Taxi rep details ‘DANGEROUS’ pedicab concerns as TfL consultation sidesteps structural safety checks and electrification
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Concerns are growing over Transport for London’s (TfL) failure to address the structural safety and electrification of pedicabs in its latest licensing proposals.
TfL has launched a six-week consultation outlining its preferred approach to regulating pedicabs across the capital. The proposals include enhanced criminal and medical checks for drivers, regulated fares, annual vehicle inspections and bans on amplified music and bright LED lights.
But critics from the taxi trade have pointed to a major omission in the plans: a lack of structural testing on the increasingly electrified pedicab fleet.
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), warned in TAXI magazine that TfL’s proposals overlook the biggest safety threat on the streets.
He said: “TfL has finally launched their second consultation on licensing pedicabs. This time on what they are ‘minded to do’. Their proposals include enhanced criminal record checks, medical checks and a SERU type assessment. They want to ban amplified music and the flashing, bright LED lights, set their fares and to bring in annual NSL checks for the rickshaws themselves.
“What they are not proposing is to ban the most dangerous factor of these contraptions: the electrification and won’t ensure any structural testing is carried out prior to licensing them. This means that anything made, good knows how, by god knows who, anywhere in the world, could be operating with a TfL licence on it. That reality is quite incredible to imagine.”
Electrically assisted pedicabs have so far not been subject to the same rigorous design and construction standards as other licensed motor vehicles. Many are imported or assembled with no consistent manufacturing oversight. Without structural testing, there is no guarantee that braking systems, frames or electrical components meet safe operating standards for passenger use.
TfL’s own proposals acknowledge that mechanically assisted pedicabs will require annual inspections of parts such as tyres and lights. But no clear requirement has been set out for structural integrity checks before vehicles enter service.
The consultation follows years of complaints about unregulated pedicabs causing disruption in tourist hotspots, overcharging passengers, and blaring music late at night.
If implemented, the new rules would take effect from early 2026 and create the first formal licensing regime for the pedicab industry in London. Operators would need to be licensed and drivers would be issued with visible badges. Fares would be calculated on a per-minute basis, with minimum charges in place.
TfL also wants to limit pick-up and drop-off points to designated areas to improve safety for road users and pedestrians.
Despite the wide-ranging nature of the planned reforms, taxi groups and campaigners say TfL’s refusal to include structural certification undermines the wider objective of improving passenger safety.
The consultation remains open until Monday 20 October. Responses will be reviewed before TfL confirms its final approach.
