Cycling: Licences and Insurance

Lord Storey Excerpts

Monday 18th March 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Barran]

My Lords, the Government do not in any way condone unsafe cycling. A number of noble Lords have mentioned to me the risks and perils of crossing Millbank but, as the noble Lord said, it is a tiny percentage of cyclists responsible for this. The Government’s view is that in the long term, in terms of pollution and health benefits, it is important to encourage safe cycling, hence the 50-point action plan in the strategy.

[Lord Storey (LD)]

My Lords, I am sure the Minister is aware that pedicabs—rickshaws on bikes—are licensed as hackney cabs in every part of England and Wales except London, where 1,500 pedicabs go unlicensed with no requirement for insurance, no health and safety checks and no fixed fares. When are the Government going to take action on this matter?

[Baroness Barran]

As the noble Lord will be aware, transport is a matter that is devolved to the mayor, so the Government have no specific plans in this area.