Council orders pedal power probe

Rickshaws have been in use in Edinburgh for four years

Aberdeen is to look into running rickshaw services around the city's streets.

Two plans to introduce the tricycles to Union Street were put before the city council licensing committee on Monday.

After lengthy discussion, councillors decided to order a report into the proposals.

Rickshaws have operated for more than four years in Edinburgh but other Scottish cities have so far not followed suit.

If finally agreed by councillors, the tricycles would be used to cover short distances in the city centre.

Supporters say rickshaws, which are more commonly associated with Asia, are environmentally friendly.

It's a nice, friendly transport system Raymond Apedaile Pedal Pumpers

But police and road bosses fear the slow-moving carriages will create traffic hold-ups.

One of the proposed operators, Pedal Pumpers, is run by Fraserburgh engineer Raymond Apedaile.

Mr Apedaile attended the meeting and addressed committee members on Monday.

He said he was seeking guidance from the council about his scheme which would run from the beach Esplanade to the Castlegate.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's a nice, friendly transport system which some people might see as gimmicky but it's something that might be looked at as helpful for the elderly and disabled."

High gears

Businessman Philip Varley has been running 20 rickshaws in Edinburgh for the past four years.

Mr Varley said: "We do our best to work around the weather, as long as it's not too cold it's not really a major problem.

"Hills are an issue but the drivers try and work around them and try not to go up too many if they can help it. The bikes are very high geared so it is possible."

However, the London Taxi Drivers Association has tried to have the vehicles banned from the roads there.

The organisation claims hundreds of rickshaws have made congestion worse.