Riksza rulez

Pedicabs fail to stop licence bid
Pedicabs in London's Soho
Three previous bids to have pedicabs licensed as cabs failed
A pedicab firm has failed to block a High Court bid to require tricycle rickshaws to be licensed in a similar way to black cabs.

Bugbugs Ltd was unable to persuade a judge to "strike out" the proposals from the Public Carriage Office (PCO).

The PCO wants the city's pedicabs to be licensed as hackney carriages.

A spokesman for Transport for London which the PCO comes under, said pedicab passengers needed the same protection as with other for-hire vehicles.

'Proper checks'

Bugbugs Ltd, the UK's largest pedicab firm, has 300 registered riders who charge members of the public to be carried around London.

Three previous attempts to have pedicabs licensed in a similar way to black cabs failed in 1999 and 2003.

The firm's counsel, David Wolfe, said: "That's the position we say should remain, and we say TfL are abusing the process of the court in seeking to reopen the question at this stage and should not be permitted to do so."

But Mrs Justice Swift said it was generally agreed that regulation was necessary for pedicabs' safe and efficient operation.

Outside court the TfL spokesman said that licensing "would mean that this type of vehicle, and their drivers could be subject to proper checks before being permitted to carry members of the public".

Earlier this year the London Pedicabs Operators Association signed a code of conduct agreeing to insure all its drivers, provide training and regularly service its bikes.