King Charles approves crackdown on rogue pedicabs in London with new licensing system
King Charles has given approval for a new law to crack down on rogue pedicabs in London.
The Pedicabs (London) Bill received Royal Assent shortly before midday on Thursday to become an Act of Parliament.
The new legislation will allow for the regulation of pedicabs in London for the first time, and stop their drivers ripping off tourists with sky-high fares, sometimes as high as £600 for journeys.
Transport for London will run the new licensing system, with as many as 900 pedicabs estimated to be operating during peak season.
The bill started its parliamentary process in the Lords and was also backed by MPs at the end of March.
Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Wesminster, has campaigned for years for the new law to clamp down on dodgy pedicab drivers.
She told The Standard: “After 10 years of campaigning we’ve finally succeeded in ensuring that pedicabs will be safer, tourists will be protected fromunregulated fares and local people will not be disturbed by blaring music.
“It is a victory for everyone in the West End.”
Ros Morgan, Chief Executive of HOLBA (Heart of London Business Alliance), said: “It is fantastic to see the Pedicabs Bill receive Royal Assent today.
“This new law will transform pedicabs from the current menace they are into the safe and environmentally friendly form of transport they should be.
“It’s now time for TFL to urgently do its part by developing and deploying an enforceable set of regulations that work in practice.”
Karim Fatehi, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed: “We are delighted to see that the Pedicabs (London) Bill, which will regulate the use of pedicabs in Greater London, has been given Royal Assent.
“In recent years, rogue pedicabs operators have negatively affected the global image of London as a great place to visit.”
The bill was part of the King’s Speech unveiled in November.
Until the new legislation was passed, Transport for London had been unable to regulate pedicabs, or their drivers, and the police had little powers to control them effectively.
There was no requirement for drivers to have criminal record or right to work checks and no fare controls.
Concerns were also raised over their safety, parking in bus lanes, on red routes and breaching one-way rules.
