Britain is about to undergo a "walking and cycling revolution" with £2 billion of government funding.

This week the Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the plans which include:

• cycle training for any child or adult who wants it
• more cycle racks at transport hubs and town centres
• better access to e-bikes
• thousands of miles of new cycle routes
• bicycles available "on prescription"

The government also handed out free £50 bike repair vouchers.

The news was welcomed by Richmond Cycling, the town's branch of the London Cycling Campaign.

"Better walking and cycling benefits everyone, even if they drive, and the combination of new design guidance to remove conflict between pedestrians and cyclists, combined with a real focus on 'utility cycling' - getting around by bike to do the chores, go to school etc - is an excellent change," a spokesman for the group said.

"Richmond already has a number of major programmes being looked at, like Kew Road and Hampton Court Road, and there could be 15 new school streets in September.

"However, councillors of all parties need to step up to the mark to make these things happen - with 12% of all our road space dedicated to car storage, it's going to need councillors to really make the case."

The chair of the Highways and Air Quality Committee on Richmond Council said the £2bn project would help to make cycling "more accessible and appealing" to people in Richmond.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann said: "I'm pleased that national government have woken up to the importance of cycling and the enabling infrastructure to make it more accessible and appealing to more residents."

He answered Richmond Cycling's challenge, saying: "This administration is ambitious for change and has already deployed near-universal 20mph speed limits, delivered the first tranche of 15 school streets; and has begun work on cycle lane upgrades, which provide the borough's first protected cycling facilities."

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