Council approves fines for 'nuisance' pedicab drivers who play loud music or ride dangerously

Hatty Collier7 April 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Pedicab drivers who shout, swear, blast loud music or ride dangerously across parts of central London now face fines of up to £1,000 in a new crackdown on the trade.

Camden Council has agreed to start using ASBO powers to control rogue drivers in King’s Cross, Holborn, Covent Garden and Bloomsbury.

Drivers caught causing a nuisance in these areas whilst plying their trade will be handed a £100 fixed penalty fine or could face prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.

Councillor Jonathan Simpson, Camden Council’s cabinet member for community safety said: “We know that significant and recurring anti-social behaviour associated with pedicabs is an important issue for our community’s residents and businesses, who have regularly raised their concerns with the council and the police.

“Because of ongoing problems and the fact that previous repeated attempts to regulate the pedicab industry have been unsuccessful we invited views about how we should tackle the issue. The responses received showed that the majority supported our proposals to take action.”

A residents’ survey carried out by the council found that 69 per cent of the borough’s residents had been bothered by pedicabs – also known as rickshaws - and almost three quarters wanted the council to use ASBO legislation against drivers.

Some rickshaw drivers have also been known to rip off or endanger their passengers.

Earlier this year, Jennifer Houston, 53, broke her leg after she and her husband Andrew were thrown from an erratically driven pedicab they had picked up outside Covent Garden station.

The Standard also revealed how a Dutch tourist was charged £600 for a half hour ride in a rickshaw.

Westminster Council has also raised concerns about pedicabs, and wants the Government to regulate the industry.

Mayor Boris Johnson has said he wants Transport for London to be given powers to regulate pedicabs, claiming they cause traffic jams and could be unsafe for passengers.

The Metropolitan Police regularly arrests drivers for running red lights or obstructing pavements.

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