Aberdeen's authorities get the wind up over rickshaw plan

PLANS to use bicycle rickshaws to ferry passengers about in Aberdeen are in danger of being blown away because of safety concerns over the effect of the notorious "street canyon" wind on its main thoroughfare.

Two separate applications to operate rickshaws as a means of public transport will be considered by the city council’s licensing committee on Monday. Stan Barker, a courier from London, wants to operate a fleet of up to 20 rickshaws under the name "Cockneys" and Raymond Apedaile, a Fraserburgh engineer, hopes to run a fleet of five called "Pedal Pumpers".

However, both police and the city council’s roads officials are objecting to the applications on safety grounds.

Roads officials say the rickshaws would lead to greater congestion in the city centre, while police warn they could be at risk from Aberdeen’s windy weather. Chief Inspector Mark McLaren has raised concerns about the impact of side winds on the rickshaws’ canopies as well as the "street canyon" effect created in places with high buildings on both sides of the road, such as Union Street.