PEDICABS are dangerous for passengers and should not be considered part of the “public transport service”, a coalition of prominent Westminster groups has told the Mayor of London.

The Westminster Amenity Societies Forum (WASF) – which represents 22 recognised amenity societies – has written to Sadiq Khan about safety concerns following the launch of a consultation.

With the passing of the Pedicabs Act in June last year, Transport for London is now consult­ing on how new rules could be implemented.

The WASF letter to Mr Khan, who is also the chairman of TfL, said: “Pedicabs will never be a safe or useful public transport option as they are inherently unsafe in the event of a collision with other heavier vehicles.

“There is plenty of evidence on the lack of protection afforded by pedicabs to passengers in the event of a collision with a road vehicle such as car, bus or truck.

“We do not understand how any amount of regulation will change this as it is a result of the inherent design limitations of pedicabs.”

The letter said the proposals to license pedicabs conflicted with the mayor’s “Vision Zero” – a stated aim of having no fatal injuries on the capital’s road network.

The letter said pedicabs were of “limited public value” and also “significantly damage London’s reputation” due to “extortionate sums that are sometimes demanded at the end of the ride”.

The letter raises concerns that the Metropolitan Police is over-stretched and does not have the resources to clamp down on rogue pedicabs drivers despite new legislation.

It adds: “Our view is that pedicab operations should be heavily restricted by location and time of day and operate, if at all, not as a public transport service.

“Treating pedicabs as a public transport option, and authorising them as such, will create the dangerous and false impression in the minds of the public and visitors that pedicabs are safe – they aren’t.”

The Soho Society’s Tim Lord is the chair of WASF that includes the Marylebone Association, Maida Vale Society, Belgravia Residents Association, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association and The Thorney Island Society.

Calls for action on unregulated pedicabs have been raging in Westminster for 20 years. Last year, legislation was introduced that gave TfL powers to crack down on rogue operators.

The regulations and licensing requirements for pedicabs would be similar to those that apply to taxis and private-hire vehicles, but “tailored to the unique nature of the pedicab and the market they operate in”, a TfL spokesperson said.

Rachel Blake, the Labour Cities of London and Westminster MP, has also written to Will Norman, TfL’s walking and cycling czar, about the noise nuisance of pedicabs that traditionally blare out loud music during rides.

Ms Blake’s letter said: “While implementing the new regulations will be a victory in of itself, residents are rightly worried that the practical­ities of enforcement will still be difficult.

“It is encouraging to see that the draft regulations contain wording that pedicab licence fees will cover the cost of enforcement, but more assurances need to be given as to how this will be done.”

Helen Chapman, TfL’s director of licensing and regulation, said: “Pedicabs are the only form of unregulated public transport in London and have an impact on the safety of the capital’s road network, as well as customers being charged well-documented rip-off fares, so we’re pleased to be able to launch this consultation.”