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Boris Johnson has scrapped plans to license rickshaws in the West End because of fears that passengers injured in accidents could launch legal claims against his office.
A consultation into licensing the unregulated industry was launched three years ago but the black cab trade has been told the scheme has been abandoned by Transport for London.
It is the latest twist in a long-running battle between taxi drivers and the "pedicab" operators over safety and competition for customers.
TfL's Public Carriage Office, which oversees taxis in London, launched the consultation in 2006 but told the London Taxi Drivers' Association and Grant Davis, chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club, that it was to be quietly sidelined.
Mr Davis said Mr Johnson wants the Government to legislate to avoid legal claims and compensation pay-outs becoming the sole responsibility of London's taxpayers.
There is a long history of friction between pedicabs and black cab drivers, who say they are a dangerous menace which takes lucrative trade from the busiest parts of the West End.
They have also complained that because the rickshaws are not licensed, they can drive and park wherever they like without fear of prosecution.
"Boris wants to put it back into the hands of the Government," Mr Davis said. "I think that people are coming round to our way of thinking that they are a death trap.
"If they have licences and they have a crash in which someone is killed, it could create problems for Boris and he does not want to take any risks." A spokesman for Mr Johnson confirmed the scheme had been scrapped.
He said: "The Mayor has concerns about the conduct of some pedicab riders and believes that it is the Government's responsibility to introduce clear legislation to regulate the pedicab industry.
"This legislation should ensure that there are clear safety standards and that all such vehicles are required to be registered. It should also provide a framework for local licensing schemes.
"Clear lines of accountability in the event of accidents would obviously be key to any pedicab legislation and the Mayor would not risk any extra cost for the capital's taxpayers by progressing a formal pedicab scheme not already backed by national legislation."
Bob Oddy, general secretary of the LTDA, described it as a "major victory" for black cab drivers but added the move raises questions about what happens next. He said: "If pedicabs had been granted a licence of respectability, it would have been virtually impossible for the LTDA to succeed in its campaign to ban them."
Most pedicabs operate in Westminster. Its director of transportation, Martin Low, said: "In the long term, London does need legislation to give it the power to license pedicabs and we will continue to lobby for a change in the law."
Reader views (18)
I recently met a Hungarian rickshaw driver who told me he was NOT a student and I was shocked and amazed at what he told me regarding his job which he's been doing for just over three years.
He told me that he works about 5 hours a day and makes an average of £550 to £650 a week and that he doesn't pay any tax or National Insurance. He also claims unemployment benefit. Indeed, he said that the authorities seem to turn a blind eye to tax registration. Most of the money he earns he sends back home where he's buying property.
He used to rent his rickshaw for about £80 a week, but he saved up after a few weeks and bought his own for about £800.
During the winter months he works in bars and restaurants both in London and in Hungary. He also told me that he charges whatever fare he likes, but if the passengers look smart and appear wealthy he'll charge much more.
I asked him what the longest journey he'd ever taken a passenger on and he immediately recalled taking an American couple to Hackney (quite a long distance along major roads).
I was surprised at what I'd learned from him and it startled me so much that I want to highlight his story. I find it disturbing that there are unsafe, public passenger vehicles that are unregulated driven by unregulated people who aren't paying tax.
I believe that full compulsory regulation ought to be introduced immediately on both the rickshaw drivers and the suppliers of the vehicles. It appears to me that it's a very lucrative
- Maark, London, UK, 27/08/2011 10:19
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this whole argument that rickshaws are uninsured is simply nto true, the big companies like London Rickshaws and Bugs Bugs have liability insurance on their bikes and keep them very well maintained all the time.
Black cab drivers do have a monopoly in London because there are very high barriers of entry into the business as there are only a certain number of black cabs who are allowed to operate in Central London and the outdated "knowledge" test is still being carried out even though it has become useless now with the advent of GPS which most cabs are using anyway.
rickshaws are only there for short journeys and as they are powered by real people who have to make a great deal of effort to power them as such they are indeed more expensive than an obese man putting his foot down on a pedal.
i agree that cab d rivers believe they own the road in central london and are often disrespectful to people and disregard the norms of transit.
the government needs to license rickshaws in different way from black cabs, they could look at the example of Amsterdam for a good working model that will allow everyone to get on.
- Chriss Jones, London, 15/04/2011 18:17
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Some rickshaws are safe with responsible 'drivers', but many are dangerously badly maintained, with irresponsible owners. They also cause huge problems for residents in the centre of London, as they keep their sound systems at full blast through the night, even at 3am. I for one am sick of being woken up by them every half hour or so. If they cause noise pollution at levels damaging to health, they are not sustainable.
- dawnlet, London UK, 25/07/2010 02:27
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Rickshaws are great fun and I use them every weekend, the riders are far friendlier than black cab drivers... they are better for the environment and the only safety fears come from stupid cab drivers coming to close when on the roads... if you don't feel they are safe don't get on them but this is an opinion and facts tell us they are far less risky than being in a car or on bike...
Merrie I am also a cyclist in central London and commute to work every day but my fears come from buses and lorries... never from rickshaws as you don't see them in the day time!
- Nicky, Slough, 02/05/2010 03:04
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The pedicab service is popular because it provides a service people want, the fact that it has been slandered by a strong interest group (black cabs) still does not change the facts.
1. No serious injury have happened to any passenger in London, on a trike which travels at around 8mph.
2. They do not add to congestion, just look at central London roads each morning and tell us if you see any pedicabs/rickshaws.
3. Passengers pre-agree the price (per person) and most tip, so they must be happy with the service.
4. Pedicabs/rickshaws don't pollute the air and they happen to be the only green public available transport.
5. Pedicabs/rickshaws empower people who work hard for the money they take home, they don't just step on the gas.
6. As in all walks of life the majority are good guys.
7. They have been able to ply for hire since 2001, the same as a black cab since the London Taxi Drivers Association tried to remove them with a private prosecution in the high court (and failed).
Pedicabs offer a great way to make a living and are a part of the solution to a greener way of life.
- Bugbugs, London, 16/02/2010 23:06
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Rickshaws are great, it's a fun way to see London, the cyclists are invariably polite and friendly unlike many black cab drivers. Some of the worst driving in London is exhibited by black cab drivers- that's why they kill and injure so many people compared to far safer statistics for rickshaws.
- Caroline Shaw, Bromley, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Caroline, you talk rubbish. Tell me the last time a black cab killed someone!
Stop shouting your mouth off about things you know nothing about.
It's people like you that make this city the mess it is!
- Dizzy, London, 16/02/2010 22:06
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This is disappointing and a touch of sour grapes where the black drivers are concerned.
There is a lot going for the pedicab project and should be encouraged. For staters they are far more environmentally friendly.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Never heard of anyone getting injured in a rickshaw. Perhaps someone can give one example where this has occurred, other than "they look a bit wobbly".
One thing is clear whatever the situation with passengers - rickshaws are a lot safer for pedestrians and fellow road users than motorised taxis, and a lot more environmentally friendly.
- Reg, London, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Last time I tried to get a black cab in the West End I only had a small amount of cash on me, so asked how much it would cost to get from A to B: the driver yelled over his shoulder 'IF YOU HAVE TO ASK YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT!' and nearly ran over my foot accelerating away. Clearly there's room for competition: it might be appropriate for all modes of bicycle transport to be licensed (as they are, for example, in Switzerland) given their disregard for pedestrians, but that's an entirely seperate matter to stopping the Black Cab bunch regaining their monopoly.
- Roz, France, 16/02/2010 22:06
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I wholeheartedly agree with Christian Gomez.
It's about time some other form of transport give black cabs a run for their money!
Most cab drivers are arrogant and seem to have little knowledge or respect for the highway code or other road users.
How many times do they suddenly stop on double red lines or pedestrian crossings to let passengers on and off? How come they seem to be above the law and are permitted to perform dangerous U-turns just about anywhere? And don't get me started on their extortionate rates!
It's now blatantly obvious that Bojo just pretends to be environmentally friendly when it doesn't rub his lobbies the wrong way.
- Marco, Notting Hill, 16/02/2010 22:06
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I am a cyclist who rides in the West End quite often. I find that the rickshaws are a real nuisance. Here are some reasons:
1. They are slower than most bicyclists, take up much more room on the road and are usually difficult to pass.
2. They park on cycle lanes, for example at the end of Brewer St & Soho St entry and cyclists cannot get past them. Both of these lanes are contra traffic, so cyclists *have* to use them.
3. They park at traffic lights on double lines, in particular over the road from Long Acre near the Leicester Square tube station. This is a very narrow road and very busy, and they are a nuisance.
4. They have the same bells as cyclists and they ring them to get attention. Consequently pedestrians ignore bells which are rung by ordinary cyclists as a warning.
5. They use cyclist-only lanes, for example the one at Aldwych, taking up the whole width of the lane thereby blocking it completely. Cyclists coming off Waterloo Bridge cannot get onto the lane because it is blocked (and vice versa for cyclists wanting to get onto Waterloo Bridge).
These are just a few complaints about rickshaws.
There may be a time and a place for rickshaws in the west end but it is not now. When there are fewer cars (hopefully soon) and rickshaws are banned from using cycle lanes completely and fined for blocking traffic then that might be the time. There is not enough space for rickshaws yet.
- Merrie, London, 16/02/2010 22:06
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I always warn visiting friends against using these rickshaws, since some friends visiting from Italy were charge £7 each, (£28) to go from Aldwych to Charing Cross Station. Not sure, but I would imagine it would cost about £4 in a black cab.
- Ted, London, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Rickshaws are not a financial threat to Londons black cabs!
They are an unsafe menace on the streets of London. It's only a matter of time before someone is killed!
They are a fun novelty that is not suitable for the busy streets of a metropolis. Put them in the parks where they belong!
- Steve, london, 16/02/2010 22:06
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I am rickshaw rider, it's true we do not have a licence yet, but i assure you we are safe and we do not rip people off, we help people to get home or even to get a black when the streets are too busy.
We get people home before they get assaulted or robbed by some dodgy people on the streets of soho or leicester square late at night.
we help you people when you are drunk and you get rejected by a taxi driver, couse you can talk properly, we take to your hotel or house.
It's tue we do charge a bit more than a black cab, but we do 100 porcent more efford than a fat taxi driver.
thanks
Chris Gomez.
- Christian Gomez, london, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Black Cabs are a disgraceful monopoly. They should not be called 'public transport' as they are owner-operated businesses; nor should they have any rights on the highway (i.e. access to bus lanes) over and above any other legal road users.
- Philip, London, England, 16/02/2010 22:06
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These pedicabs are an embarressmnet for London; the sooner they are off the road the better. A friend was over from America recently, and was nearly knocked over by one that suddenly took off. She wasn't impressed, particuarly when I pointed out that they are not insured for passengers or the pedestrians they hit.
- Madge, Battersea, 16/02/2010 22:06
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Why do people persist in thinking that Black Cab Drivers have a monopoly? ANYONE can become a Black Cab Driver provided they fulfil certain basic criteria to do with health and criminal records. Of course if you don't fulfil these criteria or are too lazy to spend 3 years doing the Knowledge, then you can always become a rickshaw driver.
- Chris, Brighton, England., 16/02/2010 22:06
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