Boris' new Cycling Advisor

Can anyone tell me what credentials Andrew Gilligan, Boris' new and highly-paid Cycling Advisor, has for being given this job? (This is a serious question.)

I guess they bonded over their shared dislike for Ken Livingstone. A half arsed google search revealed: he seems to think segregated bicycle lanes are the answer and he's never driven a car.

2 reasons why I would have trouble hiring him.

Agreed! So the question still stands, what are his credentials, anyone?

He seems better qualified than someone who's done no cycling at all. But his previous association with Boris does raise the worrying possibility that he won't call him out when he's failing to actually do anything positive for cycling.

A quick (serious) reciprocal question @3phaser & zeez: what would you accept as credentials for the job? I can't think they'd for a moment consider appointing someone who cycles round London for a loving e.g., a courier, because of the image problem that couriers have with teh public. So what would qualify someone for the job?

He seems better qualified than someone who's done no cycling at all. But his previous association with Boris does raise the worrying possibility that he won't call him out when he's failing to actually do anything positive for cycling.

A quick (serious) reciprocal question @3phaser & zeez: what would you accept as credentials for the job? I can't think they'd for a moment consider appointing someone who cycles round London for a loving e.g., a courier, because of the image problem that couriers have with teh public. So what would qualify someone for the job?

a forum member number below 10,000 and has been to each compass beers at least once.

on a serious note

he seems to think segregated bicycle lanes are the answer and he's never driven a car.

2 reasons why I would have trouble hiring him.

agreed

Someone who is a meaningful pro-cyclist campaigner and who is independent, without prior association with Boris, would be a good start. How much genuine pro-cyclist activism can Mr Gilligan offer?

... someone who cycles round London for a loving e.g., a courier, ...

Jeebus, what kind of couriers do you know?!

AG seemed to me to be the one that got Dr David Kelly in the shit, who from what I've heard (allegedly etc) was then found dead in the woods with cuts on his wrists but no blood found at the scene.

Also worked for the Iranian TV station Press TV for which he got quite a bit of criticism from his old boss (Today programme days) Rod Liddle.

None of this makes him a suitable candidate.

...All of this makes him a suitable candidate.

To be a friend of Boris.

AG seemed to me to be the one that got Dr David Kelly in the shit, who from what I've heard (allegedly etc) was then found dead in the woods with cuts on his wrists but no blood found at the scene.

Also worked for the Iranian TV station Press TV for which he got quite a bit of criticism from his old boss (Today programme days) Rod Liddle.

None of this makes him a suitable candidate.

He also appears to set up sock puppets to agree with himself on the internet:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2008/nov/03/gilligan

Not something proper journalists do.

jobs for the boys anyone

OK then, when can I start?

"Right, Boris. Cycling advice. Derailleurs are crap, Drop handlebars are for try-hards, and hi-vis is for builders. Now where's my bonus."

You fail. You forgot to mention that bikes aren't traffic and they belong all the way over there <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< and that if they stray too far away from their little designated zones they will get squashed and it will be their fault.

must be able to cut hair using just a bowl and a nail file

He also appears to set up sock puppets to agree with himself on the internet:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2008/nov/03/gilligan

Not something proper journalists do.

Good point Spindrift.

He seems better qualified than someone who's done no cycling at all. But his previous association with Boris does raise the worrying possibility that he won't call him out when he's failing to actually do anything positive for cycling.

A quick (serious) reciprocal question @3phaser & zeez: what would you accept as credentials for the job? I can't think they'd for a moment consider appointing someone who cycles round London for a loving e.g., a courier, because of the image problem that couriers have with teh public. So what would qualify someone for the job?

I guess a healthy and open dialogue with London cyclists, cycling bodies and campaigners. Capable of evaluating cycling statistics independently and without personal or political agenda. Broad understanding of traffic infrastructure in big cities. Oh and genuinely wanting to do the best for London cyclists and cycling present and future.

Somebody who commutes daily might be a start...no matter what rider you are, bus stops on the middle of cycle lanes are a recipe for disaster, so is having cycle lanes used as parking areas, unsafe crossings.

Which means Boris should know about this but maybe the man is just not very smart or half asleep on his bike ;)

Anybody have to put up with that on a daily basis through various areas, no matter what type of cyclist you are, will have first hand experience with the issues and meet various types of cyclist on the road.

It seems most big cities share the same problems: A wider outlook might be good too, see how NL/Germany etc. work out how to share space meant for cars/cyclists.

Segregated cycle lanes are the norm in NL, I don't mind being on the road, but they may increase uptake of cycling due to increased subjective safety (away from cars people feel safe even though cycling number-wise is very safe)

We get total numpties developing cycle policies over in Belfast, Norn Ire also. People that never ride a bike going on "be safe" photo tours, wobbling over the road while the roads service lets all and sundry park on cycle lanes and some cycle lanes end after 6 meters.

Rant over :P

If any candidate is a fixie/downhilling/vintage bike nut I'd consider that to be a bonus... ;)

Gilligan's blog.

Rumbles of this being pretty big/radical/controversial

Early today, the Mayor will announce “an Olympic legacy for all Londoners”, in the form of a dedicated and meaningful commitment to creating a city where people feel they have the choice to use a bicycle instead of driving. There are six key planks to the plan:

• A Crossrail for bikes from way out west to the east London
  
• A re-think of the Junction Review to focus on getting fewer junctions right, rather than lots of junctions half-right
  
• A bike grid of safe routes in central London
  
• A network of Quietways, to upgrade routes on borough roads
  
• A series of Mini-Hollands - big investments in cycling in some outer London boroughs, rather than lots of boroughs sharing small amounts of cash
  
• A slight re-think (in a good way) on the planned Cycle Super Highway 5
  
  

From cyclists in the City blog

Here's the pdf;

http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Cycling%20Vision%20GLA%20template%20FINAL.pdf

^Impossible to read the foreword without BoJo's voice in head.

If they can communicate this bit right it can't fail. Maybe.

It means more seats on the Tube, less competition for a parking place and fewer cars in front of yours at the lights.