Public transport and the Olympics

[london1967]

The meltdown of the public transport system that many (including myself) had forecast and feared for the Olympics hasn't occurred (I'll just add a 'yet' to be cautious). This is probably thanks to a combination of many people going away and of many sensible Londoners avoiding non-necessary travelling. 

Indeed, many businesses in central London are complaining that people are staying away. Perhaps it was our Mayor's announcement broadcast ad nauseam on buses, trains and stations ("Hi folks! This is the mayor... London is going to be exceptionally busy... don't get caught out"), although it's not clear whether people stayed away because they feared Armageddon or they just couldn't face hearing his booming voice one more time.

But everything in life is relative. According to a News BBC article, these two Canadians had quite a different opinion

Cheryl and Barbara Anderson timed their trip from Montreal, Canada, to coincide with the Games, even though they have not managed to get tickets.

Cheryl, 51, says: "We saw on the news that traffic is supposed to be way down on normal and we thought, 'wow, how bad must it be normally?' But I suppose we don't have anything to compare it to.

"And we thought the Tube trains were busy. We had no idea that it can be hard to get a seat."

The only inconvenience that I have experienced so far (apart from having to come into work 90 minutes early - but that's a company decision) was yesterday when all the buses from Victoria were diverted via Sloane Square due to the triathlon event.
I should have remembered that Sloane Street is always a bottleneck and yesterday there were about 30 buses all stuck in one line. 

So I got off and walked up Sloane Street to Knightsbridge past all the designers which of course made me think of Patsy's line

"These women shop for lunch! Labels are their only sustenance! Their skeleton legs in Manolos have worn trenches down the pavement of Sloane Street. Their arm sinews have just enough muscles left in their arm to lift up a credit card."

Needless to say it was way too early for Patsy or Edina or any other fashion vulture!

Comments

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I just read a story yesterday talking about how empty the public transit is ... It's nice to get the perspective of someone who is living through the experience of The Olympics and actually dealing with the transit:)

[london1967.livejournal.com]

It's quite surreal, especially as we were expecting the worst!

[bobalone.livejournal.com]

Pleased to read that you haven't been inconvenienced too much. I have read a number of articles that suggest that London is quieter than usual, that people are staying away from the centre, and its attractions, and that businesses have lost a lot of income as a result. It's difficult for me to imagine a "quiet" Oxford Circus but that is the case, I am told. In advance of the games, I thought that the precautions seemed extreme but, then, I don't live there. I'm glad everything has run so smoothly.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Bob.

Yes I don't think that Oxford Circus is ever going to be quiet! I should go and have a look to see if it is really true.

[holy13nation.livejournal.com]

We came down to Brighton to avoid any bother (either transport snarl up or worse). W e have popped back and, other than it being even harder to get a taxi on Kennington Road, everything does seem to be remarkably calm. I do wonder if someone should call Johnson out about how quiet the centre is and businesses losing money, as it really was at his constant insistence people have avoided central London. We even had flyers through the door running up to the start of the games. I guess they couldn't know it would work too well.
Of course stories are now coming out about the forced rehousing on the etstates in Newham (Carpenter estate particularly and the draconian behaviour of LOCOG reps with even small local buisinesses just attempting to draw attention, not unreasonably, to themselves being in the area.
I hope we don't discover that the losses do out weigh the gains.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Yes I'm sure that they are just as surprised as we are!

I think that the gains will be short-lived; I really doubt that the games will boost the economy.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much longer the Olympics will go on?

[london1967.livejournal.com]

The closing ceremony is on Sunday, then a 2 and a half week rest before the Paralympics start.