Mayor of London appoints Andrew Gilligan as Cycling Commissioner

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has appointed Andrew Gilligan as the first ever Cycling Commissioner for London. Gilligan will report to the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Isabel Dedring, working closely with Transport for London (TfL), and having oversight of the development of TfL cycling policy, programmes, investment priorities, and the progress of the delivery of cycling programmes in London.

“Nearly all my travel in London, about 100 miles [160 kilometres] a week, is by bike, so I understand cycling provision from a cyclist’s point of view,” said Gilligan. “As a fairly recent convert, cycling since 2006, I believe I have a clear understanding of what gets people on to two wheels, what puts them off and what will keep them cycling. I am hugely looking forward to helping the Mayor launch a set of ambitious cycling policies which will benefit Londoners as a whole, not just cyclists.”

Gilligan’s responsibilities will also include representing London’s interests on cycling, raising its profile in the capital, and ensuring that cycle safety remains a key priority. His role will also involve engaging with local boroughs and the cycling community to champion cycling as a transport solution.

“Andrew Gilligan is the perfect fit for the role of cycling commissioner,” said Mayor Johnson. “His drive, determination and ideas will be immensely valuable assets as we press forward with my agenda for cycling.”

Andrew Gilligan will take on the role of Cycling Commissioner for London, working part-time (two days a week) at City Hall. As a journalist he has worked for the London Evening Standard, Channel 4, the Today Programme and The Spectator. He will continue to work part time as a reporter for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers. As a journalist and blogger, Gilligan has written extensively about the need for improved cycle facilities and devised and launched the Evening Standard‘s 2007 ‘Safer Cycling’ campaign.