London taxi representatives call for clampdown on pedicab scammers

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has once again raised concerns about the prevalence of pedicabs in London, calling for a much-needed clampdown on their exploitative practices.

The issue again came to light when a member of the public shared her family's distressing experience with a pedicab driver who charged them over £400 for an eight-minute journey. The incident highlights the urgent need to address this problem, as unsuspecting tourists continue to fall victim to aggressive and threatening riders.

The LTDA promptly reported the incident to BBC London, which interviewed the affected tourist and aired a piece labeling the situation a "national disgrace" and a "stain on the West End". Acknowledging the severity of the issue, the Government had initially planned to introduce legislation to tackle pedicab exploitation, primarily due to lobbying efforts from Westminster MP Nickie Aiken, with support from the LTDA and other organisations. However, this legislation was never presented as part of the Transport Bill, leaving the problem unresolved.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Driver's Association (LTDA), said in TAXI Newspaper: “I was in Parliament recently for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis AGM. Looking out the window of the ‘Mother of All Parliaments’, the once centre of the so-called civilised world, onto Westminster Bridge (just metres from New Scotland Yard), I could see a row of pedicabs eagerly awaiting their next naïve tourist to rip-off and another group of scammers tricking passers-by into playing their three cups, one ball game.

“All these scammers were doing their thing in broad daylight, openly out to trick unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned cash, and what’s being done about it by our law makers in Parliament and law enforcers in New Scotland Yard? Absolutely nothing. Clearly daylight robbery isn’t a priority issue.”