We came to London and were charged £205 for a THREE-MINUTE pedicab ride: Moment US tourists argue with driver over 500-yard trip in UK capital

• Tourists in London were shocked after being charged £205 for pedicab ride
• Nicole Kramer refused to pay the high price and bargained it down to £49

Three American tourists were enjoying a fun night out in London’s West End before being charged a staggering £205 for a three-minute pedicab ride. 

On October 14 Nicole Kramer and two friends, from Los Angeles, were travelling from Sexy Fish to Sketch and admitted they could’ve walked for seven minutes but opted for the fun ride instead because it was raining.

But they were shocked to find out how much the 500-yard trip cost. 

The 26-year-old agency owner said they may have looked like ‘easy targets to scam’ and posted a now-viral video on TikTok.  

American tourist Nicole Kramer (pictured) and two friends were in London’s West End on October 14 and hopped in a pedicab. But they were shocked by show much the 500-yard trip cost them

In a now-viral TikTok video they can be seen having fun and singing along to songs the driver was playing (left). After the ride they driver was going to charge them £205

The tourists were travelling from Sexy Fish to Sketch and admitted they could’ve walked for seven minutes but opted for the fun ride instead because it was raining 

In the six-second clip, Nicole can be heard telling the driver ‘no, that’s crazy’ and refused to pay such an exorbitant amount. She then looks over at the camera in shock. 

Instead she bargained the cost down to $60 USD (£49).

Speaking to MailOnline, Nicole said she’s been overcharged by a pedicab driver before and claims she asked about the price before jumping in. 

‘As we were getting in I said “is this going to be more than $100?” and he said no. We took the ride and when we got out, he said it was going to be $250 (£205). We were obviously like, no way, that is insane,’ she said. 

‘I had a feeling we were going to be scammed before getting in. But there is way too much going on in the world to care about $60.’

The following day the friends saw the same driver near Big Ben and didn’t mind that he tried to overcharge them the night before. 

‘He seemed like a nice guy that first night and we were on such a high being on our little trip in London that we didn’t care enough for there to be any hard feelings,’ Nicole said. 

Pedicabs, also known as rickshaws, are treated in the same way as a horse and carriage under a Victorian law and therefore do not require regulation

In the six-second clip, Nicole can be heard telling the driver ‘no, that’s crazy’ and refused to pay such an exorbitant amount. Instead she paid $60 (£49) 

The TikTok video has since exceeded five million views and thousands were left in disbelief. 

‘The way I’d hand him a twenty and leave,’ one person commented. 

Other said they too have been charged ‘crazy’ amounts for pedicab rides in London before. 

‘Also been on one of these for less than ten mins and it cost £150!’ someone claimed. 

‘I paid $100 (£82) on what would of been a $20 (£16.50) Uber home in Miami because I was leaving the club at 7am and my phone was dead,’ another said. 

A third added: ‘They do it all the time, you need to agree a price beforehand.’ 

The following day the friends saw the same driver near Big Ben and didn’t mind that he tried to overcharge them the night before. ‘He seemed like a nice guy,’ Nicole said

Read more: Rogue West End pedicab operator charges two women £180 for a THREE-MINUTE ride

Pedicabs, also known as rickshaws, are treated in the same way as a horse and carriage under a Victorian law and therefore do not require regulation.

They can operate in London as Stage Carriages under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, and can charge single and separate fares per passenger.

Pedicab drivers are usually found in popular tourist destinations including Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Soho, Chinatown, Mayfair, Oxford Street and Marble Arch. 

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