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Mayor appoints Nike executive as London’s first full-time cycling commissioner

Predecessor says it is ‘not ideal’ for Will Norman to be employed by Transport for London

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has appointed Will Norman, Nike’s current global partnerships director, as the city’s first full-time cycling commissioner. Norman, who takes up the post in February, will work with Transport for London (TfL) to invest £770m on new cycling infrastructure and pedestrian schemes across the capital.

The walking and cycling commissioner role replaces that of cycling commissioner, becoming a full-time position with a salary of £98,000 a year.

Sadiq Khan, said:

“I’m determined to make walking and cycling safer and easier for all Londoners, which is why I’m providing more investment than ever before, and appointing a commissioner to focus full-time on this vital area of work.

“Will Norman brings to this new role an impressive track record in delivering major international projects to get more people active. As the first ever full-time commissioner, he will be able to make a substantial difference getting Londoners of all ages and backgrounds walking and cycling more – improving our city for everyone.”

In his current position at Nike, Norman specialises in increasing levels of physical activity and participation in sports around the world, working with a range of international organisations.

Before joining the firm in 2013, he set up a social research consultancy and was also director of research at The Young Foundation.

Since taking office, Khan has been keen to better shape the city for pedestrians and Norman was keen to emphasise that aspect of his role.

“I’ve been working for the last five years advocating the benefits of exercise and physical activity to people’s lives around the world. Cycling and walking can play a transformational role in improving our health and happiness, and building better communities for everyone. I am hugely excited to have the opportunity to champion cycling and walking in my home town.

“London has so much potential to be a more active city and I’m looking forward to applying my knowledge and experience to open up cycling to everyone in our city, and give walking the focus it truly deserves. Too often the importance of walking has been underplayed – I’m determined to put it higher on the agenda.”

The role was previously part of the Greater London Authority with the Cycling Champion part of the previous Mayor's team. In contrast, Norman will be employed by TfL.

While he will work closely with the Mayor’s office and with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Val Shawcross, some might view this structure as potentially creating a conflict of interest.

Norman’s predecessor, Andrew Gilligan, has described the situation as ‘not ideal,’ saying it makes it harder for TfL to be held to account.

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5 comments

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kitsunegari | 7 years ago
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£98,000 a year for a common sense position, from which any positive suggestions that could curtail the activity of motorists will likely be ignored.

What the holy fuck?

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brooksby replied to kitsunegari | 7 years ago
1 like
kitsunegari wrote:

£98,000 a year for a common sense position, from which any positive suggestions that could curtail the activity of motorists will likely be ignored.

What the holy fuck?

I have no worries at all about London's cycling-as-transport being dealt with by the global partnerships director of a multinational sportswear company...

Avatar
emishi55 | 7 years ago
2 likes

I wonder what could be done to increase walking and cycling in the traffic infested and motor vehicle plagued capital city of London, where boroughs like westminster and barnett reject  suggestions such as 20mph speed limit in Regent's Park? 

What could be necessary for this new commissioner to comprehend from the outset, while we continue to inhale NOx and PM2.5/5s that have breached Euro levels a thousand times in a year?

How could children cycle to school via residential areas that have become access-all-vehicles prime SAT NAV assisted rat-running through-routes?

hmm...thinks...

 

Don't mention the M - O - T - O - R - C - A - R - S.

 

(I did....but I think I got away with it!) 

 

BTW)  This appointment's been available since May 2016. 

Hope it's going to have been worth it.

 

 

 

 

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to emishi55 | 7 years ago
4 likes
emishi55 wrote:

How could children cycle to school via residential areas that have become access-all-vehicles prime SAT NAV assisted rat-running through-routes?

maybe he will just put the children to work in sweatshops, paid 30 pence an hour for a 12 hour work day - problem solved.

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HarrogateSpa | 7 years ago
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Will Norman? Be any good? I've never heard of him, but I guess he should be given a chance to show he can make a big impact.

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