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Public get say on Olympic priority lanes
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent24.11.08
LONDONERS will be able to air their views on so-called "Zil lanes" to be implemented on the capital's roads for the London Olympics when a 12-week public consultation begins next month.
The Department for Transport is expected within weeks to outline proposals for a road network open only to competitors, VIPs and medical and doping officials.
The lanes - named after the routes reserved for the Soviet Politburo cavalcades in Moscow - will link Games venues.
The Embankment will be used as the main link between East and West and planners will pay particular attention to the Blackwall Tunnel, which links the Olympic village with venues at Greenwich and Woolwich.
London deputy mayor Kit Malthouse has warned the plan could cause "major problems", but Games boss Lord Coe said "the earlier you start and make clear this is not a luxury add-on, the better. They are going-to-work lanes".
Reader views (10)
Adam from Harrow has it right. We could all do with a dedicated 'going to work' lane. I can't see the space for another lane so I presume this means they will use the bus lanes, in which case why can't everyone. Perhaps high occupancy lanes but given the IOC appear to want one car per so-called 'VIP' this seems excessive.
- Andrew, London, UK
God, what a load of &*(!....
We should just scrap the olympics and save some cash, let some other country who can actually organise such an event well do it.
- Lord C, LONDON
To have separate lanes for the self-apppointed important people is the final insulting stage in our degradation to a banana republic: if the Royal family demanded this we'd have got rid of them years ago, so who do these people think they are?
I think there'll be a sudden outbreak of old bangers unfortunately breaking down in these lanes as the Games start, or vans accidentally spilling boxes of nails into the road.
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
Why are the Olympic officials not housed in the Olympic village? They should be made to justify that especially as I suspect that we will be picking up the exorbitant hotel and expenses bill. I am looking forward to the Olympics, but the economy can not afford London grinding to a halt for 3 weeks.
- Mark, London
Why don't they stay in Stretfort?! I am from London and we already have to pay for this economuc development aid package for this poor region why should I lose my motor ways as well?!
- Georgie, Islington, London
As a resident of Hackney I have always been opposed to the Games because I know that we are not going to be seeing any of the benefits, either before, during or after the Games, just all of the inconvenience. We all know that. Now they are shoving it down our necks though are they not? "Get used to it" is the big message I am reading. Not even "Take it or leave it" as "leaving it" is not an option.
- Jilly, London
Simple solution: move all the officials nearer to the stadium where people are running about and throwing things. Then we won't need this divisive scheme.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Stratford has very good public transport. Are they too self-important?
- Alan In Bow, London
On our narrow, congested, bus lane infested, overpriced, unrepaired roads this is just a joke.
>>"the earlier you start and make clear this is not a luxury add-on, the better. They are going-to-work lanes"
Lord Coe. Come down from your ivory tower. We all need Going to work lanes, not just the spoilt members of the IOC.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
We would all like "get to work lanes" and if the Olympic officials were housed in Stratford and not Park Lane, then we would not need them.
- Jeremy E, London
