FabSwingers.com forum: London is at a standstill

By *abloBack OP Man
over a year ago

London

Taxi drivers are currently protesting in central London

Westminster, parliament square and trafalgar square are gridlocked.

Buses are apparently joining in and showing their support

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By (user no longer on site)
Forum Mod
over a year ago

No change there then

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

whats happening in london

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They heard I was coming over

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
over a year ago

in Lancashire

bet they still have their meters running, poor bloody tourists think they're in a carnival or something..

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By *abloBack OP Man
over a year ago

London

Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Taxi's and bus's causing gridlock in central London? Normal day then, lol.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them"

well it wouldnt be very practical if a taxi pulled up in the middle of the 100meters sprint

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I had a pick up at the Royal Albert Hall last night and made the BIG mistake of coming back along Knightsbridge.

There is actually a short stretch of road (less than 100yards) heading into the centre of London which has been marked out with ONLY a bus lane and an 'Olympic Family' lane....

So where are the feckin cars meant to go????????????

Is this a secret fund raising scheme we have yet to find out about????

I know I have a vested interest, but I do NOT blame the black cab drivers protesting one bit - the Olympic Lane Network is a shambles. No thought has been given to how anyone is supposed to do their job if it involves driving in London - and that doesn't just apply to the cabbies.

If the games had gone to Paris in the first place, I rather feel the Taxi Parisienne drivers would have been a bit more 'revolting' than their London counterparts about what is happening.

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By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago

North of The Wall - youll need your vest

"Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them

well it wouldnt be very practical if a taxi pulled up in the middle of the 100meters sprint"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

its cos they is black

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them"

Then they have my full support.

Few people know this but us boaters all got chucked out of East London and can't cruise the canals there until after the Olympics - we were told "it's for security reasons"...

.... and yet if you pay an extortionate amount or have reserved an eye-wateringly expensive 'Olympic berth' then they'll let you in.

This means I can't go to Camden Lock or even moor at Little Venice or Paddington without a special licence.

It's all a bloody con..

Rant over, sorry...

grrr

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If the games had gone to Paris in the first place, I rather feel the Taxi Parisienne drivers would have been a bit more 'revolting' than their London counterparts about what is happening.

not just the taxi drivers, French people would never take this crap...

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By *ugby 123Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

O o O oo

"Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them

well it wouldnt be very practical if a taxi pulled up in the middle of the 100meters sprint"

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By *essiCouple
over a year ago

suffolk

11days till the real fun begins...nevermind the athletics ,sit back and watch how us mear mortals are going to get to work .....

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By *inkyScot22Man
over a year ago

Anniesland

"11 days till the real fun begins...nevermind the athletics, sit back and watch how us mere mortals are going to get to work .....

Wasn't there a thing in the papers a while back about employers providing 'sleeping pods' so people wouldn't have to commute during this shambles?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"11 days till the real fun begins...nevermind the athletics, sit back and watch how us mere mortals are going to get to work .....

Wasn't there a thing in the papers a while back about employers providing 'sleeping pods' so people wouldn't have to commute during this shambles?"

then u wake 200yrs in the future and swingings been outlawed...arrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My sympathies to you all having to live with it, it's at times like these I'm happy with my little backwater village.

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon

Just having a beer on our patio..orchard just below..south Devon soft green fields, sheep and cattle grazing, and out in the blue, blue bay there are pristine white yachts scudding to and fro....

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

"Just having a beer on our patio..orchard just below..south Devon soft green fields, sheep and cattle grazing, and out in the blue, blue bay there are pristine white yachts scudding to and fro.... "

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

You can't park in an Olympic borough without a pass now. Delivery drivers have been advised to make deliveries after 10pm and before 6am. Discussions have been had about lifting the nighttime delivery restrictions to ensure that shops remain stocked.

Many department stores are also planning to remain open until 10pm.

The real joy is the bus diversions and tube stations that will be either exit or entrance only, not both.

But, it'll all be fine. We'll grumble and have something else other than the weather to talk about.

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By *iss_tressWoman
over a year ago

London

"My sympathies to you all having to live with it, it's at times like these I'm happy with my little backwater village."

I'd swap your backwater village for south east London. Nightmare getting home on Friday and that was just the London Grand Prix from Crystal Palace...I'm going to be committing murder before the summer is out.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

London's pure shite at the moment. It'll be interesting to see how many traffic measures they've introduced for the olympics somehow never go away

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By *kmale421Man
over a year ago

wirral

"Just having a beer on our patio..orchard just below..south Devon soft green fields, sheep and cattle grazing, and out in the blue, blue bay there are pristine white yachts scudding to and fro.... "

Don't worry they are erecting screens at the weekend to block that _iew out just incase you get a glimpse of an Olympic yachtsperson sailing around Weymouth

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon

"Just having a beer on our patio..orchard just below..south Devon soft green fields, sheep and cattle grazing, and out in the blue, blue bay there are pristine white yachts scudding to and fro....

Don't worry they are erecting screens at the weekend to block that _iew out just incase you get a glimpse of an Olympic yachtsperson sailing around Weymouth"

I knew it was to good to be true..lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Pab where are u sitting on this one cos your blue?

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By *abloBack OP Man
over a year ago

London

I'm just an observer, one of my trade union friends counted over 3000 drivers blocking parliament square and trafalgar sq tfl claimed only 200

A lot of disruption for only 200

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm just an observer, one of my trade union friends counted over 3000 drivers blocking parliament square and trafalgar sq tfl claimed only 200

A lot of disruption for only 200"

They had the Police helicopter out within 15 mins and were begging the cabbies to call it off within 40 mins as it had 'got out of hand'.... They ain't seen NOTHING yet, me thinks...

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By *r mrs pCouple
over a year ago

taunton

"Taxis banned from Olympic lanes, not allowed to pick up or set down in them

well it wouldnt be very practical if a taxi pulled up in the middle of the 100meters sprint"

pmsl

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm just an observer, one of my trade union friends counted over 3000 drivers blocking parliament square and trafalgar sq tfl claimed only 200

A lot of disruption for only 200"

why do i think a certain union has something to do with this

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By *semymouth_2024Man
over a year ago

swanwick, Alfreton

Im sure Madonna is playing in Hyde Park tonite too

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Unscheduled lane closures are causing another headache for London 2012 Olympic Games organisers adding to the security and logistical nightmare that has already tarnished the games with delays, tailbacks and congestion anticipated.

Due to resurfacing, lanes 7 and 8 will be closed on the running track until 3rd August in the Olympic stadium with athletes being diverted to lanes 6 and 5 which will no doubt cause congestion, gridlock and tailbacks.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

i know i am about 100 miles out of all the kerfuffle but.......why is this all shock news to people?

london is crap to drive in at the best of times. there has to be clear travel routes for atheletes and officials etc as the games have such tight schedule.

As much as some people hate the games, fact is they are here and all the bitching and moaning isnt going to change that. i for one hope they go off without a hitch and wothout embarassing this country in any way.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"i for one hope they go off without a hitch and wothout embarassing this country in any way."

We've already been embarassed.

G4S ?

And that's before the games even start. We couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery in this countru

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

London is a great city I am born and bred there... However when events happen its a nightmare to get to work or get anywhere.. We have known for 7 years that the games are going to happen so its no shock that it comes to a stand still...

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"i for one hope they go off without a hitch and wothout embarassing this country in any way.

We've already been embarassed.

G4S ?

And that's before the games even start. We couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery in this countru"

picky picky picky!!

embarassed any further then

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"there has to be clear travel routes for atheletes and officials etc as the games have such tight schedule.

Tra and I work in Central London every day of the week. Guess what? we all have a tight schedule! Not that TFL,The DoT or South Eastern Trains give a shit. 8 Grand a year between us for a piss poor service 52 weeks a year,not just while the Olympics are on

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Olympic lanes aren't for the athletes , all the athletes will be in the Olympic village ,so traffic and travel doesn't affect them, the lanes are for the sponsors and press.

the day before the announcement of who won the games was made, all the cities bidding for it had to sign an agreement that the lanes would be put in place , so Paris would be the same if they had won it, ok the French may have protested more but they would of been in the same situation .

As for deliveries, all deliveries that involve Olympic lanes must be made between 12pm and 6am , so shops and eateries have to comply and take deliveries then .

Ken Livingstone was taking about this last week .

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"i for one hope they go off without a hitch and wothout embarassing this country in any way.

We've already been embarassed.

G4S ?

And that's before the games even start. We couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery in this country"

+1 on G4S plus....

Having to reduce the spectators size at some events as not all tickets sold.

200,000 tickets having to be given away FREE as not sold.

TWO contracted coaches losing their way from Heathrow to 'the village' and arriving 4 hours late - but it doesn't matter about that one as it was only members of the Australian and USA teams on board.

Its not that we can't organise the proverbial in a brewery, it' that we allow people who are blatantly incompetant to be 'in charge' of it all - specially the procurement!

(Olympic rant of the day over...)

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By *iss_tressWoman
over a year ago

London

"i know i am about 100 miles out of all the kerfuffle ."

...I'm in the middle of it, if I were where you are I wouldn't be bitching either!

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"there has to be clear travel routes for atheletes and officials etc as the games have such tight schedule.

you choose to work in central London knowing what the traffic is like day in day out though

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sorry , thinking about that last statement , obviously the athletes that are doing events outside Stratford will use the lanes travelling to them

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"i know i am about 100 miles out of all the kerfuffle .

...I'm in the middle of it, if I were where you are I wouldn't be bitching either!

beauty of an open forum.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"there has to be clear travel routes for atheletes and officials etc as the games have such tight schedule.

you choose to work in central London knowing what the traffic is like day in day out though"

precisely so its a bit galling whrn the authorities can bend over backwards for officials,disrupt the traffic,tubes and train timetables and we're geting nothing in return barring fare increases 4% above inflation every year. and we don't choose to work in london. we choose to work,and that's in london.

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By *iss_tressWoman
over a year ago

London

"there has to be clear travel routes for atheletes and officials etc as the games have such tight schedule.

Don't get me started...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Stolen from a site I can't link too. Sadly it's only funny because it's true.

With the Olympic Park and 13 other venues soon to open, London’s transport system is about to get busy. Really busy. Seriously, we’re talking All-Bar-One-at-West-India-Quay-on-Bonus-Day busy here. You know those ‘pickled people’ executive toys you used to see around the place? Imagine that, but on the Central Line. Honestly, if you can leave we’d recommend you do so. It’s certainly what we’re planning. No, hang on, forget we said that.

Luckily for those who are stuck here, Transport from Londonist has been planning ahead. Keep our tips in mind, and you too can get ahead of the games. By working together, showing consideration for Olympic sponsors other Londoners and abandoning all pretence of normality, then maybe, just maybe, we’ll survive this thing.

The following parts of London are likely to be particularly busy over the next few weeks:

1) Where you work.

2) Where you live.

We realise there is little you can do to avoid these places. We just wanted to show we were on the case.

One way you can help reduce stress on our squealing public transport system is by working from home. If your employer is unaccommodating, you might wish to explore other options such as “getting a new job in Cornwall” or “being unemployed”.

Another option is to find a new route to and from work. Journeys involving Croydon Tramlink, Chiltern Railways and the Romford to Upminster branch line are expected to be relatively hassle free.

To help prepare for the Olympics, we have invested substantially in new transport infrastructure. If you’re one of the many Londoners who commute from the Royal Docks to North Greenwich, why not give the new cable car a go?

To give the crowds time to disperse during evening rush hour, go on a pub crawl after work.

Wherever possible, avoid public transport altogether. If you’re one of the many Londoners with private helicopters, jet skis, jet packs, teleportation devices or yogic flying abilities, Transport from Londonist encourages you to use them.

To help speed more important people around the place, Transport from Londonist has established the Olympics Route Network of VIP-only lanes. We confidently predict that other drivers will respect these at all times, and will be quite happy to sit meekly in the gridlock with nothing to do but watch foreign dignitaries speed past.

Walking is a great way of getting around London – and quicker than you think. Walking from Trafalgar Square to Croydon, for example, can take as little as three and half hours. Great exercise, too!

To minimise your stress levels during the Olympics, avoid having children.

While we’re here, incidentally, you know that poster showing one happy looking bloke on an empty escalator? Does anyone know where we got that? Certainly doesn’t look like one of our stations.

Despite all our preparation, certain areas of London are inevitably going to be busier than usual during the games. To help us keep things running smoothly, and to make your own London life more pleasant and enjoyable, we suggest you avoid the following:

Stratford

Heathrow

King’s Cross

Victoria

Hyde Park

Whitehall

Other areas of zone 1

The Royal Docks

Greenwich

Zone 2

Gatwick

Waterloo

Paddington

Stansted

Wembley

Euston

Affected areas of zones 3, 4 and 6

The Central, Jubilee, Northern and Victoria lines

The DLR

The buses

The roads

Moving about

Good luck, everyone – and may God have mercy on our souls.

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By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago

North of The Wall - youll need your vest

I did a transit at Heathrow at the weekend. The purple-shirted Olympic 'Can I Help You?' people gave me directions for my transfer - which I foolishly followed - and I arrived at the departure gate to get turned back because I had somehow managed to completely by-pass immigration....

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?"

tut .... and that was Miss_Tress's plan B.

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By *iewMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Angus & Findhorn

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?

tut .... and that was Miss_Tress's plan B.

she could water glide on Goliath tugged by a speedboat

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By *abloBack OP Man
over a year ago

London

Just heard that all of Mayfair will be closed to traffic

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Stolen from a site I can't link too. Sadly it's only funny because it's true.

The following parts of London are likely to be particularly busy over the next few weeks:

1) Where you work.

2) Where you live.

We realise there is little you can do to avoid these places. We just wanted to show we were on the case.

Another option is to find a new route to and from work. Journeys involving Croydon Tramlink, Chiltern Railways and the Romford to Upminster branch line are expected to be relatively hassle free.

To give the crowds time to disperse during evening rush hour, go on a pub crawl after work.

Walking is a great way of getting around London – and quicker than you think. Walking from Trafalgar Square to Croydon, for example, can take as little as three and half hours. Great exercise, too!

To minimise your stress levels during the Olympics, avoid having children.

While we’re here, incidentally, you know that poster showing one happy looking bloke on an empty escalator? Does anyone know where we got that? Certainly doesn’t look like one of our stations.

Stratford

Heathrow

King’s Cross

Victoria

Hyde Park

Whitehall

Other areas of zone 1

The Royal Docks

Greenwich

Zone 2

Gatwick

Waterloo

Paddington

Stansted

Wembley

Euston

Affected areas of zones 3, 4 and 6

The Central, Jubilee, Northern and Victoria lines

The DLR

The buses

The roads

Moving about

Good luck, everyone – and may God have mercy on our souls.

I have also seen advice not to drive or use public transport.

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By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago

North of The Wall - youll need your vest

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?

tut .... and that was Miss_Tress's plan B.

she could water glide on Goliath tugged by a speedboat"

Why am I now humming Hawaii 5-0 theme tune to such a bizarre mental picture??

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By *lba CoupleCouple
over a year ago

Northallerton

Can yoou blame them

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

"Just heard that all of Mayfair will be closed to traffic"

That's Monopoly fucked then. Where will they draw the line.

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?

tut .... and that was Miss_Tress's plan B.

she could water glide on Goliath tugged by a speedboat

Why am I now humming Hawaii 5-0 theme tune to such a bizarre mental picture??"

Good Lord.

If Jezebel does functions, book her Danno.

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By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago

North of The Wall - youll need your vest

It wouldn't be so bad but haven't they also just banned swimming across the river?

tut .... and that was Miss_Tress's plan B.

she could water glide on Goliath tugged by a speedboat

Why am I now humming Hawaii 5-0 theme tune to such a bizarre mental picture??

Good Lord.

If Jezebel does functions, book her Danno.

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By (user no longer on site)
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Rob has been moaning non stop about the Olympics and its got worse as the time has come nearer as he has to drive around London most days

Quite frankly its very stressful and I fear for his health............

because if he does'nt stop moaning I may have to suffocate him in his sleep!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

So how should it have been handled? What would anyone else have done differently??

And you can't say 'not have the Olympics in England'!

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By *ushroom7Man
over a year ago

Bradford

"So how should it have been handled? What would anyone else have done differently??

And you can't say 'not have the Olympics in England'!

Or Cardiff.

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