Bjarne Riis set for WorldTour return with NTT; Rohan Dennis on eating disorders; Boss trolls new cyclist; Pointless cycle lane; Aussie cyclist cops $915 fine; Cycling booms in Paris; Shocking close pass on 11-year-old girl + more on the live blog

Edgeley wrote:

The Northern Ireland bike lane is rather magnificent.   The splendid Warrington Cycle Campaign facility of the month doesn't seem to have been updated for the best part of a year, but this would definitely make it in.

I agree, it is so far past ridiculous it's almost perfection in illustrating how completely out of touch some planners are.  There are no redeeming qualities to it all all, I wonder who would admit to designing it / signing it off?

grumpyoldcyclist wrote:

Edgeley wrote:

The Northern Ireland bike lane is rather magnificent.   The splendid Warrington Cycle Campaign facility of the month doesn't seem to have been updated for the best part of a year, but this would definitely make it in.

I agree, it is so far past ridiculous it's almost perfection in illustrating how completely out of touch some planners are.  There are no redeeming qualities to it all all, I wonder who would admit to designing it / signing it off?

Perhaps they thought that they were being helpful: providing facilities for Belfast commuters to hone their skills at slaloming...?

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

Someone did put in an foi request and the hundreds of bottles of chateauneuf Dr pape seemed to be unsustainable, when asked for a copy of the invoice for the wine the only one that appears to have been disclosed is one for two twelve bottle cases for £400 and something ponds.  Try whatdotheyknow, it should be findable on there, I could be wrong on the details

Could Boris have lied?  That would be soooooo out of character

spen wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

 

Someone did put in an foi request and the hundreds of bottles of chateauneuf Dr pape seemed to be unsustainable, when asked for a copy of the invoice for the wine the only one that appears to have been disclosed is one for two twelve bottle cases for £400 and something ponds.  Try whatdotheyknow, it should be findable on there.

 

Could Boris have lied?  That would be soooooo out of character

I think you're referring to this: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mayor_johnson_wine_inheritance_f#outgoing-110132

Boris undoubtedly lied - it's as natural as breathing to him.

However, he did seem to have had far more of an impact on the Santander Bike scheme than Livingstone did - unless anyone has evidence to the contrary?

hawkinspeter wrote:

Boris undoubtedly lied - it's as natural as breathing to him.

However, he did seem to have had far more of an impact on the Santander Bike scheme than Livingstone did - unless anyone has evidence to the contrary?

During his time in office TfL appeared to make more progress to promote and facilitate cycling than his successor, 'Inaction Man' Sadiq Khan.

hawkinspeter wrote:

spen wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

 

Someone did put in an foi request and the hundreds of bottles of chateauneuf Dr pape seemed to be unsustainable, when asked for a copy of the invoice for the wine the only one that appears to have been disclosed is one for two twelve bottle cases for £400 and something ponds.  Try whatdotheyknow, it should be findable on there.

 

Could Boris have lied?  That would be soooooo out of character

I think you're referring to this: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mayor_johnson_wine_inheritance_f#outgoing-110132

Boris undoubtedly lied - it's as natural as breathing to him.

However, he did seem to have had far more of an impact on the Santander Bike scheme than Livingstone did - unless anyone has evidence to the contrary?

Guess we'll have to wait twenty or so years to find out who's telling porkies

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

Surely not the same Andrew Gilligan who 'sexed up' the report about Saddam Husseins WMDs that resulted in the death of Dr David Kelly? Who had most London boroughs refusing to work with him because he was such a dick?

That Andrew Gilligan?

zanf wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

 

Surely not the same Andrew Gilligan who 'sexed up' the report about Saddam Husseins WMDs that resulted in the death of Dr David Kelly? Who had most London boroughs refusing to work with him because he was such a dick?

That Andrew Gilligan?

Yep, even a stopped clock etc.

hawkinspeter wrote:

zanf wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

 

Surely not the same Andrew Gilligan who 'sexed up' the report about Saddam Husseins WMDs that resulted in the death of Dr David Kelly? Who had most London boroughs refusing to work with him because he was such a dick?

That Andrew Gilligan?

Yep, even a stopped clock etc.

He was also Cycling Commissioner for London under Boris, so he's not exactly an impartial voice in all of this, is he.  He might have to give back his London Cycling Campaign award if he admitted it was all down to someone else.

zanf wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Perhaps one of the Boris bikes could be named after the man who started it: Ken Livingstone.

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2014/jun/23/boris-johnson-bikes-ken-livingstone

Andrew Gilligan wrote:

I feel bad about knocking one of the London left's most cherished articles of faith – but Ken Livingstone did not "hand over" London's public bike hire scheme to his successor and Boris Johnson did not "steal" the idea from him (Diary, 20 June). The Tories proposed a public cycle hire scheme in London on 12 September 2007. It took until the following February for Ken to make a similar commitment – seven-and-three-quarter years after he became mayor – and no work was done to implement it in the three months before he left office. The only thing he handed over to the new City Hall team was a well-stocked wine cupboard.

Did he?

Also, see https://www.libdemvoice.org/londons-bike-hire-scheme-20713.html

 

Surely not the same Andrew Gilligan who 'sexed up' the report about Saddam Husseins WMDs that resulted in the death of Dr David Kelly? Who had most London boroughs refusing to work with him because he was such a dick?

That Andrew Gilligan?

Er, no. Your memory of the Iraq farrago is confused. Gilligan didn't 'sex up' that report, he accused the Blair government of doing so, and one of the absurdities of that situation was in the end he was the one who lost his job, not those who actually took us to war based on misrepresented piss-weak 'evidence'.
Almost nobody is consistently wrong about everything, any more than anyone is consistently right. Livingstone and Boris are both flawed characters (as is Khan, only his flaws are less dramatic and more boring).

I don't mind giving Johnson some credit for the cycling stuff - it doesn't come close to outweighing all the bad things he's done in any case.

zanf wrote:

 Surely not the same Andrew Gilligan who 'sexed up' the report about Saddam Husseins WMDs that resulted in the death of Dr David Kelly? Who had most London boroughs refusing to work with him because he was such a dick?  That Andrew Gilligan?  

Talk about shooting the messenger.  Your implication is beyond outrageous; Gilligan is the journalist who, at great personal and professional cost, spoke on the Today programme and revealed the level of duplicity in the Iraq report.  

Perhaps you should limit your outbursts to Twitter, where you would be in good company.

jollygoodvelo wrote:

54% rise in cycling in ONE YEAR?!  Well done, Paris.

Of course, that couldn't possibly be done in London, Birmingham, Bristol or wherever because, er...

They let cyclists treat red traffic lights as give-way signs - I can't see the UK's motorists agreeing to that.

They also don't have juries for traffic collisions to determine fault.