Friday 30th July 2010

VIP Olympic Lanes Spell Trouble For Motorists

Disruption for Londoners and elsewhere as Olympic VIPs get priority lanes

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‘VIP’ lanes for Olympic traffic are set to cause disruption for Londoners for the duration of the 2012 games

Around 60 miles of routes in the West End, and in East London around the Olympic Park, Greenwich Park and the North Greenwich Arena will get lanes specifically for Olympic athletes, VIPs, sponsors, official guests and the media.

“It will mean inconvenience for London drivers for 17 days of the game,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson. “I can't pretend that during that period you will be able to bomb along the Embankment. I hope that Londoners will understand that some modest inconvenience at Games time is a price worth paying for a happy Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Still more roads will face significant restrictions, despite remaining open to the public, including the temporary removal of parking bays and the closure of side roads.

Drivers who break the rules and drive in the restricted lanes – which will of course be monitored by CCTV – will face a £200 fine.

The Olympic routes won’t just affect London either – similar restrictions will be set up in Eton, where the rowing will take place, Broxbourne in Hertfordshire where the white water rafting is to be held, Southend for the mountain biking, and Weymouth for the sailing.

[Vipers]

I wonder if other countries enforce these VIP lanes when they hold the games, and piss everyone off?

And isn't a £200 fine a bit OTT?

Edited by Vipers on Thursday 29th July 16:11

[mcdjl]

All hail the athletes. God forbid they have to get up and leave 5 minutes early like mere mortals who pay to use the roads.

[goron59]

So by inference, we can "bomb along the Embankment" at all other times? Sweet!

[Andrew[MG]]

I thought this was a joke when it was first mentioned a few years ago. It just shows that the UK government can do anything to the subjects and they still won't stand up and say anything.

[nickpan]

I was living in Athens during the Olympics in 2004 and we had VIP lanes there as well. However, Athens doesn't have the same congestion problem as London.

Are these VIP lanes in addition to bus lanes?

As a Londoner, I plan to be away for the whole of August in 2012.

[goron59]

Surely the Olympic Family[*] (for whom these lanes are really for) could ride bikes and use the blue cycle superhighways we have now?

[*] Friends, family and sponsors of the Olympic movement, not athletes.

Edited by goron59 on Thursday 29th July 16:29

[ssuh]

nickpan said:

I was living in Athens during the Olympics in 2004 and we had VIP lanes there as well. However, Athens doesn't have the same congestion problem as London.

Are these VIP lanes in addition to bus lanes?

As a Londoner, I plan to be away for the whole of August in 2012.

Good point. Why couldn't they just use the bus lanes???

[Super Slo Mo]

ssuh said:

nickpan said:

I was living in Athens during the Olympics in 2004 and we had VIP lanes there as well. However, Athens doesn't have the same congestion problem as London.

Are these VIP lanes in addition to bus lanes?

As a Londoner, I plan to be away for the whole of August in 2012.

Good point. Why couldn't they just use the bus lanes???

I thought Athen's congestion was horrific? It certainly wasn't brilliant during the Olympics, and everyone reckoned all the Greeks had 'gone to the islands' for their holidays, and thus it was quiet. Must admit I've not been there before or since so I'm only going on hearsay.

And to reply to the first quote, other countries have definitely enforced these lanes (during their hours of operation).

In Vancouver in Feb, the Olympic Lanes were the bus lanes. Didn't work too well as you ended up getting stuck at every bus stop It was easier not to bother with them.

I suspect the reality is that it'll make little difference to most people, except those driving near the Olympic venues. It'll be over before we've noticed, it's only 2 weeks after all.

Anyway, I think it's part of the Olympic contract, I don't think there's a get out clause when the winning city is awarded the Olympics. Wait 'till the public information adverts start, they'll raise some controversy I'm sure.

Edited by Super Slo Mo on Thursday 29th July 17:16

[Libertine]

Give jetpacks to all involved in the Olumpics, then they wouldn't need these special lanes.

[timewatch]

I paid a vist to York on Sunday where Lycra clad menaces (Cyclists) were let loose on the main streets for some kind of race, let me tell you
that it was only for one day, but what a disruption.

I had to wait with about 200 other tourists and locals 20 minutes on four separate occasions to cross the crammed streets, this was continuous throughout the day a bloody disgrace at such a time, and 99% of folks were there to see York itself or shop, not there to see these egotistical nuts....

How they could have done such a thing and said it was safe beggars belief, Health & Safety out the window with this one..
I've got to say whoever organised this event through York should be shot!!!!

Thank you for wasting my visit you numpty!!!!!

So God only knows what these Olympics will be like, got to say I'm glad it's in London, as London is the most disgusting overrated pile of ste on the planet!!!

TW>>>

[CDP]

Libertine said:

Give jetpacks to all involved in the Olumpics, then they wouldn't need these special lanes.

And televise the carnage, I'd pay to watch that. It'll be more entertaining than a few people jumping into a sandpit.

[grumbledoak]

Libertine said:

Give jetpacks to all involved in the Olumpics, then they wouldn't need these special lanes.

Combine the commute with the shooting events.

[Dogwatch]

timewatch said:

I paid a vist to York on Sunday where Lycra clad menaces (Cyclists) were let loose on the main streets for some kind of race, let me tell you
that it was only for one day, but what a disruption.

I had to wait with about 200 other tourists and locals 20 minutes on four separate occasions to cross the crammed streets, this was continuous throughout the day a bloody disgrace at such a time, and 99% of folks were there to see York itself or shop, not there to see these egotistical nuts....

How they could have done such a thing and said it was safe beggars belief, Health & Safety out the window with this one..
I've got to say whoever organised this event through York should be shot!!!!

Thank you for wasting my visit you numpty!!!!!

So God only knows what these Olympics will be like, got to say I'm glad it's in London, as London is the most disgusting overrated pile of ste on the planet!!!

TW>>>

Similar story every year when the London to Brighton cycle ride hits Brighton. As the A23 slices the town (City if you must) in half from North to South all the buses are off the road for 2-3 hours and moving across town is very difficult.
Amuses me that the 'green' train companies flatly refuse to take any of the 'green' cycles between the two towns either before or after the event. Happy to take the eco-warriors riders though!

[Gold]

timewatch said:

I paid a vist to York on Sunday where Lycra clad menaces (Cyclists) were let loose on the main streets for some kind of race, let me tell you
that it was only for one day, but what a disruption.

I had to wait with about 200 other tourists and locals 20 minutes on four separate occasions to cross the crammed streets, this was continuous throughout the day a bloody disgrace at such a time, and 99% of folks were there to see York itself or shop, not there to see these egotistical nuts....

How they could have done such a thing and said it was safe beggars belief, Health & Safety out the window with this one..
I've got to say whoever organised this event through York should be shot!!!!

Thank you for wasting my visit you numpty!!!!!

Would you say the same if it was about the Isle of Man? Or Monaco? Or Macau? Or during the old Birmingham Superprix?


People here don't complain about motorsport affecting the public, live and let live, it'd be awfully boring without different interests being allowed

[turbosei]

The 200gbp fine is not what they were discussing at the planning meetings my dad went to before he retired. More like 5000gbp was being discussed. They're serious about keeping these lanes free. And this has been in the planning for a couple of years - he left at the end of '08.

In addition to this all the politicians and hangers-on are getting chauffeured around, but the athletes get a mini-bus.

Anyone who has the misfortune of using the tube at rush hour knows there's no spare capacity for the Olympics on public transport either.

My parents live within walking distance of the Olympic park, yet I'm probably going to save my money and go to the US GP instead.

[Escort Si-130]

I guess these lanes would be on roads such as the A12 A406 and other roads with 2 or more lanes near the olympic park.
Dont think it would be any worse than the constant roadworks all over the place. I guess one conpensation we would get would be a months ban in august 2012 of any roadworks they say.

[P4ROT]

Why don't the athletes walk, cycle or run to the events?

[Daniel1]

there is a map somewhere, cant find it funnily enough. Its part of the contract of the olympics, or so i heard. I think one runs through the blackwall tunnel at some point......

[Ed.]

I wonder if BMW will come to regret their sponsorship

[jmmc]

I certainly don't understand why people should have their daily lives disrupted so that a few athletes and media flunkies and politicians can stay at their hotels for an extra 5 minutes before leaving.