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London pedicab riders pay £107 for 2.6-mile John Lewis advert recreation
Reporters recreating the John Lewis Christmas advert’s rickshaw journey were charged £72 for a 1.3-mile trip to its Oxford Street store, taking 14 minutes. Their account highlights concerns about passengers being overcharged and put at risk by London pedicabs, just as the advert’s cheerful portrayal has prompted debate.
A second ride back cost £35, bringing the total to £107 for 2.6 miles. The article says Transport for London plans to introduce fares capped at a £5 starting charge, £1 per minute and a £3 supplement for each additional passenger. Reporters also describe a near collision and the driver weaving through traffic and pedestrians.
In short
- A 14-minute rickshaw ride cost reporters £72.
- Their return journey brought the total to £107.
- TfL plans capped fares for pedicabs.
Explained simply
Pedicabs are cycle-powered taxis used for short journeys around central London. They can carry passengers in a covered seat, but fares have not been regulated in the same way as those for licensed taxis.
Transport for London is the body responsible for the capital’s transport network. It plans to set limits on pedicab fares, against a backdrop of concerns about what passengers are charged and how safely some rides are driven.
John Lewis’s Christmas advert features a rickshaw journey to its Oxford Street store. Its light-hearted portrayal has drawn attention to the contrast between the advert and real pedicab rides in London.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “The John Lewis Christmas advert rickshaw fantasy: We recreated Kirstin Scott Thomas’ journey and got ripped off… and almost run over”.