Pedicab drivers will no longer be able to overcharge customers and have to abide by new regulations after a Bill cracking down on the vehicles received Royal Assent.
The vehicles will now be regulated by Transport for London which will roll out the licencing scheme this Autumn.
The new rules for pedicab drivers to be licenced follow calls from Londoners, tourists and drivers to clamp down on the vehicles over claims they charge extortionate prices for short rides.
In one case, a couple were hit with a bill worth almost £200 for a three-minute journey in a pedicab in central London.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
The law is expected to come into force this Autumn
PANickie Aiken, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, who was calling for change, said: "The Pedicabs (London) Bill is no more because it is an Act. It has received Royal Assent today. So it is now on the Statute Book.
“And I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and your help to get the Pedicabs Bill through.
"So, now it goes to TfL, whose role will be to set the pedicab scheme up.
"It is so important that we got this through so that pedicabs are safe, that tourists are protected from unregulated fares and that local people and local businesses are not disturbed by the blaring noise and having pedicabs outside their windows and disrupting the road and pavement.”
While regulated by TfL, drivers who breach the legislation could now face having their licence revoked, their pedicab confiscated or a fine of up to £2,500.
Guy Opperman, Transport Minister for Roads and Local, explained that for too long, “rogue” pedicabs have taken advantage of the lack of rules around fares and licensing, with the Government now working to close that loophole.
Karim Fatehi, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that in recent years, pedicab operators have “negatively affected” the global image of London.
The need to regulate pedicabs helps ensure the safety of users and tourists so they aren’t taken advantage of, Fetehi remarked.
He added: “The Government has taken strong action following our complaints on this problem and this new licensing regime will protect businesses and visitors alike.
“We are pleased that TfL will have the necessary ability to regulate pedicabs under the new regime and we will continue to support TfL in its efforts to maintain London’s world-class transport network.”
Reform to pedicabs was first announced during the King's Speech last year after Westminster City Council said it recorded over £30,000 in fines for pedicab drivers, ranging from £106 to £1,850.
One individual was fined £1,018 for playing loud music which was deemed an annoyance in the capital while the same rider charged two individuals £180 for a three-minute ride back in February 2022.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Drivers could now be fined for not operating correctly
GETTYIn 2022, the council revealed that more than 50 pedicab drivers have been reported for prosecutions for nuisances in popular areas such as Covent Garden, Soho, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Mayfair.