Rickshaws ban: In the slow lane

Transport Minister Shane Ross has proposed a ban on rickshaws to allay any risk they cause to public safety.

He has told the Oireachtas transport committee that he has “deep concerns about public safety with rickshaws on our streets”. Indeed he should.

As it stands, rickshaws, which operate mostly in Dublin, are unregulated.

They need no licence, no Garda vetting, and no tax or insurance.

Yet, they provide a unique experience for tourists and locals alike, much like the jarveys in Killarney, who are licensed and subject to Garda vetting, insurance, and must comply with all forms of statutory regulation.

Unlike his time in opposition when he was always in the fast lane, berating government failings, the response by Mr Ross is lazy in the extreme, favouring banning rickshaws from the streets without considering the alternatives.

Instead of an outright ban, he could look for inspiration to proposals by the European Commission to ensure that electric bikes are insured.

That may seem like EU bureaucracy gone mad but, in fact, it is a sane and sensible idea.