Boris Johnson is to lobby the government for the power to regulate rickshaw drivers, also known as pedicabs, after video footage emerged of one driver charging a family £206 for a one-mile journey.
The shocking footage shows the rickshaw driver being questioned by a number of people, including by a pair of police officers. “You’re blatantly ripping them off,” says one.
At one point a police officer says that the driver is extorting tourists. However, there are currently no regulations for rickshaw rides and drivers can charge any fare they want, provided it is verbally agreed before the journey. The driver simply points to his price list and says that he charges £10 a minute.
The man who shot the footage, Richard Long, has been a licensed cabbie for 16 years. He told the London Evening Standard that he would have charged about £7 for the journey.
"When I got out of the cab I could see he was trying to get more and more money. The woman wasn't great with English. They know tourists don't use cards and generally carry cash. Obviously they've spoken to each other and decided certain groups are an easy target."
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, said such situations were nothing new.
"Our members are constantly reporting that passengers, especially from the Middle East, complain to them about being ripped off by rickshaw riders, and being threatened when they challenge the extortionate prices.
"Fares of between £200 and £300 from Selfridges to Harrods are common and the current record stands at £820."
Transport for London (TfL) don’t currently have a legal power to regulate pedicabs. A spokesman for the Mayor's office said that Johnson is concerned about the trade and is lobbying the government for new legislation. "This video only adds weight to his determination to make that happen. It is shocking and utterly disgraceful that pedicab drivers appear to be taking advantage of customers in this way."
Friedel Schroder, chairman of the London Pedicabs Operators Association (LPOA), told the BBC that the driver did not belong to his organisation and added that he had been warning the authorities of such practices for more than 15 years.
11 thoughts on “Mayor calls for legislation after London rickshaw driver charges family £206 for one-mile journey (+ video)”
Anyone that thinks £206 is a
Anyone that thinks £206 is a lot of money for a five minute ride has never had a London escort.
Is that one of your budgeting
Is that one of your budgeting errors? 😉
If its £10 a minute and its a
If its £10 a minute and its a 10 minute ride, then surely the fare should be £100 not £200.
Maybe just take his details
Maybe just take his details and report him to HMRC – I doubt he is providing a receipt and has books to prove his earnings. Tourists, don’t use these things. TFL get government to regulate a bit quicker on the things that matter – give the boys in blue a chance.
He didn’t transport John
He didn’t transport John Bercow did he?
Just checking, but presumably
Just checking, but presumably no member of the licences taxi drivers association has ever ripped anyone off, then?
Why don’t you link to the
Why don’t you link to the original so the owner can get a bit more money?
The policemen come out of
The policemen come out of this as sensible and level-headed. The rickshaw driver is a scammer, even if he is legally allowed to charge that, and the cabbie who took the film is clearly a stirrer.
There is always walking.
There is always walking.
Where there is money there is
Where there is money there is a market.
Everyone rips everyone else off. Cabbies, police, politicians, plumbers, estate agents, lawyers, builders, consultants, bankers, banks, insurance companies, antiques dealers, supermarkets, garages, ice cream sellers, pubs selling soft drinks, train companies, air lines, you name it every industry does it, including TFL and Santander cycle scheme Boris bikes
http://road.cc/content/news/158566-faulty-boris-bike-docking-station-sees-man-charged-298-15-minute-journey
You might not like what the guy is doing but he is offering a service his prices are displayed. The only thing he needs is a meter to correctly calculate the fare according to his rate and time taken or evidence of agreement of the fare before he transports his passengers. People, who ever they are, do have a choice to accept or decline.
Caveat emptor.
Ps. I suspect the cabbie is only jealous as they have never ripped anyone off. Perhaps memories of a more lucrative time?
Plus the rickshaws are competing with cabs for business so he has a financial interest in highlighting this.
Where can I get a rickshaw?
Surprised the LTDA haven’t
Surprised the LTDA haven’t called another strike, these foreigners coming over here, muscling into their own, home-grown, beautiful BRITISH extortion racket. It’s simply not cricket.