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Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, London
London 2012: Games Lanes proving unpopular
"You can't have the Games without some pain."
The Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy has always spoken his mind and those words are no exception.
The previous message had been: "London is open for business" but that has changed into this rather more blunt offering.
Mr Hendy was talking about the controversial Games Lanes for Olympic only traffic.
They are meant to get athletes and officials and IOC delegates to venues on time.
Most of them haven't even been turned on yet and they are already deeply unpopular.
Of course you cannot hold arguably the biggest event on the planet and not expect some disruption. Londoners will, it seems, have to bite the bullet.
Here's a video piece I've done on the latest complainants - cyclists.
Games Lanes will be enforced from 25 July
Only the "Olympic family" like the lanes and even they keep it quiet.
Transport for London hardly defended them, neither does London Mayor Boris Johnson.
Remember he delayed their introduction by a few days.
Both pass the buck saying, "it's part of the IOC contract".
The problem is they are a real hard sell, especially when the emphasis is on this being a public transport games.
And when the Olympics are meant to be about taking part and being inclusive, the lanes are the exact opposite - elitist, divisive and what they will do is to make life worse for nearly everyone else.
And if you thought the old M4 bus lane was unpopular, the Games Lanes are in a whole different world of resentment.
Let me know what you think.
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Comment number 465.
Jack26th July 2012 - 3:56
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18991619
"It was not immediately clear who had produced the video which was shown
in the stadium." is a sickeningly sad indictment of fias-Coe's "work". A contractor should be able to trace every sub-contractor instantly, down to the guys bringing in the brown sauce. Anything less is not only appallingly poor management it is criminally irresponsible.
Link to this (Comment number 465)
Comment number 464.
Jack26th July 2012 - 3:45
Meanwhile, what is "Team GB"? And how come famous people, even ex-famous has-been and never-were people, are doing the torchy thing? I thought that was just for the little guys who had "contributed to their community"? I almost nominated my lady wife for it, she'd have loved it. But she'd have no chance of getting a slot when [c]rap "stars" filled them all.
Link to this (Comment number 464)
Comment number 463.
Jack26th July 2012 - 2:54
As a retirement present to myself, I bought a BluRay recordy machine for the games. Some films really do look good in HD.
Re the sponsors: I much prefer Fentiman's produce and I can't eat beef, not even processed ammoniated beef sludge. I suspect I use some of the soaps and things, but only because I use lots of good-smellies.
I won't change my buying habits because they buy MPs.
"This comm..."?
Link to this (Comment number 463)
Comment number 462.
Jack26th July 2012 - 2:39
@407.No more said he was looking forward to the lady shot-putters.
My gentle, lovely and entirely feminine lady wife was, in her school years, a putter of shots. She explained this as the only sport the school offered that wasn't a team event. She enjoyed the Olympics.
Me, I was such a non-team-player type I couldn't even do those types of sports. I ignore all sporting events.
Link to this (Comment number 462)
Comment number 461.
bob pye23rd July 2012 - 15:14
This whole games fiasco is becoming ludicrous. As they are the OLYMPIC games, they should take place there. Every four years the games could be held at a purpose built venue just as they used to. The weather in Greece is usually fine so that shouldn't be an issue. As for the traffic, as anyone who has tried to drive around Athens will tell you, it wouldn't make the slightest difference.
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Comments 5 of 465