A rip off? ‘…some drivers are behaving unsafely or anti-socially and charging extortionate prices’

A CRACKDOWN on pedicabs is finally set to go ahead after a campaign two decades in the making, transport chiefs announced yesterday, Thursday.

A Transport for London consultation found overwhelming support for a regulatory scheme to improve standards and safety.

Customers – generally tourists – have been complaining for years about rip-off charges.

Residents’ groups in the West End have also repeatedly complained about late-night noise and bad driving.

Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, said that the strong support for a crackdown was no surprise and that regulation could “not come soon enough”, and added: “For far too long members of the public have been at the mercy of rogue operators who do nothing to enhance the reputation of the West End.”

TfL was given legal powers to regulate pedicabs in 2024, under legislation brought in by Rishi Sunak’s government to combat what he described as the “scourge of pedicabs”.

The decision was hailed as a victory by former MP Nickie Aiken before she quit last year. Ms Aiken had campaigned over several years for regulation while the leader of Westminster City Council.

Councillors had been calling for legislation to be introduced to help stop bad behaviour of the rickshaw operators since 2005.

In March a coalition of prominent Westminster groups wrote to the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan about safety concerns.

Westminster Amenity Societies Forum 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.”

TfL now expects the new regime to come into effect by early 2026.

Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “Pedicabs should be a fun and sustainable way to exp-lore what our city has to offer, but without regulation some drivers are behaving unsafely or anti-socially and charging extortionate prices.

“The mayor and I have always been clear that regulation is needed to ensure pedicabs can operate safely in London, and this report shows that Londoners agree.

“We’re looking forward to pressing on with a view to introducing regulation next year.”