Today, Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of the Opposition Group at Westminster City Council, is calling on local people to share their feedback on TfL's long-awaited consultation on the regulatution of pedicabs.
Paul explains
I am calling on every resident, business owner, and visitor who cares about our streets to take part in Transport for London’s (TfL) current consultation on proposed pedicab regulations.
For too long, unregulated pedicabs have caused noise, congestion, and safety concerns across our city, particularly in the West End and around Covent Garden. Their music blares from speakers at all hours of the day, they pay no heed to red lights and one-way streets, and their drivers have no qualms about ripping off tourists. As exposed by London Centric, one pedicab customer was swindled with an extortionate £1,278.96 for travelling between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Others are here illegally, without documentation.
Thanks to the determination of Nickie Aiken, our former Conservative MP for Cities of London & Westminster, Parliament passed the Pedicabs (London) Act in March 2024. This finally gave TfL the power to introduce a proper licensing and enforcement system. Nickie deserves our heartfelt thanks for championing this cause when others would not.
Despite this law being in place for well over a year, the Labour-led Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Mayor’s office have dragged their feet on introducing regulation.
Instead of swift action to protect residents and visitors, we’ve seen delay after delay. Every month that passes without TfL cracking down on this racket means more late-night noise, more road safety risks, and more tourists being scammed.
TfL’s consultation is our chance to be heard and to press for strong, sensible rules covering vehicle standards, fares, and operator licensing so that pedicabs can operate safely and fairly, or not at all if they refuse to meet those standards.
Please take a few minutes to respond before the consultation closes on 20 October 2025. You can find details and the online survey here.
Thank you for standing with me in making Westminster safer, quieter, and more enjoyable for everyone.
