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Push for the first 'car-free' Olympics
Matthew Beard, Evening Standard7 Jul 2008
Up to 800,000 spectators per day are expected to attend the London Olympics.
Games chiefs are aiming for a car free 2012 by relying - for non-VIPs at least - on public transport, cycling and walking to venues.
Around 80 per cent of spectators will travel to the Olympic Park and the cluster of venues near the Thames by rail. Three stations - Stratford International, Stratford Regional and West Ham - will be served by 12 lines and are being billed as the three main gateways to the Games.
A frequent "Javelin" train will run from King's Cross station to the Stratford International in seven minutes, carrying up to 25,000 passengers back and forth per hour.
Among the planned upgrades, the Docklands Light Railway will be extended to Stratford International by 2010.
The DLR will play a key part in transporting the millions of spectators expected to attend the Games, connecting them to the events that will be held at the ExCel, Greenwich Peninsula, Maritime Greenwich and the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.
River services will help to transport people to Games events along the Thames.
New cycle paths and walkways will encourage spectators to use the healthier transport options, cutting down pollution at the same time.
For those travelling by road there will be special park-and-ride schemes around the M25, so spectators can park their car and finish their journey by road or rail.
A dedicated Olympic Route Network (ORN) similar to the existing bus lane network will be in operation during the Games for the benefits of athletes, officials, media and VIPs.
The ambition for a "car free Games" does not extend to members of the International Olympic Committee who will have thousands of limousines at their disposal during the Games.
The core ORN will link the central London venues and IOC hotels on Park Lane, with the Olympic Park at Stratford and continue east towards ExCeL and southwards from the Park to Maritime Greenwich.
Venue-specific routes will branch off from the core ORN to create links to each of the other competition and accommodation venues, and key international arrival points.
Dedicated, temporary, local park and ride services are proposed for spectators at the Wimbledon, Weymouth and Portland, and Eton Dorney venues.
Reader views (3)
will win
- Muk, london, 10/11/2008 22:23
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I think this is a great idea as long as TFL improves by the games and becomes a little bit more reliable and stays like that after the games.
- Daniel Zaultsman, London, UK, 10/11/2008 21:23
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In Barcelona the public transport was subsidised during the Olympics, and all the Olympic transport, mini buses, cars and coaches were available for free lifts to ticket holders. The result was that many people traveled free and also met the competitors. I wonder what will happen in London.
- Pedro F Santamaria, Granada, Spain, 10/11/2008 21:23
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