CrankyOne

There are rumors that former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg might run for mayor of London in 2016. How much of the advances in bicycling infrastructure were driven by Bloomberg and how much by Sadik-Khan is hard to know. Certainly on the ground it was Sadik-Khan but she couldn't have done it without at least strong support from Bloomberg and it's likely he was actually pushing quite hard.

Could be interesting for London (though I'd love to see him back in NYC).

Chris516

Unless he has dual citizenship, he can't run. Because, That would violate British election laws. Just like an American cannot run for Prime Minister.

But, If he does have dual-citizenship. Maybe he could clean up the city. Not just for cyclists'. But for every citizen who has to breath the smog. Which competes with the smog in L.A.

lostarchitect 

He's not a citizen of the UK, so I don't know who started this rumor, but it's impossible for him to become mayor of London.

He is however an honorary Knight-Commander of the British Empire, so named by the Queen for his philanthropic work. Traditionally this would mean he would be addressed as "Sir," however because he is not a citizen the position is honorary, and he is not to be addressed that way.

dynodonn 

In talking to one Brit living over here and returns to London to visit family, he says that LA's smog is bad, but London's smog is worse, since there is little way in pollution control being in effect.

I-Like-To-Bike

Ya sure it wasn't Beruit or Tehran? Seems just as likely.

CrankyOne

He is not currently a British citizen but does live in London. He has stated before that he was considering British citizenship and given his investments in buildings in Britain and in other EU countries he can have citizenship fast-tracked. We'll see.

Chris516

It is worse in London. There was even a time several years ago. When the sanitation workers went on strike, causing the garbage to pile up. Whatever is/was left from that cleanup, Could have contributed to the problem.

It makes me glad. When I lived in London 1976-1978, London wasn't at all like it is today.

mr_bill

Have you found any news stories about Bloomberg considering running for Mayor of Beruit or Tehran? Have you found any evidence of him *living* in Beruit or Tehran?

I didn't think so. Wherever there is some amount of signal, our resident noise generator is sure to follow.

-mr. bill

I-Like-To-Bike

As many as there are "news stories" about his running for Mayor of London. You didn't think; just wanted to sharpshoot; no surprise.

asmac

You don't "run for Prime Minister" like you run to be president. You can run for Parliament if you meet these citizenship qualifications -- "People wishing to stand as an MP must be over 18 years of age, be a British citizen or citizen of a Commonwealth country or the Republic of Ireland." If you can persuade your party to elect you as leader and if your party wins the most seats in a general election then the Queen will ask you to form a government and you will be the PM.

Presumably the citizenship qualifications to run for municipal office are similar. He could probably get dual citizenship but I can't really imagine people electing a recent immigrant as mayor. He'd have to start by learning English.

Wanderer

Gee, I wonder if we could get them to take Obama as well?

mr_bill

"Ya sure it wasn't Beruit or Tehran? Seems just as likely."

There is a zero chance of Mike running for Mayor of Beruit or Tehran.
There is a non-zero chance of Mike running for Mayor of London.

Therefore, it is not "just as likely." Nearly as unlikely I'll spot you. But not "just as likely."

I think it's a rather silly story which has next to nothing to do with bikes. Except perhaps, as noted elsewhere by the current Mayor, "We have both put in bike-hire schemes (ours, I think, a couple of years ahead of yours)...." (Two years, nine months, twenty-seven days, but who's counting?)


And now back to our regularly scheduled "contributions"....

-mr. bill

I-Like-To-Bike

Thank you for you nit-picking semantical contribution.