London taxi chief warns pedicab licensing could fail without tough TfL enforcement
- Perry Richardson
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has warned that London’s long-awaited pedicab licensing regime could fail unless Transport for London (TfL) implements strong enforcement and prioritises public safety.
Writing in the LTDA’s Taxi newspaper, General Secretary Steve McNamara argued that the proposed regulatory framework for pedicabs risks leaving major operational and safety questions unanswered despite TfL finally outlining plans to license the vehicles.
“Transport for London (TfL) has finally got around to sharing what licensing regarding Rickshaws or Pedicabs – or whatever you wish to call them – will look like,” McNamara wrote, adding that key details remain unclear.
McNamara said limited transparency around the implementation of the scheme makes it difficult to assess how the new regime will operate in practice. “As with everything involving TfL, it’s not easy to get at the detail, and all the press releases and announcements centre on stopping the ‘rip-off’, but don’t actually tell us how they will implement it.”
Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association general secretary raises safety and enforcement concerns as Transport for London outlines plans to regulate pedicabs in the capital.
Concerns were also raised around the proposed fare structure for pedicabs. According to McNamara, TfL intends to allow operators to set fares based on time and passenger numbers but without clear guidance on how charges will be calculated or displayed to customers. He said: “They plan to set their fares and go into detail around it being £1 a minute, and the £3 extras for additional passengers, yet there is no information on how the time will be calculated and, importantly, how a passenger will know when the rider asks for double or treble what it actually should be.”
McNamara also criticised what he described as a lack of clarity around vehicle approval standards and enforcement arrangements. He wrote: “There is virtually no information on who is going to police these things on the street or how they propose to tackle the bikes and riders who simply ignore the new rules.” He added that questions remain about whether there will be an approved list of pedicab manufacturers and how imported vehicles will be assessed for safety and mechanical standards.
Safety concerns formed a central part of the LTDA chief’s commentary, with McNamara citing crash testing carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). He said the research predicted “a catastrophic failure of the framework of the bike in the event of any serious collision with a motor vehicle”, adding that the warning was reinforced by a real incident in which two people were seriously injured when a pedicab collided with a bus on Charing Cross Road.
“I have repeatedly sent copies of the TRL report, and the videos and simulations of the crash tests, to TfL during the consultations on licensing,” McNamara wrote. “So far they have not acknowledged having even read the report or watching the crash tests.”
Looking ahead to the introduction of the licensing regime, McNamara said the success of regulation would depend heavily on enforcement from the outset. “Presuming that they can get the enforcement right at the very beginning, and actually remove the unlicensed ones from the streets, I predict their numbers will drop dramatically,” he said.
He added that requirements such as criminal record checks, a driving theory test and tax registration could deter some operators from applying for licences. However, he warned that if fare rules and safety standards are not effectively monitored, some riders may continue to operate outside the system.
“But – and it’s a big but – it will all depend on the details and how well it is enforced,” McNamara wrote.
Transport for London is expected to introduce pedicab licensing under powers granted by the Pedicabs (London) Act, with the scheme intended to address longstanding concerns about passenger safety, noise, and fare transparency in central London tourist areas.
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