By Sadiq Khan

Walk the streets of the West End, and the chances are you’ve seen a pedicab.

Decorated with neon lights or fluorescent fur, they’re almost impossible to avoid. If you haven’t seen one, you’ve probably heard one blasting Beyonce, ABBA, or Madonna in its wake.

For decades, pedicabs have been a staple of central London’s streets. On paper, they’re a fun way to see the sights of our great city. For many though, the reality is a different story.

We’ve all heard stories of customers who had been promised a decent price at the beginning of the ride, only to find themselves forced to pay an extortionate amount on the other side. Some report forking out hundreds of pounds to travel mere minutes.

There are also serious safety concerns with reports of pedicabs fitted with dodgy batteries driving at dangerous speeds. Earlier this year, a pedicab burst into flames on a central London street, just months after a major fire destroyed a pedicab storage unit in Southwark.

It’s not just the people in the pedicabs we need to worry about. Pedicabs too often pose problems for pedestrians as well, blocking pavements and playing music far too loudly. I........

© LBC