Pedicab drivers fined after tourists charged £180 for three-minute trip

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

London pedicab drivers have been hit with £5,000 worth of fines after a driver charged £180 for a three-minute trip.

The vehicles, also known as ‘rickshaws’, are being targeted in a crackdown by Westminster City Council for being a nuisance in the West End.

The latest set of fines marks the largest number issued so far, with a total of £5,682 in fines handed down under the Control of Pollution Act, 1974.

The fines, costs and victim surcharges handed out ranged from £684 to £2,019.

The council has prosecuted more than 50 pedicab drivers in the past year, and continues to target other operators.

Council staff and the Met Police are focusing the crackdown on areas including Covent Garden, Chinatown, Leicester Square and Mayfair.

The council’s cabinet member for communities and public protection, Aicha Less, said the pedicabs were “an unlicensed nuisance” and drivers had regularly blocked pavements, played loud music and charged “extortionate fares”.

She said: “We want people visiting the West End to have fun and to be safe.

“The council will continue to work with the police to take action against antisocial pedicab drivers.

“I’m pleased that our enforcement action has resulted in these drivers being issued with record fines.”

One dodgy driver was caught multiple times in the West End playing loud music from a speaker, and fined double the penalty given to others for being a repeat offender.

Another was fined more than £1,000 for playing loud music and annoyance. The driver had also charged two passengers £180 for a three-minute journey in February, and was ordered to hand the money back at the time.

The council has prosecuted seven pedicab operators so far – five successfully and two due next month.

Rip-off London pedicabs are also facing a huge crackdown as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recently announced new laws to curb the nuisance.

Mr Shapps told the Transport Committee in April that new legislation will be introduced to control the vehicles, in what he called “the wild west of pedicabs or rickshaws”.

He added: “There isn’t any legislation which accurately enables any type of proper licensing or control.

“It’s time, it’s high time, I know Parliament has expressed interest through a series of backbench bills that for one reason or another have not proceeded through Parliament.

“We will do that on Government time in the Transport Bill.”

Picture: Pedicabs in the West End (Picture: Westminster City council)