Cabbies in revolt over Olympic ban
13 June 2011
London's 25,000 black cab drivers are planning a blockade to bring the capital to a standstill over a ban on them using the 100-mile VIP road network during next year's Games.
Unprecedented restrictions to keep the lanes clear for athletes, media and international sports officials are also set to cause chaos for millions of Londoners.
Cab drivers say prices will increase if the move goes ahead. Richard Massett, an executive at the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, which represents 9,000 cabbies, said: "There will be a huge problem getting people where they want to go and we will have to deal with the customers' frustration. We will be stuck in jams and for customers fares will soar."
The ban also applies to private hire. Transport for London, which operates the lanes, has offered dedicated drop-off and pick-up points at the Olympic venues. But cab drivers say they will be unable to reach them because of the lanes restricted to officially accredited vehicles only.
They are also at war with Olympic organisers over other restrictions such as bans of right-hand turns and U-turns on key routes. Three years ago black cab drivers caused gridlock when they drove en masse to central London in a dispute with private hire taxis.
The LTDA will consider the same disruptive action if their Olympic demands are not met. The restrictions will mean huge parts of London effectively become "no-go" areas for cabs or anyone wishing to use them. The main hotspot of the Olympic lane network will be the roads linking hotels in Park Lane to the Olympic Park.
Closures will affect Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill, Birdcage Walk and Horse Guards. These "Olympic-only" lanes will operate typically from 6am to midnight.
Other routes will only be affected on competition days. They will run from the athletes' accommodation to venues such as Wembley Arena, Earl's Court and Wimbledon.
But there will also be a wider section with major restrictions to speed up VIP traffic. For example, on a large section on the eastbound Marylebone Road, normal traffic will be banned from turning right because they would cross the Olympic lane which is in the middle of the road.
Similar restrictions apply on the eastbound Mile End Road to the Olympic Park. The issue is potentially damaging to Boris Johnson who won over London's cab drivers before the last mayoral election.
The Olympic lanes form part of the £25 million Olympic Route Network of traffic restrictions including a ban on turns, phasing of traffic lights and suspension of parking bays and pedestrian crossings.
It will be exclusively used by 82,000 members of the "Olympic family" with the exception of emergency vehicles on call. Unauthorised drivers who use the lanes face fines of £200.
A public information campaign by TfL has been delayed by a month and the agency will later this year seek planing permission for a range of road restrictions. TfL has sought to deflect criticism about the lack of information by blaming the Olympic Delivery Authority which recently relinquished responsibility for the measures.
Transport expert Tony Travers said: "It is clear that TfL thinks it has been dropped in it by the ODA and taxi drivers and members of the public are still a long way from understanding what is gong to happen to them."
A spokesman for TfL said: "We have held constructive talks with the LTDA and have agreed to some concessions not to impose restrictions which would have affected their routes."
Source; http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... pic-ban.do
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