Ross moves to ban motorised rickshaws

NEW powers to enforce a ban on motorised rickshaws and a licence system for pedal rickshaws are to be introduced to Cabinet today by Transport Minister Shane Ross.

Most rickshaws in Ireland are not motorised – and the proposals would force operators of these pedal rickshaws to be licensed like taxi drivers. Currently, motorised rickshaws are supposed to be treated the same as motorised vehicles, but it is understood Mr Ross’s proposals will bring in new enforcement powers.

Appearing before an Oireachtas Transport committee in May, Mr Ross revealed he had taken a trip on a rickshaw ‘late at night’ and was ‘rather shocked’ by what he found.

‘The person broke virtually every rule in the book,’ he said. ‘The... operator treated red lights as if they did not exist and drove on the tram lines.’ Mr Ross added that ‘it is a pretty bad situation and it badly needs remedy’.