Cabs step up rickshaw war

The war between London's black cab and rickshaw drivers was stepped up today as the taxi industry released film revealing the dangers of travelling in one of the pedal-powered vehicles.

In a simulated collision with a car two rickshaw "passengers" were hurled on to the vehicle's bonnet. The head of one crash-test dummy smashed into the car, the other was dragged along the road by the force of the impact.

Scientists who conducted the 30mph collision warned in a real accident "any impact with a motor vehicle" was likely to result in "serious injury to both passengers and rider". An independent study documenting the crash tests was released. It comes at the height of a battle between London's black cab trade and the rickshaw industry which - taxi drivers claim - is blocking off taxi ranks, bus lanes and pavements.

The Mayor's Transport for London department recently outlined plans to regulate the rickshaw industry. Drivers will have to register for training and undergo criminal record checks. The plans will allow traffic wardens to ticket illegally parked rickshaws.

However, the London Taxi Drivers Association wants rickshaws banned altogether - not "legitimised" with regulations. The LTDA's study - carried out at the Transport Research Laboratory - especially highlighted the dangers facing children riding in one of London's estimated 350 rickshaws.

It said it was unlikely the pedicab's lapbelt would provide "any restraint" in a crash and that there would be "nothing to prevent the child being ejected over the top of the belt".

The belt itself, the study warned, could cause "serious injury". Other potential dangers highlighted were " protrusions" in the rickshaw's cab that could injure passengers in a collision. The document warned the standard of braking for a rickshaw fell well short of that expected of a car.

If a car in front braked suddenly the pedal-powered machine may not be able to stop. If the rickshaw was hit from behind the rider could be thrown onto the passengers, causing injury. The study - illustrated with photographs and brief film of a simulated collision at a junction - said the rickshaw used in tests was unstable while cornering at only 9mph.

However the capital's largest rickshaw firm, Bugbugs, said: "All rickshaws that we have have been specifically designed for passenger transport and have passed stringent tests. We have been running them for six years and have never had a smashup with anyone hurt."