The Road To Nowhere

The road to nowhere: The most ridiculous example yet of how Olympics lanes are making a farce of driving in London

By Anthony Bond
This road looks set to be the most expensive motorists have ever driven on in the UK.
Located in central London, it is one of the key routes for competitors and officials looking to get to the Olympic Stadium.
But just when motorists thought the designated Olympic lanes couldn't get any more confusing, they face an even harder time working out how to drive along here.

Bizarre: Motorists travelling along Southampton Row in central London face just three options - and all are illegal. They can either travel in the bus lane, the Olympic lane or on the wrong side of the road

As this picture shows, motorists travelling along Southampton Row face three options  - and all are illegal.
They can either travel in the bus lane, the Olympic lane or on the wrong side of the road.
Obviously no driver would want to travel on the wrong side of the road. But motorists caught travelling in either a bus lane or Olympic lane during operational hours face a £130 fine.
The Olympic lanes are part of the Olympic Route Network which is a series of roads linking all competition venues and other key sites.
It is hoped they will ensure that all athletes and officials get to events on time.
The first of these lanes opened between Heathrow and London today causing confusion on some of Britain's busiest commuter routes.

 

One of the lanes is situated on the M4 which is reserved for the exclusive use of competitors and VIPs attending the Games.

 
But the new regulations led to confusion on the A4 and the A40, where Olympic driving restrictions are yet to come into force.

 
Pictures showed motorists battling to get out of the lanes as traffic queued to enter the capital.

 
Charging began on the M4 today because the first athletes were arriving in London to prepare for the Games, which start on July 27.

 
Restrictions on other Olympic lane routes - known collectively as the Olympic Route Network - are not scheduled to come into force until July 25, two days before the opening ceremony.

 
However, despite numerous requests by MailOnline, Transport for London (TfL) bosses were today unable to provide a list of which roads are affected.

Congestion: Cars battled to get out of the Olympic lane on the A4 today , even though restrictions were not yet in force

There was similar confusion on the A40 in west London, where motorists kept clear of an Olympic lane

 

Buses used the M4 lane to ferry athletes and VIPs from Heathrow airport to the Olympic village in Stratford, east London, which opened today.
 

The M4 lane opened as Heathrow prepared for potentially the busiest day in its history, with competitors from more than 60 countries due to arrive today.
 

The traffic problems were first reported by Sky News to be on the M4, but further enquiries established that the tailback images it broadcast were from the A4.
Ironically, the Highways Agency said few problems were reported on the M4 itself.
TfL admitted that some motorists on the A4 and A40 appeared to have been 'confused'.

 
Garrett Emmerson, a senior officer at the transport body, said: 'The only section of Games lane that is already operational in London is the M4 bus lane.

An official Olympic bus heads down the M4 route, as a car in front indicates to rejoin the middle lane

'Preparations for the ORN began at the beginning of the month, including painting the road markings for Games lanes, but we have always clearly stated that these lanes will not be operational until 25 July, a couple of days ahead of the Games.
'Variable message signs ahead of and along the A4 and across the ORN clearly state that the Games lanes are open to all road users.
'London’s roads are getting busier with Games traffic as athletes, officials and the media start to arrive for the Games and as the capital continues its transformation into a huge sporting and cultural venue.
'As we get closer to the Games roads will become exceptionally busy and our advice to motorists is clear – avoid driving in central London, around the ORN and Games venues but if a journey is absolutely essential be sure to plan ahead by visiting getaheadofthegames.com and allow extra time.
'Motorists are heeding that advice and we have already seen a 10 per cent reduction in traffic levels in central London.'