Pedicabs in London - detailed licensing requirements

Headlines

We have used the feedback gathered from the previous consultation to develop the licensing requirements that would form the pedicab regulations in London for drivers, vehicles and operators.

The first pedicab consultation received many constructive responses. In shaping the detailed licensing proposals, we considered the broader implications of regulation, including:

• The potential impact on the pedicab industry, local communities, businesses, and passengers
• Our ability to implement an effective licensing regime

Most people who responded to the first consultation told us that:

• Pedicabs should be banned and not regulated
• The audio from pedicabs is too loud and anti-social
• Pedicabs are unsafe
  
  

The licensing requirements that we have developed following the consultation has enabled us to respond to these concerns.

The Pedicab London Act 2024 allows us to regulate pedicabs and not ban them.

For background information on the project please visit our previous consultation page.

Noise

Noise from pedicabs, particularly loud music played through external speakers, was one of the most frequently raised concerns during our first consultation. More than 2,400 respondents commented on this issue, with 96% supporting stronger controls on music and other audio emitted from pedicabs.

In response, we are proposing to prohibit the use of externally amplified audio on pedicabs. Our aim is to reduce noise disruption, particularly in central London, and to help create a calmer, more respectful environment for residents, businesses and visitors.

This reflects our commitment to ensuring a safe, professional and inclusive pedicab industry in London and to improving the quality of public spaces. This would complement the existing legislation already in place to tackle some noise-related offences.

Safety

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Perception of safety was a significant concern in the first consultation. We have addressed these concerns in a number of ways including:

• Introducing a robust licensing regime for pedicab drivers, vehicles and operators
• All pedicab drivers must be licensed and to be licensed they must have a criminal record check, have a medical check and pass the pedicab driver assessments
• Once licensed we would carry out regular criminal record checks on pedicab drivers
• We would issue licensed pedicab drivers with a pedicab driver ID badge which must be worn at all times when the individual is working as a London pedicab driver
• Introducing annual licensing inspections for pedicabs which would include checking components such as brakes, batteries and other mechanical parts. Only vehicles which meet the required specification will be licensed
• All licensed pedicabs would have a licence plate fixed on the pedicab showing the licence expiry date and how many passengers the pedicab is licensed to carry
• Licensed pedicab drivers, operators and vehicle owners would be required to undertake regular safety checks of their pedicabs, keep records and provide evidence to us of the outcome of these checks when required
• Our compliance team would be undertaking a wide range of compliance activities, including on-street checks of pedicab drivers and vehicles

These measures would help ensure public safety, regulatory adherence, and high service standards are maintained in London.

Pedicab fares

After considering the options we propose to introduce a pedicab fare structure and for:

• Fares to be based on journey time only based on a per minute rate
• There to be a minimum fare (this may vary according to time of day or other factors determined by TfL)
• There could be an extra charge for additional passengers
• The journey time to start once all of the passengers are safely in the pedicab and seated

More information about the options considered and the proposed pedicab fare structure is available here.

Pedicab licensing requirements

Our pedicab driver, vehicle and operator licensing requirements documents contain our proposed licensing requirements. Some of the main points are below, the full documents are available under the 'More information' tab.

You can view the Mayor of London’s vision for Pedicabs in London here.

Pedicab drivers

If a person intends to drive a pedicab for hire or reward in London, a pedicab driver’s licence would be required.

Our pedicab driver licensing requirements set out the proposed requirements that a pedicab driver would need to meet to be licensed by us.





Our proposed pedicab driver licensing requirements would include:

• Age: All applicants for a pedicab driver’s licence would need to be at least 18 years old at the point of application. There is no upper age limit
  
  
• Right to live and work in the UK: All applicants for a pedicab driver’s licence would need to provide evidence to prove that they have the permission to reside and work in the UK
  
  
• Character checks: All pedicab driver licence applicants would need to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and barred list check. Licensed pedicab drivers would need to register with the DBS Update Service and we would carry out checks every six months. Pedicab driver licence applicants who have lived in a country other than the UK for one or more continuous periods of three months or more in the last 10 years would be asked to produce a Certificate of Good Conduct from each relevant country
  
  
• Medical fitness: All pedicab driver licence applicants would need to meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standards. Once licensed pedicab drivers would need to have a medical at certain ages
  
  
• Driver competence: Pedicab driver licence applicants would need to provide a valid DVSA theory test certificate. Pedicab driver licence applicants who already have a full, current Great Britain, Northern Ireland, European Union or European Economic Area driving licence, would not have to provide a valid DVSA theory test certificate
• Driver assessments: All pedicab driver licence applicants would need to pass an English language skills assessment, and a safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessment to demonstrate they understand their role and responsibilities as a London pedicab driver
  
  
• Insurance: All pedicab drivers would need to hold a valid public liability insurance policy to the value of £5m (or an equivalent insurance) and the certificate of insurance would need to be available for inspection by TfL at any time

If an applicant meets all of the licensing requirements, we propose that a pedicab driver’s licence would be issued for up to one year. Pedicab driver licences would not be transferable.

You can register your interest in becoming a licensed pedicab driver here.

Pedicab vehicles

Pedicabs must be licensed by us to be used to provide a pedicab service in London.

Our pedicab vehicle policy document sets out the requirements that a pedicab must meet in order to be licensed by us.

The requirements include:  

• Manufactured designed and built pedicabs: Only manufactured designed and built pedicabs will be licensed, pedal powered pedicabs converted to be electrically assisted will not be licensed
    
• Licensing inspection: Pedicabs must pass an inspection before being licensed and then must pass a new licensing inspection each year to remain licensed
   
• Regular servicing: Pedicab owners must arrange for licensed pedicabs to be inspected/serviced every three months. Records of the inspections and maintenance must be retained for a minimum of 24 months and be made available to authorised officers upon request
  
  
• Insurance: The vehicle must be insured to carry passengers for hire or reward
   
• Other relevant legislation: All licensed pedicabs must be compliant with all other relevant legislation   

We recognise that new pedicabs, both manually propelled and electrically assisted may enter the market. We will continually monitor the market and will revise our safety standards, as pedicab models evolve, to ensure all pedicabs are safe prior to being licensed.  

• Noise: Pedicabs would not be permitted to have any amplified noise coming from the vehicle at any time
• We recognise that some pedicab services, such as guided tours, rely on audio to enhance the passenger experience. To support this, we would permit the use of internally amplified systems, such as headphones or hearing loop systems. These technologies allow passengers to receive audio content directly, without disturbing others nearby
• Hearing loop systems - also known as induction loops - are assistive listening technologies that transmit sound directly to hearing aids or cochlear implants equipped with a telecoil (T-coil). They are widely used across the UK to support people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and are recognised under national accessibility standards. Allowing these systems on pedicabs ensures that services remain inclusive and accessible to all passengers
  
  
• Payments: To contribute to passenger security, all pedicabs must accept card and contactless payments via a TfL approved device
  
  
• Pedicab identification: Identification plates would be issued for each vehicle and be visible at all times
  
  
• Insurance: The vehicle must be insured to carry passengers for hire or reward
  
  
• Length of licence: A licence would be issued for one year
  
  
• Licence fee: A licence fee would be charged. At the time of this consultation we do not know how much the fee would be

Pedicab operators

We are proposing that:

• A London Pedicab Operator’s Licence is required for any individual or entity that provides, manages, or makes available two or more pedicabs for hire or reward, whether directly or through a contractual or rental arrangement with drivers. This includes those who operate a fleet, coordinate bookings, or otherwise facilitate the commercial use of multiple pedicabs
• This excludes a pedicab driver who owns or rents only one pedicab which they alone operate
• The operator must ensure that all pedicabs in their fleet meet the standards required by TfL and are licensed. An operator’s licence does not entitle an individual (e.g. a single person operator) to drive a pedicab, they would still need to be licensed as a pedicab driver

Our pedicab operator licensing requirements document sets out the proposed requirements that a pedicab operator would need to meet in order to be licensed by us.

Our proposed pedicab operator licensing requirements would include:

• Character checks: All new and renewing applicants for a pedicab operator’s licence would need to have a basic DBS check. Pedicab operator licence applicants who have lived in a country other than the UK for one or more continuous periods of three months or more in the last 10 years would be asked to produce a Certificate of Good Conduct from each relevant country
  
  
• Right to live and work in the UK: Pedicab operators would need to provide evidence to prove that they have the permission to reside and work in the UK
  
  
• Business Repute: We would consider whether the applicant is of good business repute, this would include taking into account if they have been declared bankrupt or been disqualified from being a director of a company
  
  
• Operating centre in London: All pedicab operators would need to have an address in London from which they would operate and that all relevant permissions have been obtained from the relevant authorities to allow them to operate from that location
  
  
• Pre-licensing inspection: Applicants would be required to undergo a pre-licensing inspection where they would be required to evidence and demonstrate that would be able to comply with all regulatory and administrative requirements

Other requirements

We propose introducing other requirements to help keep passengers, drivers and other road users safe, and ensure that a high standard of service is provided to pedicab passengers.

This would include proposing that all pedicab drivers accept card and contactless payments via a TfL-approved device.

How and where pedicabs should operate

The regulations we propose to introduce will allow pedicabs to be:

• Hired by passengers in the street
• Booked with a licensed pedicab driver
• Booked with a licensed pedicab operator

Pedicabs riding on or obstructing pavements was raised as a major concern in the first consultation. We propose that pedicab drivers should only stop to pick up or drop off where it is safe to do so for the passengers, driver and other road users, where stopping is permitted and where their vehicle will not cause an obstruction.

We are proposing that stopping to pick up or drop off passengers in bus lanes, on pavements, pedestrian crossings, or other restricted areas would not be allowed.

Changes may be needed in the future as the pedicab industry and services develop. If we did propose significant changes, we would consult on these.

We are proposing data sharing requirements and that pedicab drivers and operators would be required to share data with TfL.

Accessibility

The pedicab industry includes a variety of vehicle types. Our aim is to develop regulations that are flexible enough to accommodate different models, while ensuring consistent standards for safety and accessibility. We will be engaging with the industry and key stakeholders to ensure the regime reflects the diversity of the fleet in a fair and proportionate way.

Pedicab fees

The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 enables us to charge application and licence fees for pedicab drivers, vehicles and operators.

Application and licence fees allow us to recover our costs for administering the licensing service and undertaking pedicab compliance and enforcement activity. We would also charge fees for the administration of pedicab driver assessments such as the English language and safety and regulatory assessments.

At this stage, it is not possible to determine what these fees would be. Once we have a clearer view of the operational requirements for pedicabs, we will be able to determine the costs of our activities and would then be able to publish the appropriate fees.

All pedicab fees would be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the costs for administering the licensing service and undertaking pedicab compliance and enforcement activity are fully covered.

Timings

In order to give the pedicab industry time to prepare for the introduction of any new licensing requirements we propose to introduce the new pedicab licensing requirements in stages.

This will help ensure that pedicab drivers, vehicle owners and operators have time to work out how any new licensing requirements affect them, obtain any documents or information they would require to be licensed and then apply for a licence.

Independent integrated impact assessment

We have commissioned an independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA). The IIA considers:

• Health and safety impacts
• Crime and disorder impacts
• Economic impacts
• Environmental impacts
• Equality impacts

We would welcome any suggestions you may have for how any potential negative impacts – including on passengers, pedicab drivers, pedicab vehicle owners, pedicab operators, pedestrians or other road users – might be mitigated or avoided.

If you think there are any additional impacts on people with protected characteristics (e.g. older people or disabled people) who may be affected by our proposals, and can suggest possible ways these could be mitigated, please let us know.

More information

We have provided more information to help you respond.

Tell us your views

You can reply by completing our survey, which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete or if you are short on time, you can submit a quick response.

The closing date for comments is 20 October 2025.

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Next steps

These proposals are subject to the outcome of our consultation. Once consultation ends on 20 October 2025, we will spend time considering all the responses we receive and will prepare a consultation report.

The consultation report will help us reach a decision about our proposals for detailed licensing requirements for pedicab drivers, vehicles and operators in London.

The report will be available to everyone that takes part in the consultation and a copy will be published on our website.