Transport for London (TfL) is pressing ahead with plans to regulate pedicabs in London for the first time. The transport authority published a report on its consultation to regulate rickshaws in the capital showing 75 per cent of respondents did not feel safe in one.
Some 95 per cent of respondents said pedicab drivers should be required to pass UK criminal background checks, bringing them into line with taxi and private hire vehicle drivers while 97 per cent said drivers should have appropriate insurance in place to carry passengers.
The consultation, which took place earlier this year, and received 7,500 responses, also found 96 per cent of respondents – more than 2,400 comments – were about music coming from the vehicles.
Some 85 per cent felt pedicabs fares were too expensive while 25 per cent said they should be banned. The responses are now being used to develop policy proposals in London which will be subject to further consultation later this year. Pedicabs in the capital are currently unregulated and new regulation could come into force in 2026.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “Pedicabs should be a fun and sustainable way to explore 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 next steps and further consultation, with a view to introducing regulation next year, as we build a fairer and safer London for everyone.”
Simon Thomas, executive chairman of the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square and long-time campaigner, said: “We’re cheering, because we’re another step forward to stopping people being ripped off by the pedicab community who, in the main, bleed London and its visitors dry.
“They park where they want. Charge what the want. Have no respect for the reputation of this great city. The sooner they have to abide by some rules, like those who operate cabs, buses, trains, the better.”
Tim Lord, chair of the Soho Society, claimed authorities have known pedicabs are unregulated since 2003 and failed to act. He said: “While residents and businesses will welcome the results of TFL consultation not a single result will be much of a surprise to anyone who lives or works here.
“Since the new legislation came into effect in 2024 we had hoped TFL might have taken action in months not years. This latest consultation, while a welcome step in the right direction, does not yet constitute meaningful action that will make a difference to London’s visitors and residents.”
Tim, who has campaigned for an out-right ban, added: “It remains unclear, even now, whether TFL thinks a pedicab can ever be a safe form of public transport like a taxi or bus is. In our view, pedicabs will never be as safe as a taxi no matter how may rules you have and urgent action should be taken now – not consultations about the obvious and yet further kicking of the issue down the road.”
It is understood enforcing new regulations would be led by TfL, with costs recoverable through pedicab licence fees. The Local Democracy Reporting Service went undercover in November 2023 and found drivers charging £50 for a 10-minute journey.
An American tourist was charged £250 for a five-minute ride while in August last year, Westminster City Council claimed passengers were being charged close to £500 for 10-minute trips across the West End . The Pedicabs (London) Act received its Royal Assent in April last year and enables TfL to regulate fares and improve safety standards, bringing pedicabs into line with other forms of transport.
Councillor Aicha Less, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection at Westminster City Council, said: “We look forward to seeing Transport for London’s proposals for regulating pedicabs. This is a long-overdue step towards tackling the disruption pedicabs cause, particularly in busy areas like the West End.
“Pedicabs have operated without proper oversight for too long, bringing noise, safety risks, and rip-off fares to Westminster’s streets.
“A proper licensing scheme for pedicabs can’t come soon enough. We will back TfL every step of the way to get this done quickly and make sure the voices of residents, businesses and visitors are heard loud and clear.”
Rachel Blake, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said: “I am encourages by this progress with clamping down on pedicabs. We need to see the regulations implemented urgently and I will continue to push TfL on this timeline.”
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