Richmond Park MP, Sarah Olney this week met with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Davies, to gain the department's support for a new pedicab service across Hammersmith Bridge.

Olney has long supported the potential of pedicabs, sometimes known as rickshaws, to be used to transport individuals who struggle to walk over the bridge - which has been closed to motor vehicles since April 2019. 

In 2021, Olney supported a similar trial scheme run by the Barnes Community Association (BCA).

The trial, which lasted six months, was extremely popular locally carrying over 9,100 people across the river.

However, despite the initiative providing a valuable public service, it did not receive any funding or logistical support from the Government. 

Olney's renewed campaign, which is supported by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, seeks to secure support from every level of Government for the proposal.

This follows HM Government's recent decision to support the Pedicabs (London) Bill which would enshrine the regulation of rickshaws in London into law.

During the meeting, Lord Davies expressed a willingness to explore the proposal and highlighted that, should the Pedicabs (London) Bill pass into law, Transport for London would be empowered to institute the scheme extremely quickly. 

Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney said: "Almost 5 years after Hammersmith Bridge was closed to motor vehicles, setting up a pilot scheme to allow pedicabs to provide transport over the bridge is a no-brainer. 

"For those with disabilities or who are unable to walk long distances, this service would provide a lifeline and enable easy travel between Hammersmith and Barnes for the first time in half a decade. 

"If the Government is serious about helping local residents they should work with the local authorities to support this scheme and help give local people the transport infrastructure they need."