Dundee.

A taxi trade unionist has hit back at a plan to develop a rickshaw business in Dundee.

Chris Elder, Unite Union taxi branch secretary, has said he has “serious concerns” about the plan.

Entrepreneur Adam Gierak has proposed to introduce the bike-based mode of transport, arguing that it will provide customers with a safe and environmentally friendly way of getting round the city.

However, Mr Elder said: “I have serious concerns regarding the public safety of this proposal.

“Who will test these contraptions to see if they are fit for the road? Will the rickshaw operators have public liability insurance? Will they sit a street knowledge test?

“The proposals claim that the rickshaws only do five miles an hour and that there are no emissions so it would benefit the city. Are the council going to put cycle lanes all over the city centre to deal with these rickshaws? If not they will cause more pollution in the city with buses and taxis piled up behind them.

“There is not enough taxi rank space as it is — where are these rickshaws going to sit?”

Councillors will vote on Mr Gierak’s idea at the licensing committee on Thursday, but Mr Elder also believes that he is applying for the wrong sort of licence.

“I understand that the rickshaw operator is applying for a street traders’ licence,” Mr Elder said. “If he is picking up passengers for hire and reward he would need a hackney licence and, as the city has capped hackney licences, he would need a private hire licence and would need to be pre-booked,” he added.

Mr Gierak, who is from Poland, plans on starting out with two rickshaws — one ridden by himself and another by a second driver. His rickshaws would go by the name Scottish Eco-taxis, and he says they will offer three types of trip.