We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL is currently looking at how it could bring about legislation to regulate the operation of rickshaws in in the city.
This issue was raised recently by TD Derek Keating who pointed out that the vehicles, which have been appearing in cities across the country in recent years, are operated by unqualified persons and are “being driven often overloaded, with no regard for road traffic legislation”. They also operate in pedestrian only areas and on footpaths.
Rickshaws are not specifically defined in law and there is no legislation to regulate the carriage of passengers in these kinds of vehicles as they are a fairly new phenomenon in Ireland. Because of this, there is no requirement to register a rickshaw and no one has any real idea how many there are in operation.
Galway city councillors have already voted to ban rickshaws from all pedestrianised streets. At the time, Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Crowe, who had made the proposal, said they were too dangerous and he had received complaints from local business people. He also said he believed the city’s medieval streets were too narrow for the wide bikes.
Though there is no specific regulation of rickshaws in Irish law, their drivers are still bound by road traffic legislation and they must obey the rules of the road. This means they are technically banned from pedestrian-only streets.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has expressed his intention to extend the fixed charge notice system to cover road offences by cyclists and this would take in rickshaws.
In response to a recent parliamentary question, Donohoe said the council had written to him regarding its wish to regulate the vehicles. The council’s legal advisors suggested that its own proposed regime would go beyond the scope of local authority powers and so it has sought that provision be made through primary legislation to extend this scope.
The council has been working on a regulatory impact assessment on a proposal seeking permission to initiate this legislation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Cycling a normal bicycle is banned on pedestrian walkways, so I don’t understand how these rickshaws have been getting away with bombing up and down Grafton Street for so long.
And you cannot assume that they are insured, although they very much should be.
Whether the council wants to ban them or regulate them, something needs to be done, they’re a nuisance and a hazard.
Cyclist are still on the footpaths through red lights and so on when has anyone seen cyclists been stopped by a member of the Garda ? Driving into town on the outskirts of Dublin is not a pleasant experience any am of the week .Only a small few cyclists observe any of the rules of the road
Here we go…
Well, here’s an idea. They could enforce the existing rules, rather than dreaming up new ones.
You might be one I am referring to ?
Comment for Bilbo
I saw one the other day getting a talking-to from a guard. I think he ran a pedestrian light.
That was for Alan Scott.
It’s only pedestrian during business hours, it’s a roadway at night time
“Unqualified person”
It’s a bike with a big arse.
Regulation is just an excuse for local councils to tax this “bicycle”
They should be banned because we don’t know who drives them maybe violent or worse.
Will somebody please think of the children! !!
They’re a menace to those of use who are vision-impaired. If you’re going to spend millions pedestrianizing an area and making it pedestrian-friendly, it defeats the purpose if you then let these things fly around. Throwing money out the window.
I knew people doing a few nixers for cash in college… and have no major issues with it. But I know for a fact that the majority of the the people cycling these bikes are claiming dole on top of their in cash earnings which typically outstrip the average retail or server position.
The government should crack down on these people.
And how do you know that for a fact? Because you knew a few people doing it as a nixer in college? When they’re not even able to claim the dole? I know quite a few of them myself through my partner and they are all foreign students studying English. And obviously NOT on the dole.
Some people just like to moan. Boo hoo, they’re dangerous, they’re on the dole, they’re a nuisance etc…
As I said I don’t care if they’re doing it for some cash in hand, it’s not harming anyone and as you said foreign students being enterprising.
Maybe one day when you’re paying taxes you’ll care about what it’s spent on and rather it go to people who genuinely need welfare.
The taxi federation comes to mind as a lot of their business is taken away on short kourneys
@drew since when do you care about what taxes are spent on.you just overseen the biggest banking crisis but as long as you target some rick shaw cyclists, the country will be a better place. Students do not receive dole payments just to rebute your statement.
Aww drew, after paying income tax continuously for the last 18 years I’m happy to know it’s not going into the pockets to students driving rickshaws!
When is the issue of 12 year olds navigating sulkies and horse and carriages around the streets going to be addressed? The area around Guinness is particularly bad.
What do rickshaw drivers dream about? Two skinny girls with really big tips!
An awful pity! I think they add a great bit of colour to any city on a nice sunny day!
In the event of an accident , are they insured against claims by passengers or pedestrians ?
In the even of an accident are cyclists insured.
Cyclists don’t generally carry passengers so therefore won’t generally need to worry about injury to a third party. A ricksaw carrying passengers…..
So cyclists don’t have accidents? They don’t crash into pedestrians and break wing mirrors?
Don’t bother Glen, Irish people just like a good moan. Begrudgery is our second national past time after drinking!
Glen. Like myself there are tens of thousands of cyclists that insure themselves through Cycling Ireland.
Why are they buying insurance if they’re “not a danger to third parties”? Unless the insurance is just again theft, in which case it’s irrelevant here.
I agree with Glen and Potty. Maybe the government should introduce some kind of insurance for them. I do
Agree that they should be subject to the same rules as any other road users. It would be a shame to ban them.
Other countries like France, Paris use them and the traffic in Paris is horrendous.
No
Only in Ireland would we come to the conclusion that because its popular that we must ban or regulate it.
Crazy
That’s DCC for you. A right bunch of clowns
I think the name of the Insurance is Your lucky it wasn’t worse.com
I have to have insurance when carrying people and have my license up to date. These rickshaws there is no nct no insurance how can they be safe
and if they do have an accident the driver just runs off seen it happening
Then don’t use them? There for drunk people yo waste their money on while going up to coppers, a chairoplane for women in high heels
How about Dublin City Council enforce the ban on workmen’s vehicles and security vans during trading hours? Grafton St can’t seriously be called a pedestrian street any more.
They are a disaster waiting to happen. No insurance I’d be amazed if the driver pays tax !!
What happens when he crashes into my car Oh Sorry
I should hope they get rid of them ASAP. No insurance, badly lit. No security check on the operatorsThey weave in and out of traffic. Only a drunk or an idiot would travel in them. Good riddance
Ban the cyclists
Fixed charge notices for cyclists? What’s next, tax and insurance for wheelbarrows I suppose and an NBT soon after. This country is like something dreamed up by Monty Python.
Stop the boats! Stop the boats!!!
Fast food delivery on motor bikes are the real menace
I remember few years ago i was in town with a friend and this lad running with a rickshaw nearly knocks us over, anyway we side step him even tho he’s bombing around nearly knocking people down. Next thing the back of his cart hits the top of a sign and sends him into somersault rickshaw included.
We went over to check he was ok and he started to blame us even tho we tried help him up and ge tried start a fight with my friend who was a heavyweight boxer. I think it was the shock and embarrassment and adrenaline. Anyway it was explained to him by passers by we’d nothing to do with it but he still wanted to start my friend politely explained what the out come would be and suggested he cop on. Still one of the funniest things I’ve seen on a night out!
I fully agree,they are a danger to themselves and their uninsured passengers..ps also get rid of some taxi drivers!! And i am a taxi driver in dublin city
have your say