RICKSHAWS are to be banned from Glasgow streets until approved safety measures are installed.

The vehicles are a regular sight on the streets of Edinburgh and are popular with tourists.

But city council bosses have decided to impose tight safety rules on any operators in Scotland's largest city following a ruling from the Court of Session.

The pedal power rickshaws, known as pedicabs, can carry three passengers at a time who are harnessed using a single lap belt between them.

Police and city council roads bosses raised concerns on safety grounds after Robin Birrell applied for a street trader licence for the operation of a pedicab as it did not have three-point seatbelts or a roll cage.

Mr Birrell took his case to the Sheriff Court in January last year which found in his favour.

But the city council appealed, decided to review its current policy on rickshaws and instructed no new applications should be approved until the outcome of the review.

The appeal was heard in Scotland's highest court which over-ruled the Sheriff's decision.

Lord Malcolm noted the council's concerns were based on advice from then Chief Constable Steve House and the council's executive director of land and environmental services Brian Devlin.

He said: "We are of the opinion there was more than sufficient material before the committee to support and justify the decision."

The judge said councillors were fully entitled to conclude roll bars and three point seatbelts were essential to provide for the reasonable safety of the public in the event of a collision.

Members of the licensing committee have now agreed no licences for pedicabs will be approved until they have an official build standard and recognised safety certification

Councillors also agreed each vehicle must have individual three-point seatbelts and be fitted with a roll-cage to protect passengers.

And they decided to scrap plans for a review of policy, given the decision of the Court of Session.

A spokesman said “The Court of Session made it very clear in their judgement that the committee was fully entitled to take a view on the safety of pedicabs.

“Following the earlier decision in the Sheriff Court, it was indicated that we would review our policy on pedicabs.

“However, as the Sheriff’s decision has since been overturned in the Court of Session, the committee has now agreed to formalise a policy that requires pedicabs to have a recognised safety certificate, three-point seat belts and roll cages to protect passenger safety.”