London Olympics - Where have all the people gone!

Where Have all the People Gone - Not to Mention Traffic

Courtesy of RAC Web Site News

If ever the power of the press is doubted then you just have to look at London's empty roads, the availability of reservations at normally impossible to book restaurants  and listen to the complaints of shops and taxi drivers that "Things are very quiet".   I admit I don't live near any of the Olympic venues - I am in Chelsea actually. 

Tho' I don't recommend trying it, you could walk across the King's Road blindfolded and get away with it for most of the day whilst the Olympics are on.

A friend suggested that photos in the media of troops setting up AA missiles on the roofs of tower blocks near the arena might have disuaded some people.  But what about the chaos on the M4 closed for the week before the start of the games and the huge publicity about hotels hiking their prices for the Olympics.  Even Pret a Manger raised the price of their great Crayfish salad by 7% just before the opening week.   

Then there were the road closures for cycling and other olympic events which clearly persuaded the motoring public that London roads were fraught with difficulties and likely to get them fines of £130 should they in ignorance stray into an Olympic lane - oh and to add to the confusion drivers could use Bus lanes (normally an £80 fine) when the olympic routes were in operation.  Hold on tho!! At non peek periods we were told that if the illuminated signs for the routes were saying "Use All Lanes" in white lights (as opposed to yellow for don't use lanes) then we could use the Olympic lane.  BUT did that mean we could also use the Bus lane and risk the £80 fine?  No guidance on that!  No surprise then that sensible drivers kept out of London.  Indeed  when I drove out and back to/from Sussex last week-end I managed to avoid the Ladies Cycle road race whose route had encircled my house in "access only" roads.  Despite this I made both outward and homebound trips in record time.

I cannot say that I was ever a great fan of hosting the Olympics.  I actually pointed out that for the past five olympic games no host city has turned in a profit.  Sorry to say it but it looks like London will be no exception.    Well as they say about sport - "Its not about winning, its about taking part"  London is certainly playing its part but as for winning ............

Kings Road at Start of the Evening  'Rush Hour'