Usage of Seat Belts in London

[Nycpedicab]

After reading the London Assembly's review of pedicab operations in London, and the pedicab operator and driver rules of conduct, I am very curious about seat belts.

I am in the process of installing automobile-grade seatbelts on each cab I operate. These are real safety belts, bolted to the frame. We only suggest that passengers may use the belts, if desired. We suggest very strongly when children are on board that the belt be used. Sometimes the belt is kept on the seat; other times it is stowed below, available upon request.

What I'd like to know about London is, how do the operators ensure that the drivers are using the seatbelts or displaying them at all times? Or is it up to driver discretion as to where the belts are placed?
- Do they always have them showing on the seat, do they make a point to belt in each passenger?
- Do they give passengers the option?

I want to know how effective seatbelt usage is, since it's mandatory within the rules to have them on each cab. Really curious about this and also whether passengers like/dislike them.

Thanks,
-peter meitzler
Manhattan Rickshaw Company

[tdayuk]

Howdy, great questions!

The putting on of seat belts is compulsary & is usualy done by the rider, as this is part of the 'service', it has stoped people getting quite a few bruises!

It is thought so important by the operators that a rider is advised to refuse the ride if the passenger does not wear the belt, as in an accident it is your word against theres (you lose :( ).

All the operators take turns each day of the week to do a rota of 'patroling' the streets to stop these and any other dangerous practices, I know this may sound heavy but we got very close to being shut down & I'd be out of a job I love!!!!

[Trixi.com]

I started with a Velocab (http://www.velocab.de), it was my first pedicab ever and equipped with a seat belt.This was 4 years ago.

The clients didn't expexted a seat belt in a pedicab and sometimes the laughed about it :D, the just said "How funny"...

But they always used it, as I explained them "We are obligated by law...and have in mind, this is a hight speed pedicab :D:D:D" - so I never had any discussion with clients. Everybody was happy and the seat belt never "disturbed"...it was even safer for me...without seat belt the clients may stand up and leave the pedicab during driving which is maybe a higher danger.

[tdayuk]

Well, in the good old days most London Pedicabs had no seat belts but after regulation was breathing down our necks a small study of what type of accidents people have from the pedicab (part from buggered knees or a touch by the cramp fairy :D ) was the old bruise you get when you fall off a moving object. We have a lot of party hard passengers & the stupid thing of standing up & shouting at your mates would end in a bit of a road side role when the rider takes a corner.



Though thinking back this was maybe not so bad after hearing a story about a dude who decided to stand up & pee from the side of the trike. Needless to say the corner turned him into a small road side fountain, may the stains stay on his pants for ever!! :o