A new law regulating rickshaws, or tricycles, in London will “end chaos in hotspots such as Soho and Covent Garden”, the government says, with penalties for offenders including fines of up to £2,500.

Tricycles are currently the only unregulated mode of transport on London’s roads, but the new bill will enable Transport for London (TfL) to enforce safety standards and fare caps amid reports of customers being charged exorbitant prices.

Reports continue to emerge of visitors to London being charged outrageous fees for just a few minutes’ drive, including A Belgian tourist told the BBC In July last year she was charged £450 for a seven-minute tricycle journey.

When she complained about the extortion amount, she said she felt threatened by the driver.

Another tourist was charged £500 after taking a tricycle from Mayfair to Soho during a night out in 2022. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Nickie Aiken, the Conservative MP for London and Westminster, told MPs last month that parts of her constituency sometimes became like the “Wild West” because rickshaws were unregulated.

Speaking about the passage of the Tricycle (London) Bill, Roads and Local Transport Secretary Guy Oppermann said the unregulated industry raised “real concerns” about safety.

“Rogue tricycles have long been taking advantage of the lack of rules on fares and licensing, so we are taking action to close this loophole,” he said.

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“We know this issue raises real concerns about safety and traffic impacts, from blocking bus lanes to loud music, and this common sense law will help reassure businesses and bring an end to hotspots like Soho and Covent The chaos. The garden.”

Drivers who fail to comply with the new rules could face having their license revoked, their tricycles confiscated or fined up to £2,500.

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Ross Morgan, chief executive of the Heart of London Business Alliance, welcomed the new laws, saying: “Without regulation, tricycles have always been a threat to London.

“With regulation, they could prove to be a safe and environmentally friendly way to travel.”