Olympics: Rickshaws not welcome in London
The rickshaw is plied in areas of London, Brighton, Worcestershire, Leicester and Great Yarmouth in east England. They are popular with some commuters due to fares that are lower than taxis, but not everyone is happy.
Taxi drivers are unhappy at losing customers to rickshaws, while others believe the unregulated rickshaw drivers may pose a threat to public safety on roads.
Action has now been initiated against the rickshaw drivers under the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839.
In May, Labour MP John McDonnell tabled an 'early day motion' in parliament, calling for a ban on rickshaws during Olympics on the ground that they may obstruct emergency service.
Details released under the Freedom of Information Act to Daily Mail reveals that the Metropolitan Police stopped 534 rickshaw drivers in London in the three-month period between January and March.
Of them, 101 rickshaws were impounded and 53 drivers fined 80 pounds.
The 173-year-old law prevents anyone 'riding or driving furiously such as to endanger the life or limb of any person'.
The police are cracking down on them as many motorists and pedestrians have reportedly been put in danger by reckless rickshaw drivers.
Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens, who is in charge of policing London's West End, said: "I would like to see them taken off the road altogether. They put passengers at risk