Government to crack down on rogue London pedicabs

The government's Pedicabs (London) Bill will give Transport for London powers to regulate pedal-powered taxi cabs in the capital

A crackdown on rogue pedicab operators in London has been announced in the King's Speech.

The government's Pedicabs (London) Bill will hand Transport for London (TfL) the power to implement a licensing regime.

TfL will also be able control fares, ensure drivers undergo criminal record checks and set safety standards.

There have been growing concerns about unsafe pedicabs and passengers being ripped off.

In July, the BBC reported that a tourist with two children was charged £464 for a 1.3-mile (2km), seven-minute journey.

Last year in London's West End a tourist was charged £300 for a mile-long (1.6km) trip from Selfridges to Green Park station.

Another was charged £180 for a three-minute journey, even though an £18 fare had already been agreed.

Adam Hug, the Labour leader of Westminster City Council, welcomed the announcement on pedicabs, but expressed disappointment that the King's Speech did not include action on e-bikes and scooters.

He said: "I am disappointed that the government has not delivered on promises made last year to legislate on e-bikes and scooters.

"While we welcome the action on pedicabs, this is an issue which mainly affects tourists and leaves the wider problems caused by some e-bike and scooter riders unchallenged."

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Mr Hug said there were up to 2,000 e-bikes in the borough at any given time and "with no regulations around their hire, operation or parking".

He said they caused problems for people with disabilities, people with prams and other pedestrians walking in busy roads, and legislation and subsequent regulation was needed.

Owner of pedicab company Bugbugs, Friedel Schroder, welcomed the news.

"It's handy for us to have legislation and rules and regulations for the operators which includes insurance," he said.

"For us that's been an issue; we've been competing against operators who don't follow any rules, who can do what they want, and that makes it difficult.

"It's shame that they don't involve the industry in making the decisions, because then it's take it or leave it."

Analysis by Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent

Some of the pedicabs you see in London do not look safe and the riding can be very erratic.

And there have been countless stories of tourists getting charged horrendous amounts of money for very short journeys.

So, a clampdown on pedicabs or rickshaws in London is long overdue.

Councils and legitimate operators have been battling for years to get the industry regulated but no-one has paid any attention.

I even remember black cab drivers taking pedicab operators to court to get them banned - it did not work.

Now the loophole in the law will be closed. The law dates back to 1869 as pedicabs are at the moment classed as stage carriages.

And it seems that the industry will face regulation and safety standards.

More from the King's Speech

• Key points: What was in this year's King's Speech?

• Overview: Focus on crime as King sets out Sunak's priorities

• Football: Plan for independent English football regulator

• Conversion therapy: Ban not part of King's Speech

• Rough Sleeping: Braverman still pushing homeless tent crackdown

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