London's rickshaws 'should be licensed like taxis' report says

17.02.05

A report by the London Assembly transport committee this week has said that London's rickshaws should be licensed in the same way as taxis.

Rickshaws have been operating in London for 7 years and there are about 350 operating on london's streets, mostly in the west end. London's cabbies are not happy about this; they claim that the rickshaws are unsafe and that the riders 'clog up the streets'.

The report says that London should keep its rickshaws - or 'pedicabs' as they are also known - but their should be a registration scheme for them, to guarantee safety of the vehicles and training for their riders.

The committee's chairman, Murad Qureshi, said: 'Rickshaws provide a welcome and colourful - albeit minor - addition to the streetscape of the West End, and that's how it should stay. I am acutely aware of the problems pedicabs do and could potentially bring but I do not think they should be banned outright.'

The report found pedicabs are popular with tourists and useful for short journeys within the West End. It recommends a licensing system that would see operators provide training for riders and possess third-party insurance. There would be a specific agreement on what type of pedicab can be used and better management by operators so that if a rickshaw is driven dangerously, the driver can be tracked down and fined.

The report comes as MPs debate national legislation which would see pedicab riders or operators fined when road rules, such as using bus lanes and parking on double yellow lines, are breached. The Assembly transport committee disagrees, it recommends that any legislation should let pedicabs use bus lanes, on condition they pull over to allow buses to pass.

Chris Smallwood, trustee of the BugBugs rickshaw company, said: 'We are delighted the authorities are taking us seriously and have taken quality time to get a balanced view.'

Of safety, the report says that there is always going to be an element of risk in using a rickshaw, but it is up to passengers to decide whether they use them. Scientists at the Transport Research Laboratory said that 'any impact with a motor vehicle is likely to result in serious injury to both passengers and rider'.

For more information and things to do in London visit this London Guide and for london hotels see our London Hotel home page.

Part of the TMC price comparison network, offering: stansted parking gatwick parking heathrow parking luton airport hotel