London Pedicab licensing should be in place this year

A Bill to license pedicabs in London is set to become law by the Autumn. The Pedicabs (London) Bill successfully cleared parliamentary hurdles last week, and is likely to gain Royal Assent in the coming weeks.

The Bill will allow Transport for London to devise a licensing scheme for the pedal-powered rickshaws, with the ability to impose fare controls and to crack down on poor safety standards, dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour in hotspots such as Soho and Covent Garden.

Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, said the legislation would put an end to the “horror stories” about unlicensed drivers in the West End and would bring to an end a decade-long row about the rickshaws.

She said: “I am delighted that after 10 years, four private members’ bills, and now a government-backed bill, we will have a pedicab licensing regime for London coming very soon.

"It’s now down to TfL to do a statutory consultation after the mayoral elections and then there is no reason why a pedicab licensing scheme cannot be in place by early autumn.”

She continued: “Whether it’s to end the blaring music which can go on until the very early hours of the morning, stop the pavements from being blocked by riders who park there, or prevent another story of a tourist or visitor being charged hundreds of pounds for a journey that lasts just a few minutes, our licensing scheme will put an end to the horror stories.”

Now TfL will require drivers and their vehicles to undertake safety checks. Drivers in breach of the legislation could face having their license revoked, or a fine of up to £2,500.