Transport chief says 'go down the pub' to ease travel congestion

The unlikely advice to hit the bar during the Games came at the launch of an information campaign to urge the public to adjust their travel plans during the Games when a million extra visitors will flood in to London.

The "Get Ahead of the Games" initiative includes a bespoke website highlighting Games-time travel hotspots; a nationwide advertising campaign and the use of social media to alleviate the strain.

Reflecting the scale of the campaign, the advertising will run for six months and achieve a billion "eyeballs".

With just under six months to go, the Games transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy called on commuters to adjust their travel plans.

"We are not saying don't travel. And we are not saying don't travel home at 5pm. But for those who can, go down the pub and travel at 6.30pm."

By following the Twitter hashtag @GAOTG, commuters will receive updates of sudden problems on roads, Tube and rail. It is TfL's first major foray into using social media for such alerts.

Olympic travel advice and hotspot information will be available at www.getaheadofthegames.com

Commuters will be urged to work at home or stagger their journeys; walk or cycle to work or change routes.

TfL have warned commuters against using hotspots such as Canary Wharf and London Bridge where they can expect half hour delays boarding trains at rush hour.

Today's campaign is not just aimed at London but those travelling to Olympic venues including Cardiff, Coventry, Newcastle and Glasgow.

TfL have identified London Bridge as one of the chief hotspots, especially when Greenwich Park hosts the 50,000 spectators for the cross country equestrian events.

Hendy said: "You should really try quite hard not to use London Bridge station because with 50,000 people going to Greenwich, it's going to be bloody heaving."

London mayor Boris Johnson said: "A tremendous amount of planning has been put into ensuring that when the Olympics get under way the capital is able to get on with business, enjoy the festival atmosphere and make the most of this unique occasion.

"Businesses should be able to capitalise on the thousands of visitors and Londoners should be able to get on with their lives. This campaign is key to the preparation and planning that will help help everyone in London to profit from what promises to be a remarkable summer."

The Mayor intervened recently when he felt that TfL's original campaign message to cut journeys by a third during the Games was alarmist.

TfL have since dropped the target after the Mayor felt it would deter visitors and hit him at the ballot box.