Judging from the recent reaction of Londonist readers to a post about West End pedicabs — or rickshaws as many know them — there are robust feelings about this particular form of transport.
We asked you what the collective noun for pedicabs was, and you came back with: "a blight", "a blockage", "a pain in the neck"... and far worse.
Since arriving in London in the early-to-mid 1990s, these pedal-powered taxiettes have gradually staked their claim on the streets of central London. Wearing hot pink neon furs and year-round Christmas lights, they announce themselves by blaring out Dancing Queen, often carrying worse-for-wear tourists singing along in the back. The driving is not always competent, and when clumping together at the end of streets, pedicabs often cause a colourful blockage.
Another gripe is fares, for which there is no regulation. Though many pedicabs have their own set price list, some drivers have been accused of charging outrageous — and seemingly arbitrary — fees.
Pedicabs are certainly not all bad. They are environmentally friendly. Apparently they can work out cheaper than taxis over short distances too, although honestly, it's been a while since we've clambered into the back of either.
All the same, TfL has finally decided that it's time for action, launching a consultation that hopes to bring law and order to how London's pedicabs are driven, maintained and operated. Among TfL's proposals are that:
- A one-year pedicab driver's licence is required by all drivers, as well as the need to meet a set of safety standards such as criminal backgrounds checks
- Drivers would need to demonstrate they understand their role and responsibilities (some kind of test perhaps?)
- Drivers would be required to have appropriate insurance
- Regular pedicab inspections to check it remains safe and roadworthy
- Exploring whether fares should be time-based, distance-based or to introduce a zonal structure. But certainly not made up on the spot
- Looking at ways to tackle noise pollution from pedicabs
All of which, you'd have thought, should have been in place some 30 years ago. Better late than never though. And when we've got this out of the way, maybe we can have a consultation on takeaway delivery drivers.
TfL's public pedicab consultation is open until 7 March 2025.
