All Systems Go!OLYMPIC UPDATE.......................

WE ARE NOW IN THE“countdown” for theOlympic Games and onFriday 27th July anextravaganza ofentertainment will heraldthe beginning on theLondon 2012 Olympics.

Some six years in the planning and injust 17 days the whole show will end,move on and start concentrating on Rio2016 in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. Therewill be a brief respite and on Wednesday29th August the Paralympics willcommence and will conclude on Sunday9th September.

Here are a few dates to be aware of as far asstreet closures being introduced andpaint appearing on the roads in London.

FROM SUNDAY JULY 1 Road markings for the Games Lanes will start.Signs along the route will tell drivers they canuse the road network as normal untiloperation of the ORN begins on July 25.

FROM SATURDAY JULY 7 Reversal of traffic flow in Kingsway Tunnel(Aldwych). Traffic through the tunnel willflow southbound through this ORN link.The reversal will be removed in mid-August asit is not required for the Paralympic Games.

FROM MONDAY JULY 16 The M4 Games Lane will come intooperation ahead of the rest of the ORNnetwork as athletes and officials startarriving from Heathrow airport.

FROM FRIDAY JULY 20 Work will start on installing barriers tosimplify junctions on the ORN.

FROM TUESDAY JULY 24 Designated pedestrian crossings and parking/loading bays alongthe ORN will be suspended and blocked off overnight.

FROM WEDNESDAY JULY 25 The ORN and the Games Lanes will be in operation from 6am tomidnight daily.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO Motorists are advised:� To avoid central London, around the ORN and Games venues.

� avoid the areas around the road event courses on competition days,such as the Cycling Road Races on July 28 and 29 and the Cycle TimeTrial on August 1.

� Every day of the Games is different, so if you must drive, plan aheadand allow more time.

� Find out more about the ORN and how to avoid road hotspots atwww.getaheadofthegames.com

As this will be the last Olympics update that is sent out I think that I willoffer my advice to the few people left in London after the 27th July that arenot athletes, members of the Olympic family or spectators in townspecifically for the Games. Most of your colleagues will be either, workingfrom home, doing flexi hours or struggling on the transport system tryingto get to work.

If you are out and about during the Games here’s a few tips:� Order your cab to arrive early. If you want a cab at 11:45am then order

it for 10 minutes earlier (11:35) just in case he has difficulty gettingoutside your door because of traffic.

� If you are doing a journey that normally takes 20 minutes then allowtwice the time that it usually takes. If you manage to get there early thenyou can adjust the timings on future bookings but you may prefer to getto your destination earlier rather than later?

� When booking for a as soon as possible trip – ask the Call Booker ifthere are any specific traffic problems spots known at present.

� We will let the Call Centre know where the delays are but they will onlybe relevant for bookings made for then and there – we have no way ofknowing what the conditions in (say) Fenchurch Street will be at 16:00in the afternoon if a booking is being made at 10:00 in the morning.

� Ask your driver when getting in the cab how the traffic is and tell himthat you are not fussy what route he takes. He will be out there andprobably listening to his radio and receiving traffic updates on his incab data terminal and will know where to avoid.

� Please don’t assume that a slow “alternative” route is necessarily worsethan a completely blocked straight forward route. The driver will be asanxious as you are to get you to where you are going as soon as possible– taxi drivers do not like sitting in traffic jams any more than you do.

� The best advice for surviving the traffic chaos could be “patience” –so take an iPod or a paper with you and sandwiches if it’s a long tripacross town and try to be patient.

Enjoy the Games!