Bananas MP wants to ban rickshaws from London’s streets

Perham is championing the anti-rickshaw campaign of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association.

LTDA general secretary Bob Oddy said rickshaw riders were "neferious…pirates" who "dupe" passengers "into joyriding in their potential death-traps."

For the full text of Oddy’s editorial rant, go here: http://www.ltda.co.uk/…/pg03.htm

Here’s Perham’s motion, the wording of which is uncannily like the editorial penned by Oddy:

RICKSHAWS AND LONDON’S STATUS AS A WORLD CLASS CITY

That this House notes with dismay the increasing number of pedicabs or rickshaws on the streets of London; believes that pedicabs are deathtraps, since their construction and maintenance standards are unchecked and unregulated, and their riders often inexperienced about London’s streets and traffic; notes that pedicab fares are unregulated and are up to five times more than London taxi prices; and believes that far from being a colourful addition to the streetscape in the capital pedicabs are a dangerous, expensive and third world transport mode unneeded in a world class city.

Check which MPs sign up to Perham’s potty proposal here:

http://edm.ais.co.uk/…/ref=795

If need be, lobby your own MP by locating them here:

http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/

Jane Griffiths MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, has added an amendment which would turn the EDM on its head:

Line 1, leave out from `with’ to end and insert `delight the increasing number of pedicabs or rickshaws on the streets of London; notes that pedicab fares are unregulated; calls on the Government to consider introducing pedicab fare regulation; and believes that pedicabs are a colourful addition to the streetscape in a world class city.’

Here’s what Ms Perham looks like:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&lr==1&tab=ni&ie=UTF-8&q=Linda+Perham+MP&sa=N

It will be interesting to see whether she gets much support for her EDM. It’s unlikely to be as successful as a previous one. Last year she got 101 MPs to sign her EDM requesting the Palace of Westminster should stock Fairtrade bananas…