TfL unveils pedicab regulation, fares cap, and a pledge of strict enforcement

Pedicabs will soon be regulated and enforced effectively to prevent drivers working illegally, the Mayor of London’s walking and cycling czar has said.

New regulations introduced this week will see the base fare for pedicab rides sit at £5, with a per minute charge of up to £1, with drivers also able to add up to £3 to the total bill for each additional passenger.

The new fares would mean that a 15-minute ride for two passengers would cost a maximum of £23 — a far cry from some exploitative fares seen in recent years on London’s streets.

The move follows a public consultation held last year.

TfL say that the fare caps ensure that customers “are not being charged well-documented rip-off fares” while drivers can still earn, on average, more than the London Living Wage.

Officials say that these levels, combined with requirements ensuring both drivers and vehicles are licensed, will halt the current “wild west” they operate in and prevent an underground market of drivers working illegally.

Chris Plummer, TfL’s general manager for policy and regulation, said pedicabs can provide a “unique and green way to see the capital”, and confirmed that the network had recruited additional officers directly targeted at security, policing and enforcement of pedicabs.

“The initial phases will be around encouraging compliance, letting drivers and operators and vehicle owners know that regulation is coming, enforcement will be coming, making sure they’re aware of it and really encouraging them to get ready for it,” he said.

“When the dates come into effect, that’s when you’ll see the real strength in the enforcement of the licensing action.”

However, tourists and Londoners alike may only be able to enjoy the savings for a limited time as the fare caps will likely rise in future.

“We will cap fares — there’s so many examples that I’ve heard when speaking to members of the public and visitors to London who’ve been ripped off”, Dr Will Norman the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“We have capped the fares at we think is a sensible level.

“Obviously, as if inflation continues to carry on [rising], then they’ll have to be looked at again in the future.”

This may mirror the current model when it comes to TfL fares on rail and tube, where, under a government funding deal, prices are set to rise by one per cent on top of inflation.

In the past, pedicab drivers have been accused of ripping off unsuspecting tourists and visitors to London due to fares being unregulated and riders being free to charge what they please. And residents have complained about the late night noise nuisance from amplified music.

The new rules also mean rickshaw riders will be required to pay for a licence, meet English language requirements, pass a safety test, and hold a driving theory test certificate.

A driver operating in Piccadilly Circus welcomed the regulations but suggested he would need more detail before getting fully on board.

“Prices aren’t fixed right now, meaning everyone charges something different,” Asad, who has been a driver for eight years, told the LDRS.

“This will help customers have trust with us. They will feel confident if the prices are fixed. It will be good for us that the industry is regulated. People really enjoy the rides — they say it’s the best thing they’ve experienced in their lifetime.”

Asad added that he hopes that his bike will meet standards to avoid having to buy a new one on top of paying £114 for a driver license and £100 for a vehicle permit.

Norman said the regulations would enable Londoners and visitors to enjoy the “fun” that Pedicabs provide while ensuring the experience is safe and fairly priced, as well as considerate to local residents.

He said: “They’re popular with tourists, but what we need to do is ensure that the regulations make this a safe, fair and fun way of getting around London. They’re a good part of London’s nightlife, let’s keep the good aspect of this and regulate out the bad.

Rachel Blake, the Labour MP who represents the Cities of London and Westminster, has been an ardent campaigner for the regulations to come in swiftly and effectively. “I regret the delay in this,” she told the LDRS. “I’ve been chasing up TfL since I became an MP [in 2024].

“What we need to focus on now is that we’ve got the regulations in place, we need make sure that they’re in force so that my constituents here in the very centre of London can enjoy their homes. My constituents have been waiting for these regulations for a really long time.

“They are sick of the noise that come out of pedicabs and they’re really concerned about the safety for passengers as well. My constituents here in the centre of London absolutely love being part of these communities but it’s really important that that happens alongside safe and clean streets and pedicab needs to obey the rules then.”

Cllr Adam Hug, leader of Westminster Council, said:

“I was pleased to be in the West End this week with Transport for London as new regulations covering fares and the playing of loud music by pedicabs came into force.

“The Council has never stopped taking action against riders who flout the law. Since Westminster City Council’s public space protection order came into force in November 2025, a total of 245 PSPO pedicab fixed penalty notices have been issued. The PSPO has expanded the range of offences under which action can be taken against pedicabs — for example our powers are no longer confined to loud music after 9pm and our city inspectors can take enforcement action at any time of the day,” he said.

TfL says that drivers can apply for licences from 9 March 2026 and there will be a transition period to allow them and operators to obtain licences for both themselves and their vehicles.

Maximum fares and licences will be mandatory for all drivers and operators from 30 October 2026, and vehicles must be licensed from February 2027.

Transport for London (TfL): Pedicab Licensing.

Additional reporting by Linus Rees.

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