Fancy a rickshaw ride after the theatre? 5 things you should know.
Take a casual wander round any part of the West End and you will soon see the rickshaws, parked up outside the theatres or whizzing through the traffic. They look like an interesting way to get from your restaurant to the theatre or to end an evening at the theatre in London.
Five Things You Should Know About Bicycle Rickshaws
Here are five things you need to know before you get into a bicycle rickshaw in London.
Safety – are they safe?
There have been no major collisions involving rickshaws. However the ride can be a bit hairy when traffic is busy, during the rush hour for example. The rickshaws owned by the large companies have regular safety checks and are well maintained.
They all carry lights but not all them use them.
The community police make regular checks on this issue. If you are getting into a rickshaw at night make sure yours has its lights switched on.
They have seat belts, usually lap belts. Please use them.
Bicycle rickshaws are not designed to carry more than three passengers. If there are four of you use a second rickshaw.
Insurance – are they insured?
Contrary to popular belief, the rickshaws run by the main companies definitely carry full public liability insurance. This is part of their voluntary code of practice. However, see above, if you exceed the stated number of passengers you may invalidate the insurance.
Expense – what do they charge?
The fare is a matter of negotiation between the driver and the passengers. Most of the rickshaw companies charge a basic flat rate fare per passenger (between £3.50 and £4) and then the driver negotiates his fee on top of that. How much more you pay is dependent on your negotiating skills and how far you are going. It’s hard physical work so they expect something worthwhile for their efforts. Agree a fair price before you get in the cab and then stick to it.
You will find they expect a tip as well. If you are pleased with your ride a 10 – 15% tip is adequate.
Drivers – who are they?
The drivers are mostly young foreign students trying to make a bit of money to help fund their studies. A few may have shadier backgrounds. They don’t have background checks. They do receive training via the London Pedicabs Operators Association and there is a voluntary Drivers Code of Conduct. Your driver should be wearing a name badge.
Booking – can I book one in advance?
If, like many Brits, you aren’t comfortable haggling you can book your ride in advance – expect to pay more though and your driver will still expect a tip. Your rickshaw will be waiting for you at the theatre at the end of the show. You can get contact details from the web sites mentioned at the bottom of this post.
Distance – how far will they go?
Realistically you do not want to go very far in a rickshaw. They are not wonderfully comfortable and it’s a bumpy ride. Whilst the rickshaws are fine in the West End and Soho areas you definitely don’t want to travel much further out that way! Once you are into fast moving London traffic the rickshaw becomes a much less attractive mode of transport. In their element though the rickshaws are a quick way of getting around and a bit of fun to end your evening after a trip to the theatre.
Companies – who are the major companies?
The major companies who run the rickshaws (pedicabs) are all members of the LPOA and abide by their code of conduct.
Three of the major operators in the West End are:
Inwheelswetrust.com
BugBugs
London Rickshaws
If you want to know anything else leave a comment and I’ll do my best to find out for you.
See also: London Black Cabs
I do not know where you get your information from on rickshaws, But it is my experience that the majority of these potential death traps are not insured in any way, neither do the riders have any form of training or knowledge of britsh roads, the highway code or driving regulations.
The majority of these rickshaws are not well maintained.
They may be foreign students earning extra cash, how many pay income tax like the rest of us in the UK?
They are not licenced and all they do is clog up the already congested streets of London.
The sooner the goverment, TFL and the PCO begin to regulate them the better. I think they should be banned in central London.
I absolutely agree with doug, the above information is misleading. These things are a danger to anyone stupid enough to get in one!
The companies that hire these things out do not control the fares
They hire them to illegal immigrants and foriegn students at excessive rates. Its up to the driver to charge an excessive amount to make a profit, often several times the cost of a London black cab!
They are not m.o.t. certified for safety, or licensed by Transport for London, ( TFL). The drivers are not vetted for safety and there have been in several accidents and indeed at least one driver has been prosecuted for taking a drunken female passenger and raping her!
The companies that hire these things out do not control the fares. Both London famous black cabs & licensed private hire are licensed by TFL and are cheaper and fully legal.
Also dont forget London transports buses and trains.
The picture at the top of the page showing police looks to give an official seal of approval to these deathtraps. Just ask any police officer on the beat what he or she thinks of them!
if your visiting London have a great time in this beautifull city and use Londons official transport.
I got my information on rickshaws from the sources I cite above and I did do quite detailed research.
The companies I mentioned do carry public liability insurance and their cabs are clearly marked with their logos.
I state quite clearly that the companies do not set fares and that it is up to individuals to negotiate with the rickshaw driver before a trip.
I point out that drivers do not have background checks.
I do not think the photo implies police approval. Quite the reverse, in fact – the rider was being moved on for causing an obstruction!
I honsetly think the rickshaws are here to stay and I agree that they should be properly licensed and regulated.
I’d never recommend them as a viable alternative to London Transport! I specifically state that they are best used for short, fun trips within the West End.
This blog is aimed at people in London for a theatre break. Visitors are not always comfortable using the tube, black cabs can be hard to find, private hire can seem risky and the rickshaws abound outside the theatres after perfomances.
Hotels are often just a short distance away and using a rickshaw can be tempting, just a bit of fun to finish off an evening at the theatre.
The blog post aims only to give advice to people who might choose a rickshaw as an alternative to walking back to their hotel not to recommend them for travelling any distance.
The companies renting the rickshaws out may well have public liability insurance but if the rider is negligent resulting in an accident the passengers will have to take out a private prosecution and I didn’t think it was within the scope of a foreign students visa to earn a bit of extra cash. As for fares being negotiable, what is the difference between a minicab touting for business & a rickshaw? The difference is that it IS illegal for a minicab to take a passenger (& set his own fare) off the kerb not booked through his office whereas there are NO laws regarding rickshaw safety, fares, conduct etc. There is precious little enforcement of taxi touting & even less with respect to rickshaw ie cycling offences.
Hopefully when anyone takes a proper look at the rickshaw trade TFL will deem them unfit for use by the theatre goers, tipsy revellers & foriegn toursists & we will hear no more of £40-70 per mile journies.
I think the point here is that those complaining have a vested interest in other modes of passenger transportation. There are risks on any type of transportation. Rickshaws are hardly a serious threat to taxis “take me to Heathrow – and don’t spare the horses” get real guys. The rickshaw is here to stay and offers a fun-filled alternative to get around. I know through personal experience that the companies who run the rickshaws vet every rider.
The comment about “precious little enforcement of taxi touting” is not true, there are several MET Tfl teams who specifically target the taxi touts. The problem being the punishment for it is minimal and does not discourage them from doing it repeatedly. Rickshaws are like any other form of pedal power a nuisance if the highway code is ignored. Cyclists are a much more dangerous breed of animal, as they do flout red lights and hit more pedestrians than Rickshaws. Ever tried to extract details from a cyclist who, after knocking you over, gives you the two fingers and swears at you as he pedals furiously away. They don’t have liability insurance, hence the fast get away….
I see the Rickshaw issue as a health and safety one, if they are not fit for purpose then they should not be allowed to tout for business (rider included).
Rickshaws in London are just a fun alternative to go about for short distances, they are normally used for a short fun ride in central London in most cases they feed their costumers to other forms of public transport.
these things slow traffic down, they clog up bus lanes on regent st and block fire exits at theatres, their riders have no knowledge and ride the wrong way up narrow streets, how nobody has died is a miracle.
They now run off a car battery which gives them speeds of over 20mph, how can anyone feel safe in these things, the pco and tfl have let this happen and its completly against the hackney carriage regulations. BAN THESE DEATH TRAPS.
Ban them now!
Rickshaws are the only green and fully sustainable passenger travel alternative in capital. They operate as stage coach and charge per person, not for a cab. Companies operating 10years, like Bugbugs and Eco Chariots are responsible operators with appropriate insurance. The speculator Les can speculate all he wants on the financial status of rickshaw riders and the fares. Anyone pedaling 300kg of pedicab and passengers, for any lenght of time will very fast learn the value of the ride. The passengers are not forced to take a ride in a rickshaw, if they disagree with the fare asked.
Doug, John,
Are you black cab drivers? It appears you have a hang up about these rickshaws in London that is unjustified and incorrect. London pedicabs are regulated by the LPOA which ensures training for all rickshaw drivers and liability insurance along with this. As with taxis on the streets of London you are sure to find some illegal immigrants who are not licensed, insured or responsible enough to carry passengers you will inevitably find this with rickshaws although as having researched the industry myself, a far fewer percentage. Rickshaws are an attraction to the West End of London and provide a lot of people with a means to make ends meet during these hard financial times. Regulation yes, of course, abolition absolutely not!!!
They are unprofessional, also ilegally plying for hire (touting) from the street, plus they’re a hazard to all.
It’s the black cabs that need sorting out,I’m British and damn
well proud,I drive a rickshaw,and the black cab drivers with
thier constant racist and abusive slander and insults have
made me ashamed to be British,
Over one million people will die of illnesses caused by
pollution from London around the uk, I’m a rickshaw driver
I’m British,a tax payer,with a full driving licence,I’m doing something I believe in that’s all,I’m not a criminal,nor a rip
off,it’s the black cabs the buses cars ect that are causing the
real damage,and no doubt will continue for years to come
,the fact is for inner city travel rickshaws properly driven are
a perfect and harmless pratical way to get about,please
ignore what these idiotic back cab drivers say,they are generaly
foul mouthed racist cowards,who are ruining the good name
of proffessional cabbies and rickshaws who many have build
up a good understanding over the last few years
I have been a rickshaw driver for two years know,and in my honest opinion not only should a good majority
of the rickshaws be complely banned from out streetS,so should many black cab drivers and cabbies,and bus drivers,for from actual experiance they are generally racist narrow minded people who come to london through greed,under this myth that londons streets are paved with gold,its pure beggers belief,and think that they run the place,black black drivers white,or asian they all seem to feel that they have more rights than each other,it an unbelievable situation,black cab drivers not stopping for black people,visa versa,it would be interesting for the public to see behind the scenes,im english born and bread,and love the uk,and in all honesty,i feel sorry for the minority of just normal hard working drivers in all tranport,especialy black cab drivers,who some of them are fantastic decent cheerfull and unbiased,why should we who are just trying to do the best we can be pulled down by these uneducated chip on the shoulder dishonest aliens,if they dont like us english then bugger off
back to where ever you came from,
if only the public could see what ive witnessed over the last two years
believe nothing you hear from these comments,for most of them are made backwards aliens
who will never grasp the actual point.
That’s a first.. I have never been called a ‘backward alien’ before!
Well what is the actual point, it was to point out the illegal aspect of using a rickshaw.
How for many it will be a fun ride, sure but have an accident and see what recompense you will get.
The majority of comments are well founded, I have seen too many drive the wrong way down a one way street. Nobody else is allowed to do it so why should they.
I would like to remind people leaving comments that you are visitors here so please do not start name calling or making other derogatory remarks.
I am M/C dispatch rider in London, whilst generaly have no issues with black cabs in fact many have been a great deal of help and look out for otorcycles and cyclists i find Rickshaws leathal.
IMHO they should be banned the break many many sections on the road traffic act including jumping red lights riding the wrong way down one way roads riding in pedstrian areas and zig zagging down the road to hold there place in traffic.
Many it would seam have little regard for there our and clients saftey.Yes there are idiots on motorcycles and yes there are some complete arses driving black cabs but we are traceable rickshaws are not, it is this ablity to not be brought to book that allows them to behave this way,
They either need to run registrations and be made to adhear to the road traffc act or they need to be taken off the highway alltogether. Stuff the enviroment argument we need safe transport. Make them safe or ban them it needs doning now!
The pedicab service is popular because it provides a service people want, the fact that it has been slandered by a strong interest group (black cabs) still does not change the facts.
1. No serious injury have happened to any passenger in London, on a trike which travels at around 8mph.
2. They do not add to congestion, just look at central London roads each morning and tell us if you see any pedicabs/rickshaws.
3. Passengers pre-agree the price (per person) and most tip, so they must be happy with the service.
4. Pedicabs/rickshaws don’t pollute the air and they happen to be the only green public available transport.
5. Pedicabs/rickshaws empower people who work hard for the money they take home, they don’t just step on the gas.
6. As in all walks of life the majority are good guys.
7. They have been able to ply for hire since 2001, the same as a black cab since the London Taxi Drivers Association tried to remove them with a private prosecution in the high court (and failed).
Pedicabs offer a great way to make a living and are a part of the solution to a greener way of life.
i was a pedicab (rickshaw driver) a few years ago.
It was probably some of the best times ive had and also some of the worst. the best being the reaction of my customers who nearly always had an amazing time with countless comments such as ” you have made our night” the worst unfortunatly was being dangeously cut up by a black cab nearly taking me and my customers to the A&E department.
to cut out the myths once and for all,
all reputable rickshaw companys (bug bugs chariotbikes or ecochariots which i believe they are called now etc, sorry been a long trime out of the business so not sure of the others) are fully insured, tested regulary (i used to do the mot’s for chariot bikes quite often) and the riders where watched and buddyied up to make sure they where safe and condusting in the right way.
It is NOT illegal for a pedicab/rickshaw to ply for hire. the way the law works means its ok to ply for hire as long as you apply distinct fares before you board the bike.
There have been repeated attempts by the london black cabs to ban rickshaws (they have failed everytime so far) and its obvious where al the bad press and miss information comes from.
there is alot of scare mongering in some of the above posts ignore it.
like any walk of life there are those how are good (majority) and those who are something else ( the minority)
Oh and thanks Linda for a very fair review you are pretty much on the ball, its good to see some impartial adivce which is fair and balanced, a rarity these days