Olympic lunacy

[Pacamack]

What is the permitted course of action in the posted picture given that some plank's van is parked in the bus lane with the hazards on? Do you just have to sit and wait until he comes back from buying his scratch card and copy of The Star?

On second thoughts it's probably a mobile Olympic lane enforcement camera van

 

[grober]

As sbove...

Bas laned are on the NS to allow frequent stops.

Olympic lanes are on the OS to allow rapid unimpeded progress.

Unless the bus drivers are from Liverpool and lose their way of course! London 2012 Olympics: American and Australian team buses get lost from Heathrow to Olympic Park - Telegraph

That local authority had better watch out- they could be in line to be sued by LOCOG for improper use of the Olympic logo. BBC News - London 2012: The great Olympics sponsorship bandwagon

Never mind Elton John has collaborated on a new song specially for the Olympics ---- "Good morning to the light". Coming to you from your local shopping precinct carpark via a blinged up Vauxhall Corsa Boom box any minute now. The lunacy continues.

[YOUTUBE]u52uM5XC5Z8&feature=player_embedded#![/YOUTUBE]

 

[jaymanek]

Its not stupid, they have made that road into a one way road (apart from buses and Mr Bolt) and diverted normal traffic around the square AFAIK.

 

[Bellow]

.but that would mean nowhere near as much freeloading around the world at prospective host countries expense would it now...so that idea is a fail.

This is the explosive part. While the country, nay world, is in the worst recession in nearly a century we the proles have to move to the gutter and doff our caps to the dignitaries whizzing past full of nothing but their own sense of over-inflated self worth.

That they and the other attendees (spectators) who choose to be there are then prioritised over normal Londoners going about their daily business in the event of lethal force having to be used to down a missile before it reaches its target I find repulsive.

What this 'shows' to the world is that the UK doesn't give a damn about its citizens - only the vanity projects of out of touch politicians. We become more like the despotic regimes we supposedly despise by the day.

If these 'games' were put to referendum - does anyone believe the public would have voted for them? And before we adopt 'government knows best' attitudes, ask first where the democracy is in this.
This is no time to be promoting social division. The sheer scale of the preferential treatment here cannot but be repulsive to many.

 

[Harrythedog]

Perhaps it's to stop you Southerners starting a thread " there I was driving along and all of a sudden without warning I was in the Olympic lane and got a fixed penalty". Of course us Northern boys don't need such guidance

 

[st4]

I think these games are a massive expensive waste of time that so many will not get to see live and many who live nearby have their lives in turmoil because of it. I hope they fail spectacularly

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I think these games are a massive expensive waste of time that so many will not get to see live and many who live nearby have their lives in turmoil because of it. I hope they fail spectacularly

Don't worry everyone, it's just more humour from the land where they're more used to tossing






















cabers!

 

[finisterre]

I hope they fail spectacularly

I agree that it's a foolish vanity project, nevertheless I hope it goes well for those involved.

 

[bluevenetian]

No one asked me as a Londoner or as a tax payer whether I was in favour of bidding for the Olympic Games. Who exactly made the decision and what was their mandate and public accountability? Exactly why are we having the Olympics in London, other than some notion of "national pride" and lining the pockets of certain firms and individuals. The "regeneration" argument is completely invalid; if parts of London needed regenerating then there are FAR more efficient ways of achieving that regeneration than spending x billion of pounds hosting the Games.

 

[Harrythedog]

The UK as a nation is small enough and has the infrastructure to enable the games to be spread about all it's regions thereby benefiint all the population. This could have been used as a blueprint for future games to increase facilities in other countries. The football and rugby World cups are an example of this where a number of cities are used with great success

 

[Scott_F]

Don't forget that cities bid - and compete, no less - to host the Games. It's not as though they're foisted upon a country under protest. Hosting the Games should be a source of great national pride and, if done properly, a way of demonstrating to the world what we have to offer.

London didn't bid - politicians and their appointees used a lot of public money to create a bid team to put London's case. The games were not foisted on London but no one asked the people of London, or anywhere else in this country, if they thought it was a goood idea.

After 7 years of cheerleading and hype, a lot of people are pretty fed up of the Olympics already. Did we really want several minutes of last night's primetime news dedicated to the arrival at Heathrow of some Italians and Yanks that we've never heard of ?

The issues over security, Olympic lanes and problems with buses getting lost etc. are fairly minor in the scheme of things and shouldn't be blown out of proportion. However, people will pick up on minor negatives as, along with many millions of others, they feel that their voices haven't been heard above all the Olympic tub-thumping.

 

[219]

I tried to think of something witty to say about it, but nothing could do justice to the inspired genius that came up with this:

The scary thing is not only did somebody think it was a good idea, his boss agreed with him.

Is it just me , or are some people going to interpret that symbol as designating a special lane for Audi drivers ?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Is it just me , or are some people going to interpret that symbol as designating a special lane for Audi drivers ?

See post #6

 

[MOCAŠ]

Its not stupid, they have made that road into a one way road (apart from buses and Mr Bolt) and diverted normal traffic around the square AFAIK.

According to the GetAheadoftheGames website, Russell Square is out of bounds for all but local access and accredited vehicles throughout the Olympic Games period (25th July - 14th August), so there is no right turn (for southbound traffic) or left turn (for northbound traffic) into Russell Sq.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

According to the GetAheadoftheGames website, Russell Square is out of bounds for all but local access and accredited vehicles throughout the Olympic Games period (25th July - 14th August), so there is no right turn (for southbound traffic) or left turn (for northbound traffic) into Russell Sq.

Now you mention it I recognise that hotel on the right.

I'll be driving down that road on Thursday morning, hopefully won't need to visit again until after the games. Forward planning is much less interesting than sitting on the internet whinging about it all!

 

[christopherwk]

What is the permitted course of action in the posted picture given that some plank's van is parked in the bus lane with the hazards on?

That bus lane is enforced from 7am to 10am, and 4pm to 7pm, during 10am to 4pm, loading and unloading is allowed in the bus lane, which I assume the van driver is doing, and this is also denoted by the single yellow "blip" on the kerbstone, which signifies loading/unloading are allowed at certain times of day.

As previously mentioned, the Olympic lane at that site is not yet in operation, and when it is, signs will be displayed saying so. The sign above the pink one with the grey border to the left of the picture (I think) is hinged and when unhinged will probably display what times the Olympic Lane is in operation.

When the Olympic Lane starts at that location, I assume that the Bus Lane markings will be burned off, and that lane will be used for normal traffic. Though I don't know if the bus stops will be suspended along that route.

 

[Dieselman]

I think these games are a massive expensive waste of time that so many will not get to see live and many who live nearby have their lives in turmoil because of it.

I know what you mean.
I've got my security pass sorted, but am having to park in a different car-park at present and *might* have to park in a general public car-park some days.

Ah, forgot to say, I'm having to walk further as well. The cheek of it...

Probably worth a letter to the Daily Wail...

 

[st4]

Probably worth a letter to the Daily Wail...

For this level of outrage.

Don't be silly.

Its a letter to the local MP

 

[MOCAŠ]

As previously mentioned, the Olympic lane at that site is not yet in operation, and when it is, signs will be displayed saying so. The sign above the pink one with the grey border to the left of the picture (I think) is hinged and when unhinged will probably display what times the Olympic Lane is in operation.

When the Olympic Lane starts at that location, I assume that the Bus Lane markings will be burned off, and that lane will be used for normal traffic. Though I don't know if the bus stops will be suspended along that route.

This map of the area shows what measures will be in place. The bus lane will be suspended (but not burned off, I suspect). There is no mention of bus stops in Southampton Row being suspended, although others are.

PS: I love the idea of the sign being "unhinged". Fits in rather well with the "lunacy" theme...

 

[markjay]

Just a note re 'I did not vote for it'...

It does sound like a plausible argument, although in representative democracy, unlike the original Greek version of it, we elect the people to represent us in Parliament rather than vote directly on each decision.

Similarly, we elect the government to govern us. If we are unhappy with the choices they make, we can vote for different people next time.

So much like the photo, this argument is mostly entertaining...