TfL considers licences for Pedicabs

Transport for London is considering regulating so called ‘Pedicabs’ which remain London’s only unregulated form of public transport.

Transcript

00:00Laws around so-called pedicabs have not changed since 1869.

00:07They are currently London's only form of unregulated public transport.

00:11The bikes are treated as stage carriages.

00:14This means anyone can buy a pedicab and begin charging people fees.

00:19These sort of rickshaws are becoming increasingly popular

00:23and perhaps increasingly problematic.

00:26In 2023, a Belgian tourist was charged £464 for a 1.3 mile journey.

00:32And in 2022, a tourist was charged £300 for a mile-long trip

00:37from Selfridges to Green Park station.

00:40In this case, the Metropolitan Police and local council

00:43ordered the driver to hand the money back.

00:46That is not even it.

00:48Another person was charged £180 for a three-minute journey,

00:52even though an £18 fare had been agreed upon before the journey began.

00:57Extreme overcharging and a general inconsistency with fares

01:02has largely led TfL to consider introducing both licences and insurance to pedicabs,

01:08effectively making them licensed taxis.

01:11The Metropolitan Police have said the force regularly receives complaints

01:16about the poor behaviour of some pedicab riders.

01:20TfL's police force even suggesting people find other ways to get around the city centre,

01:26if in doubt.

01:28Although totally unregulated over the last few years,

01:32many pedicab drivers have received fines for excessive fares and noise pollution.

01:38Westminster Council said the fines have ranged from £106 to £1,850.