Rules for pedicabs receives overwhelming support

The regulation of pedicabs has jumped another hurdle after a consultation found "overwhelming support" among respondents for bringing in the rules, Transport for London (TfL) said.

The capital's transport body said the rickshaw-style bikes remained the city's only form of unregulated public transport.

Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, said that while they were a "fun and sustainable" way to travel, some pedicab drivers were "behaving unsafely or anti-socially and charging extortionate prices".

TfL said it would continue to develop the regulations which could include licences and insurance but the London Pedicab Welfare Association said this could be "burdensome".

Under the Pedicabs (London) Act introduced by government last year, TfL now has the power to enforce rules and standards.

Among the other findings from the consultation, which had 7,500 responses, 95% agreed that pedicab drivers should be required to pass UK criminal background checks, bringing them into line with taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

On music and other audio from pedicabs, 96% of respondents felt it should be controlled. More than 2,400 comments in response to the consultation were about music in the vehicles.

Of the 7,699 respondents, 477 (7%) said they were pedicab users. Of those, three quarters said they had felt unsafe when riding them.

The most popular reasons listed for using pedicabs was to get to or from a bar, sightseeing and travelling to or from a theatre.

Helen Chapman, TfL's director of licensing and regulation, said: "Pedicabs can provide a unique and green way to see the capital. However, pedicabs have an impact on the safety of the road network and are currently unregulated."

The consultation received responses from 25 people who said they were pedicab drivers, the majority of whom have done so for two years or more.

The London Pedicab Welfare Association (LWPA), which submitted a written response to the consultation, said it welcomed regulations as long as they were fair.

"The decision by TfL to mandate a UK driving licence for pedicab drivers has been met with mixed reactions," their response said.

"While the intention behind this requirement is to ensure the safety of passengers and regulate the industry, it has created challenges for pedicab drivers who do not possess a driving licence."

The LWPA said the requirement could be "burdensome and time-consuming, potentially impacting their ability to operate" in a highly seasonal market.

Mr Norman said: "We are using the responses and comments provided to ensure that the changes work for everyone."

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