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REGULATIONS COULD BE on the way for rickshaw drivers operating in Dublin city centre.
Following calls for the sector to be licensed, Transport Minister Shane Ross said discussions have recently taken place between Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority who have agreed a proposed approach to regulating pedal-powered rickshaws.
Regulating the sector would require the drafting of legislation, said Ross, who added that his department is now engaged with the NTA “to clearly frame the policy to guide any detailed legislative drafting”.
Progress
“I will consider the legislative proposals which emerge when this work has been progressed, following which I should be in a position to outline an indicative legislative timeframe,” said the minister.
Last year there were calls from Dublin City Council for the sector to be better regulated.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Independent.ie reported that a number of rickshaw drivers in the city are selling class A drugs while they work.
Asked about the matter in the Dáil this week, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said reports of drug dealing in the city would be matter for the justice department and gardaí.
This is not the first time rickshaws have come to the attention to the authorities. Last year, gardaí conducted over 100 night-time inspections of rickshaws in Dublin.
Sinn Féin’s Dessie Ellis TD also asked the minister if the NTA has received legal advice regarding rickshaws carrying passengers for hire “that are operating without a licence, in some cases without insurance, proper driver vetting or roadworthiness certificate”.
Ross said the key focus of any regulations introduced would be on “passenger safety”.
They’re banned in Galway City, they were found to be a nuisance.
@Brian Lenehan: Do these clowns even have Insurance? Do they even pay tax on their profits??????
About time.
Dublin City council is a joke. 30 km speed limits and practically banning cars yet these guys who aren’t even Irish have a free run of it with no insurance running amock all over the city and now it’s been shown some are drug dealing s(€m too. Sort it out lads ye clowns
@John Reese:
Always someone quick to play the race card. And you blame Dublin City council yet it is they who is working to resolve the issue.
@John Reese: A song comes to mind everytime I read something that requires the gov or a council officiL to sort out is from the Wizard of Oz The song is sung by the scarecrow If I Only Had A Brain.
Troll comment – racist and wrong
Because cars have speed limits we should regulate rickshaws? Logic?!
Was waiting to be called racist but really I’m not. If they were Irish drivers I would have the same opinion I was just nearly pointing out the fact they weren’t and don’t have insurance. How long would an Irish person last at a stunt like that abroad? They need to come down heavy like they would me or you breaking a red light etc.
You weren’t merely pointing out that they are not Irish you said “aren’t EVEN Irish”. If you were just pointing it out you would say they “aren’t Irish” but because you use “even” it gives the game away.
@John Reese: Totally agree. It doesn’t matter who you are if you are providing a service to members of the public you should have insurance. Every shop, office, taxi, bus or business in Ireland has insurance why should they be any difference. They are running a business they should be regulated with insurance.
Let’s be clear Mary there is zero lawful obligation on businesses to have any insurance to protect customers, motor insurance is the only one required and is not necessarily for the protection of customers. Many countries around the world do not have mandatory motor insurance, and nor does Ireland have mandatory rickshaw insurance. What’s next cyclist insurance? Pedestrian insurance?
@John Reese:
“Was waiting to be called racist but really I’m not. If they were Irish drivers I would have the same opinion I was just nearly pointing out the fact they weren’t and don’t have insurance.”
If you would say the same thing about Irish drivers then why mention the race?
@Nick Allen: Just pointing out a fact. The PC brigade are out in force early today. I have made many comments here before and mentioned “Irish” people are this and that. I witnessed one of those “drivers” knock a lady down at the bottom of Grafton Street one night a few months back. I helped her up, luck she was not hurt. One for the driver sped away I would have dragged him of that contraption.
Some people love to go around looking to be offended. Happy Friday.
I agree that rickshaws can be a pain and something needs to be done about it but that is irrespective of the race of the person operating it.
@John Reese: Would have been a good comment if it wasn’t for the stupid “aren’t even Irish” crap.
That’s for staying the obvious. Mandatory anything has socialist overtones. Motor insurance is only mandatory because most people don’t have €1-2m to spare when they put someone in a wheelchair.
What do you expect ? Nobody in charge of our capital city. No Garda presence, no directly elected mayor, no metro to airport, nearly 30 years to build the M50, dereliction rampant, Liffey Boardwalk a no go area. LUAS red line like the Wild West and on and on – and these rickshaws an uninsured hazard – only a matter of time before someone is killed on one or by one!
If you are depending on Shane Ross to legislate for that you will probably be waiting, he is better at telling every other Minister what to do.
What about horses and carriages
That’d be racist boss
Is rickshaw driving ‘ethnic’? If so, they are going nowhere.
Ban them now.They ARE drug dealing, Going up one way streets,no lights, Breaking traffic lights,and are very aggressive.Also ripping get off tourists charging way over the top for 2 mile journey. Get rid of them now.
@Gerry Fallon: Normally I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn people trying to make a living, but yes there is a very dodgy element and it is the perfect coverage for standing around on street corners late at night.
‘Breaking traffic lights,and are very aggressive.Also ripping get off tourists charging way over the top for 2 mile journey’….but that’s enough about Taxi drivers
You hit the nail on the head, every taxi driver is the same, as I’ve been in every single taxi in Ireland, and I know every single tourist who has been ripped off by a taxi driver. Your comment is stupid.
Every fare is put on the meter Mr know all.its a sealed meter so you are talking absolute horseshit .
Should be banned in dublin. Absolute dangerous on the roads
Typical Shane Ross, resorting to a split infinitive to make a spurious point.
I thought shane Ross was still in Rio.very quiet.
2 things you have to do in your for certain
1 . Die
2.Pay taxes
Horse & cart too regularly see kids in the city centre going around with no lights pulling out in front of traffic etc
Regulate it but don’t allow the Taxi lobbyists to stop it. These lads fill a gap that Taxis won’t bother going near… all the short journeys.
Why would we stop it they are going around carrying people with no insurance and if somebody gets hurt they won’t be covered and let’s not forget they are dealing drugs but if you are happy to pay for that go ahead and use them but dont get on here moaning when some poor person is murdered due to drugs
Don’t be a moron James if course I don’t want them dealing. But we need something to fill the short gaps that taxis won’t bother with. The 7up rickshaws were great at that, these could be too with regulation.
Yeah Rob, but some of these Rickshaw drivers are charging the same, if not more than what taxis charge for the same distance.
I live beside croke park and these rickshaws are a nuisance when events are on. Every ine if them gies the wrong way down our one way street. One of them tried to charge a friend of mine €10 for a 30 second ride because he had 2 kids with him and its that price for 3 people. They have no regard for people’s safety. I’be seen them with 4 or 5 people crammed into them sitting on each other’s knees. There is no way that is safe. They should be regulated for the public’s safety.
Taxi won’t take you in for a short distance on busy weekends tho
@ISSA: They can’t legally refuse so if this happens take down the taxi driver’s number and report them.
These nuisances belong in the third world…not the first.
If donkeys were pulling them the RSCPA would be up in arms.
@Frederick Burden: i agree. Am I the only person that objects to human being being used as beasts of burden? Dragging other human beings around by the force of their muscles. Surely that belongs in another time and another place?
I doubt anyone here has used one, I have and they are a great addition to the city.
Dessie ellis , SF ,TD asks if they even had a roadworthiness cerificate?? Dessie they are bikes ar the end of the day. Ive never know a bike to have one of them roadworthiness cerificate.
And taxi drivers don’t rob any passengers
I also haven’t been run off the road by a rickshaw in the same fashion as I have by a bloody taxi.
I think their great. Spin across town and handy for scoring some grass or pills if you want them. Friendly too. What’s the problem?
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