A Central London council wants to regulate pedicabs using a new public order that would allow them to fine riders for playing loud music or speeding.
Westminster City Council said a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would come into effect on November 18 and cover the borough for the next three years, if approved after consultation with the police and other partners.
The order, which can be altered and extended for another three years, will allow police, council inspectors and Transport for London (TfL) enforcement officers to move pedicabs on and fine them £100 if they fail to comply. The order is supported by TfL, which is considering its own regulations.
The PSPO would be aimed at rickshaw drivers playing loud music or sounding horns, speeding and cycling or parking on pavements.
It will also apply to drivers using threatening or intimidating behaviour towards another person and would see a congregation of four or more pedicabs – either stationary or moving – as an obstruction on the public highway. It will also force pedicabs to leave the area after being asked.
Before introducing the PSPO, the council must consult with police and other stakeholders. In June, the local authority asked the public to comment on its proposal.
Some 86 per cent all 202 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal while 66.5pc said it would have a significant or moderately positive impact on their quality of life.
Another 10pc said the proposals did not go far enough and called for pedicabs to be banned. Two respondents said it was “irrational” to introduce a PSPO before TfL introduces its licensing scheme while another said more consideration should be given to how pedicabs could better fit into the mix of transport options in London.
PSPOs are allowed under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a given area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life. It does this by imposing conditions on an activity in the area which applies to everyone.
Pedicabs have long been a problem for people living in the small area they are used by tourists – typically the West End. They’re regarded by many as unsafe and a public nuisance because they hold up traffic and block pavements.
They’re also known to play loud music and some have been caught charging customers excessive rates, sometimes between £20 and £70 a mile, according to the council. At the moment, pedicabs in London are not regulated because they are considered “stage carriages” under an outdated 1869 law.
This is about to change thanks to the Pedicabs (London) Act passed last year, enabling TfL to regulate rickshaws in Greater London. In June, the transport authority published a report on its consultation to regulate pedicabs which showed an overwhelming majority support the move.
To date, the council said its position was to wait for legislation to come in to tackle pedicabs. It is acting now after councillors and key stakeholders asked the authority to introduce measures in the interim.
Adrian Zorzut is a Senior Local Democracy Reporter covering Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of London. A contributor to Harrow Online, his reporting focuses on local government, housing, planning, transport and public policy, helping residents understand the decisions and issues affecting their communities.
