London’s pedicab rip-offs end today: new fare caps and a ban on loud music

The days of the £400 pedicab ride across the West End should be over. From today, Friday 30 October, London pedicab fares are capped for the first time, drivers and operators must be licensed by Transport for London, and the booming speakers are banned.

Why the change

For years, pedicabs were one of the few forms of transport in London with no proper regulation. Tourists regularly reported paying £20 to £50 for short hops around the West End, and TfL received a complaint about a £408 charge for an eight-minute trip from Harrods to Hyde Park. Residents and businesses in Soho and Leicester Square have also long complained about loud music blasting from the bikes late at night.

What else changes

• Licensed drivers: riders need a TfL licence, an enhanced DBS check, a medical and to meet English language standards.
• Licensed operators: operators need London premises and checks on their staff.
• No music: external speakers on pedicabs are banned.
• Vehicle standards: all pedicabs must meet new standards by February 2027.

Operators who break the rules face fines of up to £2,500, and TfL can seize pedicabs that don’t comply.

Before you hop on

Agree the price before the ride starts, check the driver can show a TfL licence, and if you think you have been overcharged, you can report it to TfL.

Sources: Transport for London, ianVisits, TaxiPoint.

Follow Energy Radio on Facebook and Instagram.