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Someone deliberately drove into London’s former cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan

Driver arrested

“He was not intending to do my health any good,” said Andrew Gilligan about the road rage motorist who deliberately knocked him off his bike last Wednesday evening. City Police say that a Camden man was arrested and subsequently released under investigation.

The London Evening Standard reports that London’s former cycling commissioner was riding along Bishopsgate outside Liverpool Street Station when he went into the back of a black SUV which stopped in front of him suddenly.

Gilligan said he went to “politely” remonstrate with the driver, who started to get out of the vehicle.

“He looked rather threatening so I thought I should cycle off. He revved up and went straight into the back of me.

“I was knocked off my bike and lying on the ground, bleeding. I could see him racing away. Police were on the scene very quickly and arrested the guy.”

Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”

He also has long cuts on his shins and bruised feet, “so I cannot walk any kind of speed or distance. I’ve been more or less at home for the past eight days.”

A spokeswoman for City Police said: “We can confirm a 27-year old man from Camden was arrested on April 4 for offences including grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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30 comments

Avatar
exilegareth | 6 years ago
0 likes

I can understand why somepeople, knowing something  of Gilligan's career and who he's willing  to work for, assume Gilligan may be an unreliable witness.

However dodgy drivers rarely choose their victimsd, and it may well be that this is, indeed an rather nasty accient which you wouldn't wish on anyone....

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darrenleroy | 6 years ago
0 likes

God, I wish Andrew Gilligan was the Mayor of London. 

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spragger | 6 years ago
5 likes

Why are so many drivers, so angry, so often?

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ktache replied to spragger | 6 years ago
12 likes

spragger wrote:

Why are so many drivers, so angry, so often?

They were sold the fantasy of the open road.  They were lied to.

They hate our freedom.

Avatar
Milkfloat replied to spragger | 6 years ago
2 likes

spragger wrote:

Why are so many drivers, so angry, so often?

 

In this case perhaps because someone crashed into the back of their car and did a runner.

Avatar
FluffyKittenofT... replied to Milkfloat | 6 years ago
7 likes

Milkfloat wrote:

spragger wrote:

Why are so many drivers, so angry, so often?

 

In this case perhaps because someone crashed into the back of their car and did a runner.

 

True, it doesn't seem clear-cut as to who was to blame for the initial collision - maybe the guy stopped too suddenly without warning, but also  there is an onus on whoever is behind to stop rather than hit the back of the vehicle in front.

But, how much damage is a bike really going to do?  It hardly threatened the driver's life.  So we are back to the point that drivers do get preposterously angry at anyone so much as _touching_ their precious vehicle, while ususally being quite blase about expecting vulnerable road users, who are far more likely to be injured, to get out of their way or suffer being driven into.

The second impact appears to hav e been deliberate, and involved a lot more risk than some possible scratched paintwork.

 

Anyway, my theory is drivers are angry because prolonged physical inactivity leads to arterial sclerosis which can in turn lead to subtle brain dysfunction.  Possibly the same reason why people get so angry on the internet!

Avatar
madcarew | 6 years ago
1 like

I assume he was wearing a helmet, otherwise it could have been so much worse!

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grumpyoldcyclist | 6 years ago
6 likes

I think if someone deliberately drives a 4x4 into a pedestrian or cyclist then the charges mentioned are about right. However, it will be interesting to see what the police, and more importantly the CPS, actually proceed with. Hope the victim gets better soon.

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zero_trooper | 6 years ago
9 likes

The suspect should have bail conditions to only use a bike as transport. Would open his eyes a bit  1

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don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes

"Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”"

But wasn't.

Avatar
Crampy replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
3 likes

don simon wrote:

"Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”"

But wasn't.

Hurray! Captian obvious is bloody obvious! 

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Crampy | 6 years ago
1 like

Crampy wrote:

don simon wrote:

"Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”"

But wasn't.

Hurray! Captian obvious is bloody obvious! 

Hurray! So you can explain precisely why he mentioned something that is patently unfuckingtrue then, can't you?

Avatar
Jitensha Oni replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
3 likes

don simon wrote:

Crampy wrote:

don simon wrote:

"Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”"

But wasn't.

Hurray! Captian obvious is bloody obvious! 

Hurray! So you can explain precisely why he mentioned something that is patently unfuckingtrue then, can't you?

Presumably if you’re that confident, you must have seen the incident and are helping the police with their enquiries. In which case you maybe prejudicing a possible trial.

Avatar
Crampy replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes

don simon wrote:

Crampy wrote:

don simon wrote:

"Gilligan said his bike was a wreck, adding: “I have tyre marks on my shoes. It could have been so much worse. I am very, very shaken — I was very close to being paralysed.”"

But wasn't.

Hurray! Captian obvious is bloody obvious! 

Hurray! So you can explain precisely why he mentioned something that is patently unfuckingtrue then, can't you?

Hurray!

No, not if you ask like that.

Say please and I’ll consider it. 

Avatar
Rich_cb replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
1 like
don simon wrote:

Hurray! So you can explain precisely why he mentioned something that is patently unfuckingtrue then, can't you?

How do you know it is patently unfuckingtrue?

Have you examined his medical records and x-rays?

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Rich_cb | 6 years ago
1 like

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Hurray! So you can explain precisely why he mentioned something that is patently unfuckingtrue then, can't you?

How do you know it is patently unfuckingtrue? Have you examined his medical records and x-rays?

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

Avatar
Rich_cb replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them.

Nice work.

I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments?

Strange.

Avatar
Crampy replied to Rich_cb | 6 years ago
2 likes

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them. Nice work. I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments? Strange.

Because you can take the cunt out of the Audi. But not the Audi out of the cunt. Or something else that makes sense.

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Crampy | 6 years ago
1 like

Crampy wrote:

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them. Nice work. I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments? Strange.

Because you can take the cunt out of the Audi. But not the Audi out of the cunt. Or something else that makes sense.

Who's got a fucking Audi?

 

Avatar
Crampy replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
4 likes

don simon wrote:

Crampy wrote:

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them. Nice work. I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments? Strange.

Because you can take the cunt out of the Audi. But not the Audi out of the cunt. Or something else that makes sense.

Who's got a fucking Audi?

 

I was totally unaware Audis reproduced like that. I had assumed there was a factory that produced the hateful things.

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Crampy | 6 years ago
3 likes

Crampy wrote:

don simon wrote:

Crampy wrote:

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them. Nice work. I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments? Strange.

Because you can take the cunt out of the Audi. But not the Audi out of the cunt. Or something else that makes sense.

Who's got a fucking Audi?

 

I was totally unaware Audis reproduced like that. I had assumed there was a factory that produced the hateful things.

Offspring durch fickfick.

 

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Rich_cb | 6 years ago
2 likes

Rich_cb wrote:
don simon wrote:

Oh fuck me!

I'll give you a little hint, mate, you bore the fuck out of me. I've managed to ignore the threads that you've manage to turn into borefests and life is much more pleasant for it.

Have a great Saturday night in.

You ignored the threads by commenting on them. Nice work. I know you get tetchy on threads that criticise 4x4s but why do you always feel the need to make baseless comments? Strange.

No mate. I told you that you bore me to fuck  by commenting, ignoring is done by not commenting and erm, by definition, ignoring them.

"Always feel the need to make baseless comments" will need supporting evidence.

Cheerio old, insignificant, bean. No more replies to you as you're not work the time or effort. If you could be blocked, your inane demands for evidence and rejections of evidence until everyone falls asleep would be blocked.

Chao!

 

 

Avatar
Rich_cb replied to don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes
don simon wrote:

No mate. I told you that you bore me to fuck  by commenting, ignoring is done by not commenting and erm, by definition, ignoring them.

"Always feel the need to make baseless comments" will need supporting evidence.

Cheerio old, insignificant, bean. No more replies to you as you're not work the time or effort. If you could be blocked, your inane demands for evidence and rejections of evidence until everyone falls asleep would be blocked.

Chao!

Pathetic. As usual.

Avatar
jaysa | 6 years ago
5 likes

Culprit will probbaly calim, like the incomptent in yesterday's close pass, that 'He'd had a terrible, intimidating experience recently and was terrified of the large burly man coming to his door' - so drove into him.

Avatar
a1white | 6 years ago
8 likes

If he doesn't get locked up for that, there is something seriously wrong.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet replied to a1white | 6 years ago
8 likes

a1white wrote:

If he doesn't get locked up for that, there is something seriously wrong.

Yeah he really should look where he's going instead of riding into the back of people.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to a1white | 6 years ago
7 likes

a1white wrote:

If he doesn't get locked up for that, there is something seriously wrong.

Why should he be locked up?  It was clearly the cyclist's fault for getting in the way of somebody important in a 4x4.

We had an office competition for an advertising slogan for 4x4s; mine was "only got 4 inches?  Drive a 4x4"

Avatar
pjm60 replied to a1white | 6 years ago
2 likes

a1white wrote:

If he doesn't get locked up for that, there is something seriously wrong.

 

If convicted. 

Specifically, if convicted of gbh with intent he will be delayed for several years.

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
8 likes

What the actual shit is going on?

Avatar
Zjtm231 replied to hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
1 like
hawkinspeter wrote:

What the actual shit is going on?

Not uncommon in London. Similar happened to me on Southwark bridge (before concrete protection) and London Bridge.

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