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Rough ride for the town's rickshaws Nov 26 2004
BOSSES of Croydon's rickshaw service are vowing to tough it out despite drivers being regularly threatened during a troubled first year.
The distinctive cycle taxis have had a rocky ride since being introduced by Croydon Rickshaw Cooperative last December.
They have already clocked up around 30 incidents where drivers have been verbally abused or their environmentally-friendly vehicles have been targeted by vandals.
The worst incident happened when two teenagers stole a rickshaw and drove it into rider Daniel Bray in North End, Croydon, as he tried to stop them.
They then took the vehicle on a joyride around the town centre for about 20 minutes.
Eventually they dumped it, leaving £1,000-worth of damage to the vehicle.
Daniel, 18, who sustained a bruised knee in the attack in August, explained: "They told me 'You're not going to call the police, otherwise we'll have to beat you up'.
"They then asked for a cigarette before walking off."
Despite the incident, there are no plans to abandon the scheme.
Tariq Shabbeer, social enterprises adviser at Croydon Council, said: "The rickshaw is environmentally-friendly.
"It doesn't cause any pollution and is very useful for disabled and elderly people.
"This project is going to take time and we have learnt a lot over the past year."
The four eye-catching canary-coloured rickshaws are only used on Friday nights, Saturdays and on special occasions
But there are plans to expand the service over the Christmas period.
Despite the rickshaws topping over 1,000 rides during the past year, the project has been beset by other problems.
The cold weather led to difficulties recruiting riders at the beginning of the year, while the rickshaws themselves were also frozen out of action due to vital repair work.
And the bold vision that Croydon's rickshaws would become "the cement for the bricks" - helping keep cars off the roads by taking people to the buses, trams and trains - is still taking time.
Mr Shabbeer added: "The bricks are crushing us at the moment. "I would say around 20 per cent of the mini-cabs dislike the rickshaw riders.
"But the cabs can't go where the rickshaws travel. And the rickshaws can't go where the mini-cabs travel, so I don't see what the problem is."
Around £30,000 was secured for the project from groups including Croydon Council, London Development Agency, Transport for London and the Department for Transport to fund the project.
Meanwhile, a recruitment campaign to find drivers is still going on.
Anybody interested should contact Mr Shabbeer on 020 8604 7014.
Leave your telephone number if you are directed to voicemail.
Now lets all say awwwww
regards
Captain cab
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