Lib-Dem by-election candidate calls for Boris Bike scheme to be extended to Richmond

The Liberal Democrat candidate in next week’s Richmond Park by-election has called for London’s Boris bikes to be extended to the borough. Sarah Olney said she had been ‘overwhelmed’ by support for the idea from local residents.

Thursday’s Richmond Park by-election was triggered by the resignation of Zac Goldsmith as Conservative MP over plans to develop a third runaway at Heathrow. His is now standing as an independent candidate.

The London Evening Standard reports that Transport for London requires boroughs to pay about £2 million towards expansion costs and Olney believes it would be worth it.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the huge support from local residents for bringing cycle hire into the heart of Richmond. This plan would cut congestion, improve air quality and reduce overcrowding on public transport.”

London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon added: “Liberal Democrats have always been passionate about transforming London into a truly cycling city.”

For his part, Goldsmith was Goldsmith accused of being the "anti-cycling" London mayoral candidate earlier in the year. He said that he would rip up segregated routes if they were shown not to be working and also expressed concerns over the consultation processes for CS11 and Enfield's Mini Holland, even though respondents to both were overwhelmingly in favour.

British Cycling policy advisor Chris Boardman said he viewed Goldsmith "with a degree of suspicion" when it came to his policies on cycling.