Pedicabs (London) Bill to progress to second reading

Pedicabs are regarded as a scourge by many residents and hospitality businesses in London alike. The Pedicabs (London) Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 23 January 2018 under the Ten Minute Rule. Having survived its first reading (a transcript of which can be downloaded below), it is expected to have its second reading debate on Friday 16 March 2018.

This Private Member’s Bill is currently being prepared for publication but is intended to provide for “the regulation of the carrying of passengers in Greater London by pedal cycles and power-assisted pedal cycles for hire or reward and for connected purposes”.

As matters stand, pedicabs can be licensed as hackney carriages in every part of England and Wales apart from London. In a legal anomaly, pedicabs are treated as stage carriages in London, rather than licensed hackney carriages, under section 4 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869. With cross-party support, this Bill may stand a better chance of being enacted than previous unsuccessful attempts to introduce a licensing and regulatory regime for pedicabs in London.

Camden Council sought to tackle the pedicab issue in October 2016, when it introduced a Public Space Protection Order (that can also be downloaded below) applicable in the wards of King’s Cross, Holborn & Covent Garden and Bloomsbury, intended to tackle antisocial behaviour associated with pedicabs. Decisions by Camden’s Licensing Sub-Committees indicate that they regard unfavourably any licence-holders considered to be condoning or encouraging such behaviour. Affected licence-holders and others will hope that the Pedicabs (London) Bill will survive its progress through the Parliamentary process, that can be tracked here.

UPDATE: The second reading debate in relation to this Bill was subsequently re-scheduled for Friday 11 May 2018. However, it was objected to and second reading is provisionally scheduled to take place on Friday 26 October 2018.