then finally to our destination 7 blocks away…for $170 US! My fault, I paid, but passenger beware!” he wrote.
Maybe the rickshaw driver thought Winkler and friends wanted the premium sightseeing tour? Then again, maybe not.
People in the comments said that Winkler fell for a tourist trap
A lot of people couldn’t figure out how this price gouging scheme got the best of The Fonz, but they decided to impart their own advice to the seasoned actor.
Some people were offended that someone would treat The Fonz like that
A few people were not thrilled to hear that a comedy icon like Winkler was disrespected in such a way. They had both light-hearted and heated words for the crafty rickshaw driver who decided to mess with The Fonz.
Many people shared that they’ve gone through the very same thing
For many, Winkler’s experience brought back memories of their own similar rickshaw mistakes across various countries and cities. They even shared their own specific misadventures and maximized bill amounts.
We guess for hundreds of dollars, Winkler and others have a story that they can tell forever.
Winkler was reminded to opt for a different transit option next time
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Several people told Winkler that, in terms of money and safety, just about any other transit option would have been better than the rickshaw. They also reminded him to distinguish between a London cab and a rickshaw or just call for an Uber or taxi service in the future.
It really does play to plan ahead!
There are even people who said Winkler shouldn’t have paid
A handful of people said that they either thought the actor should have refused to pay the bill or that he should have for sure opted out of tipping.
They certainly have courage, because that could have been quite the conundrum with the rickshaw driver!
Let us know what you think in the comments
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat do you think of Winkler’s expensive mistake, and have you ever gone through something similar? Let us know in the comments.
