Olympics to ban all car travel

[covenhope]

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/london_2012/article2719653.ece?EMC-Bltn

Another hare brained "green" scheme. While all the plebs will be banned from using cars for 2 months the 80,000 members of the Olympic Family get dedicated lanes for their travel.... This country gets more like Soviet Russia every day.

I actually think banning all cars is a good idea (as long as the public transport in place is up to scratch). I didn't realise that the 'members of the Olympic Family' are allowed to use cars though which is double standards imo (I'm assuming that we're talking athletes here not some strange new sect?).

Could get the article - but is it the case that their will be special travel for 'olympic' people whilst locals will be banned from the roads?

If so - it's awful double standards plus what about disabled drivers & those who can't get on a bus, tube, train... without help (ever tried this with five kids and a pushchair......)

Sounds good to me...traffic in London is at a standstill anyway - where would 800,000 cars a day park on the olympic site? And imagine them all converging through the London traffic? Shudder.

It says there will be provision for disabled parking, and

"Everyone booking a ticket will be sent a personalised, detailed itinerary, showing how to get from their front doors to the venue.

On the day, live travel information relevant to their route will be sent to their mobile phones. If there are delays, they will be advised of an alternative route.

All spectators travelling to an event in London will receive a free all-zones travelcard."

Practically, how could it possibly work to have everyone driving? presumably the 'Olympic family' will be in shuttle buses between venues etc, rather than driving individual cars?

Good idea in principle but they will not be able to create the infrastructure for public transport in London and it will be chaos.

I thknk public transport is improving, though.

Unlike the horrible traffic congestion.

If I were to go to the olympics as a spectator, it wouldn't occur to me to do anything so daft as to attempt to drive there, across London!

It's not just London though. The article quotes "car exclusion zones planned for the main venues in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Weymouth and Portland in Dorset"

So tough luck if you are trying to get to work in any of those places!

If the Tube etc is already at capacity with commuter traffic how will it cope with more?

It doesn't say where the total exclusion zones will start, though, does it? I can't imagine it will be the whole of london...but I work opposite a major sporting venue and it is completely impossible fopr us to work or hold events when there is a big sports event in anyway., and the roads are impassable because of the huge crowds of eople. Within the immediate vicinity, I can't see how there could be traffic.

It's ponly for the short period of the games, isn't it?

public transport is brilliant in Weymouth and Portland

maybe people could swim to work?

What event is happening at Weymouth?

You might GET some public transport - would be better than getting a bloody great 10000 acre car park to blight your landscape for evermore!

Sounda a good idea. maybe try it long-term?

the implication is that it will only affect areas close to the venues and that only "spectators" will be banned from bringing in cars because there will be no car parks. Presumably local residents will still vbe able to use their cars to get to Tesco.

I really can't get that worked up about it - "normal" people stopped driving in central London when the congestion charge started on the whole.

the two months quoted was for priority lanes for Olympic athletes and officials not banning cars.

My understanding was that the ban will only apply to spectators travelling to the games - if so a good idea.

The athletes couldn't be expected to travel on public transort, surely? I can't get worked up about them having special lanes.

OK, now read thread and see I'm repeating other posts somewhat

Weymouth must be boaty type stuff?

yes there is no sea in London as far as I am aware

[humphs at blinkered London centric attitude]

Only a numpty would try driving around East London where the events will be held but I guess there's always one. The roads were like car parks before the Olympics were even thought of . I imagine disabled spectators will be excepted.

The irony of driving to a major sporting fixture makes me rofl .

Enid -I hold my hands yp 100% to blinkers re Olympic events - I know beach volley ball takes place on a beach (probably) but am a bit hazy about which olympic sports take place on the sea...I just didn't know - it wasn't an assumption that the whole Olympics will take place in London!

So you can stop your harrumphing and breathe normally again!

given that London won the olympic bid, it isn't too bizarre an assumption that all events are in or near London (can't they sail on the Thames? Is water isn't it?)

the sailing is in Weymouth

LGJ waves furiously at Enid....

Where have you been ?? Send me some of your resolve. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaase

is that the London borough of Weymouth?