From Londonist

Way back when, we reported on the street rivalry betwixt sensible, licensed and regulated black cab drivers and the burgeoning maverick pedicab fleet that is so bemusingly appealing to tourists. At the time, the taxi trade was trying to get the ricketty rider powered rickshaws outlawed. Instead, then Mayor Ken Livingstone got a consultation going on licensing them. News today is that our current Mayor Boris is shuffling this one under the carpet amidst fears that passenger claims for injuries arising from licensed pedicab accidents would drain City Hall resources and swallow tax payers' money. Implicit in this is the fear that folks are regularly imperilled from riding in these modern day deathtraps "stagecoaches". Tell us, have you been in one? Near death experiences and environmentally friendly ripostes in the comments please. Interestingly, the PCO has now moved on to consulting on whether motorcycles should be licenced to carry passengers.