They have been described as a danger to the public after ripping off tourists and locals with their unregulated drivers behaving recklessly without a licence.

The seemingly harmless rickshaw bike is a staple of public transport around the globe after their use became widespread in Singapore nearly 100 years ago.

Seen as a cheap and cheerful alternative to taxis in South East Asia, their surge in popularity over the last century has seen them pop up in major cities like New York, Berlin, Paris, and of course, London.

However, over the many years since arriving in England’s capital, the appeal and charm of the rickshaw bike has sometimes descended into something darker – a way to rip people off.

These concerns now run so deep that an official consultation has been launched by Transport for London (TfL) which raises concerns over the safety of the bikes, anti-social behaviour by its drivers and rip-off prices.

But just how bad are they?

Could the shady tricks, which cost one woman £1,300 to travel 500 yards really be at play?

Here at MailOnline we put it to the test, travelling twice from Leicester Square to Green Park station and once to Covent Garden to find out for ourselves: has a scam become a fully functioning business in the heart of London?

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With the bike emblazoned with ‘Ride Like a Boss’ across its handlebars, I will admit I got caught up in the fun which saw tourists and locals sing along while we passed them

Leicester Square is home to more than 52 star-studded red carpet film premieres each year, averaging more than one per week

Leicester Square is home to more than 52 star-studded red carpet film premieres each year, averaging more than one per week

Our first journey from Leicester Square to Green Park takes roughly 15 minutes to walk, seven minutes to drive and just six minutes to cycle.

Adding two reporters to the backseat undoubtedly slowed the driver down, as did some deliberation over whether we should play Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits or mix it up a little – we settled on the latter.

But after confirming our destination with the driver, our chariot departed via Chinatown and we were on our way.

‘Americans spend more money,’ the driver told us when asked about how he decides on his prices.

‘£100 for a 20-minute ride.’

Our ten-minute journey which saw us enter bus lanes, be on the receiving end of some angry beeping from frustrated taxi drivers behind and get stuck on a kerb in Chinatown for at least 30 seconds, cost us £36 for the pleasure. 

Our ten-minute journey in the rickshaw (pictured) to Green Park cost £36 in total - it takes roughly 15 minutes to walk, seven minutes to drive and just six minutes to cycle there

Our ten-minute journey in the rickshaw (pictured) to Green Park cost £36 in total – it takes roughly 15 minutes to walk, seven minutes to drive and just six minutes to cycle there

'Americans spend more money,' the driver told us when asked about how he decides on his prices

‘Americans spend more money,’ the driver told us when asked about how he decides on his prices

The trip to Green Park saw us enter bus lanes, be on the receiving end of some angry beeping from frustrated taxi drivers behind and get stuck on a kerb in Chinatown for at least 30 seconds

The trip to Green Park saw us enter bus lanes, be on the receiving end of some angry beeping from frustrated taxi drivers behind and get stuck on a kerb in Chinatown for at least 30 seconds

After walking back to Leicester Square through the buzzing Piccadilly Circus, it was time to test our next trip. 

‘To Covent Garden please,’ I said, possibly disrupting the driver as he danced with a member of the public to the background of his music.

‘Of course. Jump in.’

This ride in particular felt like paying for an experience more than any other.

With the bike emblazoned with ‘Ride Like a Boss’ across its handlebars, steered by an eccentric driver whose dancing attracted tourists and locals to sing along with him while walking on the pavements, I will admit I got caught up in the fun.

That was until I noticed we were running red lights.

In TfL’s consultation which opened on January 27, they said one of the main aims for regulating pedicabs in London was to ‘make them as safe as possible’, ensuring they are ‘driven in a safe and professional way’.

They are also proposing licensing requirements similar to taxis and private hire vehicles, meaning a pedicab driver’s licence would be required, issued for one year at a time.

So when the driver charged £40 for the journey, which again, saw us frustrate taxi and bus drivers, I couldn’t help but think we’d have been better off in one of those.

Your chariot awaits you in London's Leicester Square where rickshaws regularly park up in a hotspot for London locals and tourists

Your chariot awaits you in London’s Leicester Square where rickshaws regularly park up in a hotspot for London locals and tourists

When the driver charged £40 for the journey from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, I couldn't help but think we'd have been better off in a taxi or bus

When the driver charged £40 for the journey from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, I couldn’t help but think we’d have been better off in a taxi or bus

Over the many years since arriving in England's capital, the appeal and charm of the rickshaw bike has sometimes descended into something darker - a way to rip people off

Over the many years since arriving in England’s capital, the appeal and charm of the rickshaw bike has sometimes descended into something darker – a way to rip people off

Not to mention it would have been a fraction of the price.

‘I’ll charge you guys £40,’ the driver told us when arriving at Covent Garden.

‘Usually it’s £5 per minute but I didn’t do that. I’ve done it cheaper.’

By my calculations, the first driver’s charge of £100 for Americans equals the very same £5 per minute mentioned here. 

It is steep, that’s for sure, and we’re not the only ones to think so.

A few members of the public spoke to MailOnline in Leicester Square, with one sharing how someone she knows was charged £200 for a short rickshaw ride.

‘I would support the consultation to regulate the bikes,’ Lia, a London-based student told MailOnline.

‘I’ve never been on one before, but I have heard from people I know who have gotten scammed.

London-based student Lia said she knows of someone who was charged £200 for less than half-an-hour on a rickshaw

London-based student Lia said she knows of someone who was charged £200 for less than half-an-hour on a rickshaw

‘The prices they charge are so random. Someone I know paid £15 for five minutes but another person they charged £200 for less than half-an-hour.

‘I wouldn’t get on one, I don’t think I’d enjoy it but I can’t accept the price of it.’

Meanwhile local Olivia Sharp agreed, branding the bikes as a ‘rip-off’ and said she would support stricter regulations.

‘They’re a massive rip-off,’ she told MailOnline.

‘I’ve probably been on one as a kid but I wouldn’t go on one now.

‘They charge a lot more now than they did before. They’re also quite disruptive and dangerous on the roads.

‘When you’re trying to cross the road, they don’t follow the rules.

‘I wouldn’t pay any more than £10 for one of them.’ 

Olivia Sharp branded the bikes 'a total rip-off' and said she wouldn't pay more than £10 per journey

Olivia Sharp branded the bikes ‘a total rip-off’ and said she wouldn’t pay more than £10 per journey

Rickshaws shot to popularity in Singapore nearly 100 years ago and have drastically changed in appearance over the last century

Rickshaws shot to popularity in Singapore nearly 100 years ago and have drastically changed in appearance over the last century

Before embarking on our third and final trip of the evening, we also spoke with Maciej Roik, a dad visiting London for the first time on holiday from Poland.

When asked if he would be enticed by the bikes despite potentially high prices, Mr Roik told MailOnline he would only get on one if he agreed a price beforehand.

‘For me the cost is too much,’ he said.

‘It wouldn’t give me so much fun that I’d want to pay that.

‘For the money I’d rather do so many other things I’d enjoy more.’

Maciej Roik who was visiting London for the first time on holiday from Poland, said he would always try to agree a price beforehand but would rather spend his money elsewhere

Maciej Roik who was visiting London for the first time on holiday from Poland, said he would always try to agree a price beforehand but would rather spend his money elsewhere

Our final trip of the evening saw us follow the same route as the first of the night: Leicester Square to Green Park station.

This time, having got on the bike after 9pm, there was no music.

Despite our previous driver playing tunes beyond what this driver described as a ‘curfew’, we travelled this journey in relative silence – only accompanied by the squeaking of breaks, which thankfully were put in use at traffic lights.

‘I charge a maximum of £20,’ the final driver said as he pedalled through the streets of London.

‘I know some drivers charge £100, £200, but not me. Maximum £20.

‘I have to rent this bike from a friend and I pay him £100 each day I use it, so it can be difficult to make money.’

Undoubtedly the least fun of the evening at the best price, when we reached our destination it was sprung on us that I would have to pay cash.

Clearly not his first rodeo, as he instantly pointed me to a cash point where I could lift the £20 and thank him for his service.

This driver, who only told us he wouldn't accept card after dropping us at our destination, immediately pointed me to a cash machine

This driver, who only told us he wouldn’t accept card after dropping us at our destination, immediately pointed me to a cash machine

For three journeys totalling less than 30 minutes combined, I was almost £100 lighter.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally see the appeal of riding these bikes, and had a great  when my life wasn’t flashing before my eyes.

Sightseeing in a flashy chariot to the sound of your favourite music is great fun – of course it is.

But when you look up and see the driver zooming through red lights, having near-misses with buses and taxis and generally not following the rules of the road, suddenly that fun wears off. 

It is fair to say TfL’s consultation, which will take contributions from members of the public before closing on March 7, is necessary.

And if MailOnline’s chats with Lia, Olivia and Maciej are anything to go by, these rickshaws are set to drive, behave and look very different in the years to come.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk