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| Crackdown on 'souped-up pedicabs' | Crackdown on 'souped-up pedicabs' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police have arrested six pedicab drivers over claims their vehicles have been modified to make them go faster. | |
| A number of the pedicabs, described as "death traps" by Westminster City Council, have been seized in the operation on Thursday evening. | A number of the pedicabs, described as "death traps" by Westminster City Council, have been seized in the operation on Thursday evening. |
| Police said about 80% of London's 1,000 pedicabs have been illegally adapted to run partially on car batteries, allowing them to reach speeds of 20mph. | Police said about 80% of London's 1,000 pedicabs have been illegally adapted to run partially on car batteries, allowing them to reach speeds of 20mph. |
| Many of the drivers are uninsured and some flout traffic laws, officers said. | Many of the drivers are uninsured and some flout traffic laws, officers said. |
| Last month bystanders narrowly avoided injury after a pedicab mounted the pavement in central London's Soho and smashed into a restaurant window. | Last month bystanders narrowly avoided injury after a pedicab mounted the pavement in central London's Soho and smashed into a restaurant window. |
| It's a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed Graeme Rivett from London Pedicabs | It's a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed Graeme Rivett from London Pedicabs |
| In a crackdown on illegal rickshaws, council officials, along with officers from City of Westminster Police and Traffic Unit, set up a series of checkpoints in the West End and seized the electrically assisted pedicabs. | In a crackdown on illegal rickshaws, council officials, along with officers from City of Westminster Police and Traffic Unit, set up a series of checkpoints in the West End and seized the electrically assisted pedicabs. |
| Councillor Danny Chalkley said: "The sheer number of these death traps has left us with little choice other than to take firm action. | Councillor Danny Chalkley said: "The sheer number of these death traps has left us with little choice other than to take firm action. |
| "At the moment what should be a fun visit to the West End could all too easily turn into a tragedy for innocent passengers, and I'm not prepared to stand by and wait for that to happen." | "At the moment what should be a fun visit to the West End could all too easily turn into a tragedy for innocent passengers, and I'm not prepared to stand by and wait for that to happen." |
| Responsible pedicab operators have supported the crackdown which coincides with the council's proposals to install the first-ever designated pedicab bays in London for operators who abide by a code of conduct. | Responsible pedicab operators have supported the crackdown which coincides with the council's proposals to install the first-ever designated pedicab bays in London for operators who abide by a code of conduct. |
| The voluntary code requires all drivers to be insured, undergo training and to have bikes regularly serviced and kept roadworthy. | The voluntary code requires all drivers to be insured, undergo training and to have bikes regularly serviced and kept roadworthy. |
| Graeme Rivett, from London Pedicabs, said: "I am shocked at how in such a short space of time so many cowboy pedicab operators have come on to the streets, and they don't give a damn for the safety of anybody. | Graeme Rivett, from London Pedicabs, said: "I am shocked at how in such a short space of time so many cowboy pedicab operators have come on to the streets, and they don't give a damn for the safety of anybody. |
| "It's a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed." | "It's a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed." |