London to Regulate Pedicabs: Music Turned Down, Fares Set by the Minute

Published: 09 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

London’s iconic pedicabs, long celebrated for their vibrant but sometimes riotous rides, are set to face a new wave of regulation aimed at improving safety and standardising fares. Transport for London (TfL) has released detailed proposals to govern the city’s fleet of party rickshaws, following overwhelming public support for regulation during an earlier consultation.

The plans include comprehensive measures for both drivers and vehicles. Pedicab operators would undergo enhanced criminal record and medical checks, while annual licensing inspections would assess brakes, tyres, lighting, and batteries for electric models. Each driver would carry identification, and all pedicabs would display licence plates.

Fares are also to be standardised and charged by the minute, addressing reports of tourists and passengers being billed hundreds of pounds for short journeys. TfL has not yet set the exact pricing, and some operators have expressed concern that lower rates could threaten their businesses.

In another change likely to disappoint party-goers, the proposals would prohibit the use of externally amplified music, a staple of the pedicab experience. Authorities argue the move is essential to curb unsafe and antisocial behaviour while maintaining the vehicles as a safe, zero-emission, and flexible transport option.

Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasised the dual aim of the regulation: to protect passengers and pedestrians while preserving pedicabs as a sustainable and enjoyable way to explore London. “Pedicabs should be a fun and green way to see the sights of our city, but without regulation some drivers are behaving unsafely and antisocially,” Khan said. “Regulation and licensing are needed to significantly improve safety, drive up standards, and bring an end to tourists and Londoners being overcharged.”

The city’s powers to regulate pedicabs were formally granted in 2024, following concerns from the national government over what former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as the “scourge of pedicabs.” Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, highlighted the necessity of action to safeguard not only customers and drivers but also pedestrians and other road users.

TfL received more than 7,500 responses to its initial consultation, with 95% backing regulation. Helen Chapman, TfL’s director of licensing and regulation, stressed the importance of collaboration with the public and the industry: “We’re committed to working with the pedicab industry and the public to ensure that regulation is proportionate, enforceable, and delivers real improvements for everyone. We’d encourage everyone to have their say in the next six weeks before we analyse the feedback and implement new regulations as early as possible next year.”

With the proposed rules expected to take effect in early 2026, Londoners may soon experience a quieter, safer pedicab ride, with fares that are fair and transparent, while the city maintains the quirky charm and eco-friendly benefits that have made pedicabs a hallmark of its streets.