The Galway City Council are to introduce bye-laws for the operation of rickshaws and any other non-motorised passenger transport in Galway city.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael J Crowe has welcomed the news, saying rickshaws need to be regulated and that the introduction of bye-laws are a necessary part of this.
As Chairperson of the Transport Committee, he held a number of meetings over the past few months with the staff of the Transport Section in the Council to draw up a set of draft laws. This has now been done and the laws are to be considered by the Transport Committee today.
Among the proposed laws are that all persons must hold a licence to operate a rickshaw. They will be required to apply to the city council for this and must have an up to date tax clearance cert, proper insurance which must include public liability and employers liability insurance, before a licence will be issued.
There will be an annual fee of of c€100 for the licence and it will be valid for 12 months. Operators will also will not be allowed to drive on any pedestrian area, any open spaces or any green areas in the city, and must remain on the public road.
Furthermore rickshaws will have to have adequate lighting to the front and rear of the vehicle and must display a valid disc. The licence will only be valid to the person it is issued to and must be returned to the council should the operator give up the business. All proposed operators will also be vetted for suitability by the Gardai. Three areas in the city will be designated hiring stands for rickshaws.
“We cannot continue to have people driving these around the city picking up the public, charging a fee and answerable to no one,” said Cllr Crowe. “The draft laws will also allow a period for any members of the public to make a comment on and all of these views will be considered before the council will implement this new policy.”
