London's rickshaws/pedicabs to be regulated... finally

[Mont Blanc]

If anyone is interested, and wants to rant about pedicabs, TFL have opened the consultation on what regulations to apply to them. They are proposing the rules and regs be similar to that of regular taxis and private hire, and with set prices per mile/minute. You can have your say if you feel the need.

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2...

I hate the bloody things and would happily see them banned completely, and crushed. They are simply a legal form of theft/robbery, especially to unsuspecting tourists. Plenty of cases out there of people being charged £500-800 for a 10 minute ride, with the rickshaw driver becoming extremely threatening when the price is questioned.

They are an absolute stain on the streets of the capital, and it amazes me that it has taken this long to begin to regulate them.

The 2-3 weeks before Christmas were the worst... there seemed to be more of them about than ever, and every single one of them was blasting Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" on repeat at stupid volume levels from what sounded like the cheapest Ali Express speakers available.

Rant over...

[Panamax]

Mont Blanc said:

TFL have opened the consultation...

Don't hold your breath.

[Mont Blanc]

Panamax said:

Mont Blanc said:

TFL have opened the consultation...

Don't hold your breath.

I'm not... but following the law change last year, it finally seems like they will enact new regulations once the consultation period is over.

It's only taken them 27 years of course. (1998 was the year pedicabs first arrived)

[Muddle238]

Mont Blanc said:

If anyone is interested, and wants to rant about pedicabs, TFL have opened the consultation on what regulations to apply to them. They are proposing the rules and regs be similar to that of regular taxis and private hire, and with set prices per mile/minute. You can have your say if you feel the need.

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2...

I hate the bloody things and would happily see them banned completely, and crushed. They are simply a legal form of theft/robbery, especially to unsuspecting tourists. Plenty of cases out there of people being charged £500-800 for a 10 minute ride, with the rickshaw driver becoming extremely threatening when the price is questioned.

They are an absolute stain on the streets of the capital, and it amazes me that it has taken this long to begin to regulate them.

The 2-3 weeks before Christmas were the worst... there seemed to be more of them about than ever, and every single one of them was blasting Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" on repeat at stupid volume levels from what sounded like the cheapest Ali Express speakers available.

Rant over...

Do they really charge £500-£800 for a 10 minute ride?

[Mont Blanc]

Muddle238 said:

Do they really charge £500-£800 for a 10 minute ride?

Google something like 'London rickshaw scam' and you'll get loads of news articles about them robbing people, and how much they charged.

They try every trick in the book to scam people. A group of 3 tourists will ask "how much" they'll say something like "£70" and then when the ride is over, they will say "£210" and claim that the £70 was per person.

Or they'll say £46, and then when the passenger goes to pay by card, they will input £460 into the machine and hope you don't notice the extra zero on their deliberately scuffed and scratched card machine screen.

Or... They will say £60, and then at the end they will say £600, and start claiming you misheard them.

They are absolute scum.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13878415/...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66257...

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/london-rickshaw-scam-cha...

[SV_WDC]

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

[livinginasia]

Would it be unfair to point out that most of these pedicab “drivers” seem to come from the same background as Mr Khan, which may explain why they haven’t been regulated already ?

[doc261]

Yes it would be unfair since pedicabs have been present in London since 1998 and Sadiq Khan has only been mayor since 2016.

[doc261]

Yes it would be unfair since pedicabs have been present in London since 1998 and Sadiq Khan has only been mayor since 2016.

[FilH]

Mont Blanc said:

The 2-3 weeks before Christmas were the worst... there seemed to be more of them about than ever, and every single one of them was blasting Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" on repeat at stupid volume levels from what sounded like the cheapest Ali Express speakers available.

Rant over...

Rant away, im with you on that, just before christmas was beyond anoying.. and did thinking to myself thats who buys them 2500w 6&1/4" speakers you see on aliexpress for £1.29!

[Griffith4ever]

livinginasia said:

Would it be unfair to point out that most of these pedicab “drivers” seem to come from the same background as Mr Khan, which may explain why they haven’t been regulated already ?

When I lived in London, they were ridden by regular london folk, and they were a great fun and cheap way to get around soho etc. That was over 10 years ago so obviously its changed. Sad really :-( They sound like Thai TutkTuk drivers now.

[megaphone]

SV_WDC said:

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

They could do with regulating pedestrians who pose more of a threat to cyclists (and all other road users) as they cross the roads without looking, often staring at a phone.

Edited by megaphone on Monday 3rd February 07:38

[Mont Blanc]

livinginasia said:

Would it be unfair to point out that most of these pedicab “drivers” seem to come from the same background as Mr Khan, which may explain why they haven’t been regulated already ?

It would not only be unfair, it would be pure fantasy land, made up to suit whatever weird agenda you have going on in your head.

Rickshaws were introduced to London in 1998 by a company called BugBugs, owned by a British chap called Chris Smallwood. They began importing and renting them to riders. They have about 40-50 of them and are the largest fleet in London.

So they have been here the best part of 30 years, and out of all the London mayors in that time, it is only Mr Kahn (via TFL) who began the process of forcing regulation upon them.

Just for clarity in answering your question: No, most rickshaw drivers are not from a Pakistani/Indian heritage, as per your suggestion about Mr Kahn's 'background' as you put it, so I have no idea where you got that from.

SV_WDC said:

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

That will never, ever happen. We need as many people to cycle as possible, for various reasons, and any form of regulation will not be compatible with the aim.

Cyclists kill 2.5 people per year on average, or to put to another way, they are responsible for about 1.5% of road deaths or injuries. A figure that is so massively insignificant compared to motor vehicles, it won't even be anywhere near the top of a list to be dealt with.

Edited by Mont Blanc on Monday 3rd February 08:53

[gshughes]

Mont Blanc said:

Cyclists kill 2.5 people per year on average, or to put to another way, they are responsible for about 1.5% of road deaths or injuries.

Edited by Mont Blanc on Monday 3rd February 08:53

It's a factor of ten less than that. There are approximately 1,600 road deaths a year, so cyclists cause approximately 0.15% of them.

[Mont Blanc]

gshughes said:

Mont Blanc said:

Cyclists kill 2.5 people per year on average, or to put to another way, they are responsible for about 1.5% of road deaths or injuries.

Edited by Mont Blanc on Monday 3rd February 08:53

It's a factor of ten less than that. There are approximately 1,600 road deaths a year, so cyclists cause approximately 0.15% of them.

Correct, but as written, I was including injuries in that stat, which takes it up to 1.5% of all injuries and deaths on the roads.

[valiant]

livinginasia said:

Would it be unfair to point out that most of these pedicab “drivers” seem to come from the same background as Mr Khan, which may explain why they haven’t been regulated already ?

The law was finally changed last year under Khan’s watch and they are going through the proper process to get them regulated. Not much was done under Red Ken or Boris to deal with the issue but don’t let anything like that spoil your prejudices.

[baldy1926]

I will not hold my breath about a licence or regulation scheme.
I sat on a committee with Westminster council 25 years ago when they 1st started appearing.
Nothing was agreed then either.
There a plenty of stories of them charging 500 plus for a short trip..
Several have been made fully electric as well rather than electric assisted..
Perhaps in another 20 something might happen.

[Silvanus]

SV_WDC said:

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

How would you regulate cyclists and how would it prevent them running red lights, it's already against the law for them to run red lights.

[SV_WDC]

Silvanus said:

SV_WDC said:

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

How would you regulate cyclists and how would it prevent them running red lights, it's already against the law for them to run red lights.

Simply, there needs to be some form of identification & markings required for any cyclists to operate on the road. Ideally with insurance

[megaphone]

SV_WDC said:

Silvanus said:

SV_WDC said:

They could do with regulating cyclists who pose more of a threat to pedestrians as they brazenly cycle through red lights and the such

How would you regulate cyclists and how would it prevent them running red lights, it's already against the law for them to run red lights.

Simply, there needs to be some form of identification & markings required for any cyclists to operate on the road. Ideally with insurance

Yawn