A new law regulating cycle rickshaws (popularly known as pedicabs) in London will “end the chaos in hotspots like Soho and Covent Garden”, the government has said, with penalties for those who break the law including a fine of up to £2,500, according to Sky News.
Pedicabs are the only form of unregulated transport on the capital’s roads, but the new bill will enable TfL to enforce safety standards and fare caps amid reports of customers being charged eyewatering amounts.
One tourist was charged £500 after taking a pedicab from Mayfair to Soho during a night out in 2022, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Nickie Aiken, the Tory MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, told MPs last month that parts of her constituency become like the “Wild West End at times” because of the unregulated cycle rickshaws.
Speaking about the passage of the Pedicabs (London) Bill, roads and local transport minister Guy Opperman said the unregulated industry had caused “real concerns” about safety. For too long, rogue pedicabs have taken advantage of the lack of rules around fares and licensing, so we’re taking action to close that loophole,” he said.
(Picture – iStock)
