Latest news with #pedicabs
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
TfL set to regulate pedicabs in London for the first time amid safety concerns
Plans to regulate the use of pedicabs in London are set to advance next year, following a consultation that has found overwhelming support for tougher safety standards. The consultation, carried out by Transport for London (TfL) found that out of nearly 7,700 respondents, 75% currently felt unsafe while using a pedicab in the capital. The rickshaws, common sights in London's main tourist destinations, are not currently regulated. Nearly all (97%) of participants backed mandatory insurance for pedicab operators, 95% support the introduction of criminal background checks for drivers, and 85% believe that pedicab fares are too expensive. Draft policy proposals include a TfL licensing system, along the same lines as that currently in place for London taxi drivers, with requirements including a minimum age of 18, a UK or EEA-valid drivers' licence, and English language skills. TfL are also considering the introduction of insurance requirements, alongside safety equipment mandates. The proposals could come into force from 2026 – but will become more detailed over the coming months, and are subject to a second consultation at the end of the year. The use of music by pedicab drivers sparked particular frustration among the survey's respondents – including over 2,400 comments, double the number relating to any other topic. 96% of participants were in favour of volume limitations on music and other audio from pedicabs, and 78% believe these controls should be in place 'all the time'. Helen Chapman, TfL's director of Licensing & Regulation, said: 'Pedicabs can provide a unique and green way to see the capital. 'However, they have an impact on the safety of the road network and are currently unregulated. 'We look forward to working with the pedicab industry to ensure it is run fairly and safely and continues to be a sustainable mode of transport.' The move comes in the wake of parliamentary calls for regulation last year – which culminated in the Pedicabs (London) Act, granting TfL the statutory powers necessary to go through with the licensing system. The transport authority proposes to take the lead on enforcement of any new regulations themselves, with all expenses recouped through the fees for pedicab licences. In a campaign response to the survey, the London Pedicab Welfare Association (LPWA) said: 'While the intention behind this requirement is to ensure the safety of passengers and regulate the industry, it has created challenges for pedicab drivers who do not possess a driving licence.' The LPWA instead proposed alternatives, including the introduction of a theory test for drivers to obtain their licence. Ros Morgan, chief executive at the Heart of London Business Alliance, welcomed the proposals, saying: 'For far too long, members of the public have been at the mercy of rogue operators who do nothing to enhance the reputation of the West End. 'Implementation of the scheme could not come soon enough.'
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- The Guardian
London pedicabs to be regulated amid public concern over safety, noise and cost
Transport for London is pushing ahead with plans to regulate pedicabs after a consultation showed overwhelming public support to bring the often unruly and extortionately priced vehicles under control. Pedicabs have become an ever more common sight in the capital, including the garish 'party' cycle rickshaws, known for playing loud music and fleecing tourists. TfL said regulation would ensure that the vehicles were driven, maintained and operated in a safe and professional manner. More than 95% of the 7,700 people who responded said pedicab drivers should pass UK criminal background checks, be insured – and have their music kept in check. More than 75% said they felt unsafe when using a pedicab in London. Fewer than one in 30 believed the fare was reasonable – and only 11% reported paying the fare they had expected to be charged. Despite it not being a question in the consultation, more than a quarter of respondents demanded an outright ban on the trade. However, TfL is planning instead to start issuing licences for drivers under a regime to be launched next year, subject to further consultation with those working in the industry. While some have seen the pedicabs as a colourful addition to London's nightlife, numerous customers have reported being ripped off to the tune of hundreds of pounds. Ros Morgan, the chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, said the strong support for a crackdown was no surprise and regulation could 'not come soon enough', adding: 'For far too long, members of the public have been at the mercy of rogue operators who do nothing to enhance the reputation of the West End.' 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.' Helen Chapman, TfL's director of licensing and regulation, said pedicabs could be a 'green way to see the capital', but had an impact on the safety of the road network. She added: 'Following this first consultation on pedicabs, we are using the responses and comments provided to ensure that the changes work for everyone. We look forward to working with the pedicab industry to ensure it is run fairly and safely and continues to be a sustainable mode of transport in the capital.' TfL was given legal powers to regulate pedicabs in 2024, under legislation brought by Rishi Sunak's government to combat what he described as the 'scourge of pedicabs'.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Rules for London's pedicabs receives overwhelming support
The regulation of pedicabs has jumped another hurdle after a consultation found "overwhelming support" among respondents for bringing in the rules, Transport for London (TfL) capital's transport body said the rickshaw-style bikes remained the city's only form of unregulated public Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, said that while they were a "fun and sustainable" way to travel, some pedicab drivers were "behaving unsafely or anti-socially and charging extortionate prices".TfL said it would continue to develop the regulations which could include licences and insurance but the London Pedicab Welfare Association said this could be "burdensome". Under the Pedicabs (London) Act introduced by government last year, TfL now has the power to enforce rules and the other findings from the consultation, which had 7,500 responses, 95% agreed that pedicab drivers should be required to pass UK criminal background checks, bringing them into line with taxi and private hire vehicle music and other audio from pedicabs, 96% of respondents felt it should be controlled. More than 2,400 comments in response to the consultation were about music in the the 7,699 respondents, 477 (7%) said they were pedicab users. Of those, three quarters said they had felt unsafe when riding most popular reasons listed for using pedicabs was to get to or from a bar, sightseeing and travelling to or from a theatre. Helen Chapman, TfL's director of licensing and regulation, said: "Pedicabs can provide a unique and green way to see the capital. However, pedicabs have an impact on the safety of the road network and are currently unregulated." 'Challenges' for drivers The consultation received responses from 25 people who said they were pedicab drivers, the majority of whom have done so for two years or more. The London Pedicab Welfare Association (LWPA), which submitted a written response to the consultation, said it welcomed regulations as long as they were fair."The decision by TfL to mandate a UK driving licence for pedicab drivers has been met with mixed reactions," their response said. "While the intention behind this requirement is to ensure the safety of passengers and regulate the industry, it has created challenges for pedicab drivers who do not possess a driving licence."The LWPA said the requirement could be "burdensome and time-consuming, potentially impacting their ability to operate" in a highly seasonal market. Mr Norman said: "We are using the responses and comments provided to ensure that the changes work for everyone."
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Telegraph
Europe's tourist cons and how to avoid them
Last month, Paris cafes were caught cheating unsuspecting tourists out of good-quality wine. The scam is simple: bistro visitors order, say, a glass of Chablis, costing around €9 (£7.65). The wine arrives, and all seems well. But sommeliers working for Le Parisien, a French newspaper, discovered that the wine being served was actually the cheapest on the menu – a €5 (£4.25) sauvignon. It's an amusing undercover mission, but reveals how cunning rip-offs target tourists in Montmartre and beyond. It pays to have your wits about you – t hese are some of the worst tourist cons, scams and rip-offs in Europe (and how to avoid them). Ice cream in Rome Similar trickery occurs in Rome 's many, many ice cream shops. No one can blame the tired tourist for wanting a treat after wandering from the Pantheon to the Spanish Steps, or exploring the vast squares of the Vatican. Gelato-sellers know this, too. And, according to locals, those tempting tubs full of fluffed-up, mountainous swirls of ice cream are not the real deal. An authentic gelato should be dense and flat – it's made of churned milk, not cream, and should not be overly aerated. It also should not be brightly coloured – if the banana option is exceedingly yellow, or the mint positively luminous, it's likely that the vendor is using artificial colouring. If you're a purist about desserts, research the best places to eat before visiting to avoid being sold an inferior snack. Pedicabs in London Since the pandemic, a certain kind of transport has become prevalent in London. Blaring loud pop hits and fringed with pink fur, the pedicab – bicycle in the front, covered bench in the back – is now unavoidable. Riders congregate around busy Soho pavements, or try to lure passengers around Green Park. While the cynical Londoner is most likely to give them a wide berth, tourists, it seems, are getting hoodwinked. Perhaps it's understandable – their ridiculousness gives them a sense of novelty, and the city centre can be hard to navigate. Most, however, probably don't anticipate the price. This is something that one Belgian tourist found to her detriment. After riding in a pedicab for all of seven minutes, she was promptly charged £450 for the pleasure. It's as a result of these sorts of incidents that Transport for London has, finally, moved to regulate the group – requiring them to be licenced as taxis are. Whether the measures will stop tourists being ripped off in the meantime remains to be seen. Flamenco outside of Andalusia It's not a scam, exactly, but whether flamenco outside of Andalusia is 'authentic' has long been a bone of contention. The origins of the popular, much-marketed dance form are fraught: most are sure that it began in the south of the country and has, in the centuries since its inception, spread northwards. It's so vital to Spain 's identity that it has been listed as an example of 'intangible cultural heritage' by Unesco. For many years, however, it was seen as a 'vulgar' form of dance, practised by ostracised members of society and far too passionate for more conservative Spaniards. Conversely, many modern iterations – particularly those outside of flamenco's Andalusian strongholds – are decried as a sanitised, tourist-friendly version of something much more vibrant. The idea of a 'true' art form is a complicated one, but Seville and Granada are the places to head to if you want to discover a scene alive for its own sake, not just for tourists. Real fans should visit Seville during the Flamenco Biennial, when a series of performances, talks and courses take over the city. Bad buskers in Athens Athens 's 'bad buskers' are almost humorous (unless you're the one getting caught out by them). The would-be musicians place clear plastic cups, full of petty cash, far in front of them. They then begin to play their instruments – often badly, as the aim of their endeavour is not to secure a record deal. In fact, there's some speculation that the musicianship is poor on purpose, to lure unsuspecting tourists into looking at them. The point is, those not-in-the-know are distracted and knock into that tiny cup. Tourists bend down, attempt to steady the flow of coins, and are told the amount is much reduced by their actions – they must pay the busker more as a sort of compensation. To avoid it, make sure you keep your wits about you (and watch where you're walking). And if you do knock over the collection, don't feel compelled to give away any cash. Cup and ball games, across Europe As old as tourism itself, the cup and ball game – or versions thereof – is a classic trap. Again, the aim is distraction. On a side street, or in a main square, a table will be set up, and visitors will be beckoned over. The particulars of the game might vary, but usually the promise is that the tourist can win money if they correctly predict which cup the ball is under. There may, or may not, be a ball. It doesn't really matter. What does matter is that accomplices of the one playing the game are often planning to pickpocket the distracted tourists, taking phones, cash or other valuables without anyone noticing. It's found across the continent (and indeed the globe). The remedy? Don't get drawn in, no matter how good the odds seem – it's not really about the game at all.
