In response to the King's Speech last week, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney has called on the Government to meet with her to discuss introducing rickshaws as a temporary transport solution across Hammersmith Bridge. 

Olney's call comes after the announcement in the Speech of the 'Pedicabs (London) Bill', which seeks to create a regulatory framework for rickshaws across the capital so that they are fully licensed and can be controlled, particularly in central London. 

However, rickshaw usage has also been proposed as a solution to transport individuals across Hammersmith Bridge, which has now been closed to motor traffic for almost 5 years. 

The Richmond Park MP's call follows a previous meeting with Trudy Copeland, Minister for Transport when she held that post on the same subject, and calls for 'a further meeting with the Department to discuss the possibility for Hammersmith Bridge and the surrounding areas to run a pilot scheme for a new, licensed Pedicab service.'

In her remarks, Olney also criticised the Government for their lack of action on sewage, in addition to the lack of further legislation to address the ongoing crisis with backlogs in the NHS. 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney said: "For almost 5 years, my constituents in Richmond Park have had to endure Government inaction on the re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge.

"The potential usage of rickshaws could be a real game changer for those who wish to cross the river, but are unable to walk to do so. 

"Having previously met with the Department for Transport on this issue, Ministers should make the most of this new proposed legislation and meet with me again to discuss a pilot scheme for a new, licensed Pedicab service" 

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